Appendix A

Punctuation Rules

Adapted from Interactions I)

Period

1. Use a period after a statement or command.

I am a farmer. Open your books to page 22.

 

2. Use a period after most abbreviations.

Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. St. Ave. etc. U.S.

Exceptions: UN NATO AIDS IBM WHO

 

3. Use a period after initials.

H. G. Wells E. M. Forester J. R. R. Tolkein E. B. White

Question Mark

4. Use a question mark after sentences that ask a question.

Where are you going? Have you eaten yet?

 

5. In a direct quotation, the question mark goes before the quotation marks.

He asked, "How are you?"

Exclamation Point

6. Use an exclamation point after exclamatory sentences or phrases.

Help! Wow! I've passed the exam!

Comma

7. Use a comma before a conjunction (and, or, so, but) that separates two complete sentences or independent clauses.

She wanted to be a doctor, so she took a lot of biology courses.

He didn't wear a suit and tie, but he still looked well-dressed.

 

8. Commas are not used before a conjunction that separates incomplete sentences.

He drove taxi during the day and taught English in the evenings.

Does she want to go now or later?

 

9. Use a comma after an introductory clasue or phrase.

On the way to work today, I saw children walking to school.

If you want to write well in English, think in English.

 

10. Separate phrases that interrupt by commas.

Do you know, by the way, where she was born?

Most students, suprisingly, go home on weekends.

 

11. Use a comma after transitional phrases.

Thus, we conclude that men do not think like women.

However, this is not always the rule.

 

12. Separate names of people with a comma when the names is used in direct address.

Richard, do you know which way to go?

I'm so happy to see you, Mary!

 

13. Answers beginning with yes and nohave commas following yes and no.

Yes, everyone has arrived.

No, we're not all students.

 

14. Use a comma to separate items in a series.

We have daisies, lilacs, and roses in the garden.

I was wearing a yellow shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers.

 

15. Separate an appositive from the rest of the sentence with commas.

Mr. Bell, his soccer coach, said he was talented.

Would you like to taste durian, a smelly but delicious fruit?

 

16. If a date or address has two or more parts, use a comma after each part.

I was born on February 20, 1966.

I come from Long Xuyen, An Giang Province, Vietnam.