Punctuation
By Sir Abdur Rehman
Definition
Punctuation is the use of special marks in writing to make
sentences clear and meaningful. These marks help us know when
to stop, pause, ask a question, or show emotion in a
sentence.
(01) Period / Full Stop (.) ⇒ It shows that the statement is
complete or showing abbreviation
example:
She is my friend.
(02) Question Mark (?) ⇒ It shows interrogation.
Example:
Where are you going?
(03) Exclamation Point (!) ⇒ It shows sudden outcry or
emphasis.
Example
What a beautiful day!
(04) Comma (,) ⇒
• Separation of ideas or elements
• Used in numbers, dates and salutation
Example
When I reached home, it started raining.
• Use comma before any coordinating conjunction that links 2 independent
clauses.
• Use (,) after a dependent clause that starts a sentence.
Difference between using a COMMA
and a COLON before a quotation
Use a comma when the quotation comes directly after a reporting
verb like:said, asked, replied, told, exclaimed
👉 If the quote is part of the sentence and follows said/asked, use a
comma.
Example
He said, “I am tired.”
Continue
Use a colon when:
The quotation explains or completes the sentence
The sentence before the quote is complete by itself
If the sentence before the quote can stand alone, use a colon.
Examples
The teacher gave a clear order: “Open your books.”
He always says one thing: “Honesty is the best policy.”
Example
i) Thanks for your help, Abdullah.
ii) We went to the movie, and then went to the zoo.
iii) When I went running, I saw a snake.
05) Semi-Colon (;) →. To join two closely related independent
clauses (complete sentences)
5 a) When two sentences are closely related, you can join them
with a semicolon instead of using a period or conjunction.
Examples:
I went to the market; I bought some apples.
Continue
5 b. Before conjunctive adverbs (like however, therefore,
moreover) joining two sentences
Use semicolon before words like however, therefore,
consequently, moreover and a comma after them.
Examples:
I wanted to go for a walk; however, it started raining.
Continue
5 c . To separate items in a list when items already have
commas
If items in a list are long or contain commas, use semicolon to
avoid confusion.
Example:
We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Berlin, Germany
(06) Colon (:) →
• Quotation, explanation example or series .
Eg → I’m planning to study four subjects: physics,
chemistry,maths,and science.
07) Dash
Dash (—)
• Separate words into statement
• En Dash – Em dash
1880–1885, She said— No
5–10,
8) Hyphen (-)
• Join 2 or more words into a compound term
Eg → Eco-friendly,
Book-loving
Well-known
(09) Quotation Marks: Repeated word for word.
“”
example
Sir Abdur rehman said to the students , “parhlo, Nalaikoooooo”
exception:
Do you agree with the saying,”Every thing is fair in love and war”?
jo lecture k dauran concept ko chor kr example dekh, kr, muskuraya, who bhi
nalaik .
(10) Apostrophe ( ’ ):
• Possessive case example That is Ali’s book.
• Contract form,example I ‘ll be there, Don’t do that, I didn’t work
at night
Practice
1) Yes he said I ll be home by 10.
2) He deals in three cars X Y Z
3) When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor Ali
replied All the members of my family are poor spellers
4)There is a material misstatement in the financial statement said
the Chartered accountant
Continue
5) What are you doing here
6)He is okay but he needs time.
7) Yippie we won the game
Answers
1)”Yes”, he said, “I’ll be home by 10.”
2)He deals in three cars: X ,Y and Z.
3)When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Ali
replied, “All the members of my family are poor spellers.”
4)“There is a material misstatement in the financial statement,”
said the Chartered Accountant.
Continue…
What are you doing here?
He is okay, but he needs time.
Yippie! We won the game.
Past papers punctuations
1)He said I did not buy fruits vegetables grocery and foods
2) She said you are speaking non sense
3)Sara said I need milk sugar flour and eggs to bake a cake.
4) Man is mortal God is eternal
Answers
1) He said, “I did not buy fruits, vegetables, grocery, and foods.”
2) She said, “You are speaking nonsense.”
3)Sara said, “I need milk, sugar, flour, and eggs to bake a cake.”
4)Man is mortal; God is eternal.