Punctuation Challenge

We use a comma in a sentence to separate items in a list, to separate independent clauses when joined by a coordinating conjunction, and after introductory phrases or clauses.

To connect two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction

To emphasize a point in the sentence

We use a comma in a sentence to separate subjects and verbs

To separate words in a sentence

To emphasize a point

To indicate the end of a sentence.

To indicate a pause in speech

!

,

.

''

?

The speaker is unsure about something

The sentence is a statement of fact

A question is being asked

Strong feelings or high volume

To indicate direct speech, enclose titles of short works, and highlight non-literal or ironic words.

To separate paragraphs in a written work

To indicate the beginning and end of a sentence

To emphasize important words in a paragraph

To show possession or indicate omitted letters in a contraction

To show plural form

To separate syllables in a word

To indicate past tense

In the middle of a sentence

At the beginning of a sentence, for proper nouns, and for titles.

For common nouns

At the end of a sentence

To separate words in a sentence

To connect two or more words to form a single word

To indicate possession

To emphasize a particular word

A colon is used to emphasize a word in a sentence.

A colon is used to introduce a list, an explanation, or a conclusion in a sentence.

A colon is used to separate two independent clauses in a sentence.

A colon is used to indicate possession in a sentence.

A semi colon should be used to connect a dependent clause with an independent clause

A semi colon should be used to end a sentence instead of a period

A semi colon should be used to separate items in a list without commas

A semi colon should be used to join two independent clauses without a conjunction, to separate items in a list when the items contain commas, or to separate complex items in a list.