Common Punctuation Marks in English

WritingSkills.my.id - Punctuation mark is a sign or mark used in writing to divide sentences and phrases such as full stops and commas. In ...

WritingSkills.my.id - Punctuation mark is a sign or mark used in writing to divide sentences and phrases such as full stops and commas. In this post, I will explain frequently used punctuation marks in writing letters, their functions and examples of their use in sentences, phrases and words. Take a look at the punctuation marks in table below:

There are 8 most commonly used punctuation marks in English: Comma, Semicolon, Colon, Hyphen, Ellipsis, Parentheses, Dash, and Apostrophe.

No	Punctuation Mark	Function(s)	Example(s)
1.	Comma (,)	Separates dependent clauses; a dependent clause doesn’t present a complete thought. Separates elements in a series. Can be used after salutation in a personal letter.	• Mr. Smith, a lawyer, was at the party. • As I mentioned in my letter, we need to hire three secretaries. • We need action, not words.
2.	Semicolon (;)	While commas separate dependent clauses, semicolons separate independent clauses that closely relate to each other.	Hundreds of tests are conducted to determine product safety; accidents still occur regularly.
3.	Colon (:)	• Announces that something follows. Usually precedes a series or an explanation. • Also used after the salutation of a business letter.	• Go to the stockroom and bring me these items: pens, ribbons, and folders. • Hospitals exist for one reason: to heal the sick.
4.	Hyphen (-)	• Links words. Usually links two or more words modifying a noun. • Can divide the syllables of a word at the end of a line of text.	• This is a state-of-the-art course. • We need to go through a two-stage process.
5.	Ellipsis (. . .)	Shows hesitation or omission of letters or words. Often used when only part of a quotation is used.	• "I...am...guilty," he stammered. • "This is the best report I've seen..."
6.	Parentheses ()	Adds information. Often the information is of secondary importance.	• Acme Co. had great revenues (see fig. 5). • I'm sending you the two checks (No. 1246 and No. 1249) you requested.
7.	Dash (—)	Highlights or interrupts a thought. A dash SHOUTS; parentheses whisper.	• The Dow Jones Average closed at 6,960 — a new low for the year — confirming that we are still in a bear market. • The seminar — which includes a text, handout materials, and a workbook — costs $3,000.
8.	Apostrophe (')	Shows possession or contraction. Also read: 52 Mostly Used Contractions in English.	• The boy's pen is on his desk. • We'll see you soon. • The employees' rights are protected by OSHA. • Mr. Dickens's book is open.