Punctuation is an important tool in the writing. Punctuation means the correct use of punctuation. Without punctuation we cannot understand the relationship of each sentence.
a. THE FULL STOP
The full stop is the most important punctuation. The full stop is used:
1. At the end complete sentences that are statements, requests, and commands.
We have finished one book.
Sit down.
It was exciting match.
2. To indicate that word length has been shortened more. The full stop is widely used in the initial (first letter) and abbreviations.
R.W Lingga
M. Sc.
B. A.
Not all signs point to use the abbreviation. For organizations and international commissions, the full stop is not used.
UNO, ASEAN, WHO.
For Mr, Mrs, dan Dr, the full stop is not use.
3. The full stop is used to indicate the sign / decimal point and to separate hours and minutes of writing time.
10.5 metres (10,5 meter)
b. THE QUESTION MARK
Question mark is used at the end of a question.
Who are you?
Who is your father?
c. THE EXCLAMATION MARK
The exclamation mark is use at the end of a exclamation that could be sentences, phrases, or words spoken in anger, surprise, a strong pain.
Don’t you dare talk to me like that!
Ouch!
Good gracious!
Keep in mind that if a statement, request, command, and the question expressed with strong emotion, we should make it exciting sentence.
Will you please come here? => Will you please come here!
d. THE COMMA
1. To separate the connecting structure of word in the same formation.
Anita purchased books, stationery and cosmetic.
He had wealth, reputation, money, and friends.
2. To separate nouns or noun phrases in the form of apposisi.
Soekarno, the father of the nation, was a great person.
3. To separate the relative clauses which not provide a definition of the rest of the sentence.
His mother, who is a school teacher, is the daughter of a millionaire.
4. To separates the name or noun used in direct address, which is called man.
Come hitter, fellow.
Pardon me, Anto.
5. To mark participial phrases.
Finding no one in the house, he came back.
6. To mark adverbial clauses contained in the initial sentence.
If you meet him, give him my message.
7. To separate coordinate clauses are short.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
8. To mark a word or phrase, such as however, nevertheless, for example, therefore, that is, from the remnant of the sentence and starting a word or phrase that is not essential to the basic idea of the sentence.
He did not, however, implement his scheme.
We, therefore, request you to come here immediately.
9. To separate the words that repeated only as a style of language.
Sumatra is a very, very beautiful land.
10. To mark the question tags.
You will come tonight, won’t you?
11. After yes or no in answer, or after the introductory phrase, such as oh, well, and others.
No, I won’t go with you.
12. To separate the contrasting phrases.
Your examples should be taken from written, not spoken, language.
13. In direct conversation, a comma separates the introductory statement of the quote.
Dian said, “Will you go with us?”
14.To demonstrate the removal of the word, especially the removal of a verb.
Rita received a watch; Nita, a pen.
e. THE SEMI-COLON
1. To separate independent clauses or coordinate clause of a combined sentence that is not connected to the conjunction.
You can go and rest now; you haven’t slept at all.
2. To separate two independent clauses linked by for example, moreover, besides, nevertheless, therefore, for instance, and others.
I am not interested in seeing this film; besides, I haven’t any money to spare.
f. THE COLON
1. For explanation, description, or expansion.
My father taught us one important rule in life:always be honest.
2. For quote
Shakespeare says: Direction is the better part of valour.
3. To separate the two clauses stating the consensus and are not connected by conjunctions.
Man proposes: God disposes.
g. QUOTATION MARK
Quotation marks or inverted commas should be used consistently. If we start with single quotes, we must end it with single quotes as well.
1. Mark the direct sentence:
He said, “Please take your seat.”
2. To mark the titles of books, films, poems, chapters in books, songs, drama, and others.
Have you seen the film “Blue Moon”?
h. PARENTHESES
Parentheses are used to mark a phrase, clause, or phrase in a sentence. Phrases, clauses, or sentences are grammatical sentence does not include principal. We can replace the parentheses with dashes or commas.
I will bring him along (that is, if he comes) to the party.
i. DASH
Dash is used:
1. To show change of minds sudden.
Mr Andi – I’d better not say that.
2. To emphasize a word or phrase at the end of the sentence.
After he had resided at college for six years his father died and left him – his blessing.
3. To tether or tie subject scattered.
You, he, and I – we are all to responsible for the mishap.
j. HYPEN
Hyphen is shorter than dash. Hyphen is used:
1. To connect two or more words to make compound words.
Brother-in-law
Make-up
2. To connect the words are combined number of twenty-one to ninety-nine and a fraction that is used as an adjective.
Twenty-five
A two-thirds share
We do not use a hyphen when the count fractions are not used as an adjective.
Two thirds of the goods are old.
3. To connect two or more words that form a single adjective is used before a noun.
A two-week holiday
4. To separate the prefix of some basic words.
Off –color
By-product
5. To separate the two or three consonants are the same.
Lamp-post
6. To separate two different vowels.
Pre-eminent
Re-echo
7. To avoid ambiguity so that the presence or absence of a hyphen would distinguish the meaning of one another.
Re-cover is different with recover
k. APOSTROPHE
1. To declare a noun.
Budiman’s sister.
The boys’ book.
2. To declare the property with indefinite pronouns.
Somebody’s shoes
3. To form the expression of time, space, and number.
Three years’ time
4. To declare one or more letters that have been deleted / removed.
I have: I’ve
I had: I’d
l. CAPITAL LETTER
Capital letters are used as our first all important words.
1. Names and titles of people who followed the name of the person.
Dian
Anisa
2. State the name and geographical location.
Singapore
Indonesian
3. The name of religion, god, and religious terms.
Islam
Allah
God
4. The name of nationality, ethnicity, and language.
American
English
Chinese
5. Name of days and months.
Sunday
July
6. Name of institution / organization specific.
The United Nations
7. The name of the building.
The Ocean Building
8. Name of the holidays and special events.
National Day
Independence Day
9. Behalf of government departments and senior titles.
The Prime Minister
10. Names of Street, schools, hospitals, and offices.
Post Office
Tirta Marta School
11. Self pronouns I and O vocative always written in capital letter.
Budi and I are good friends.
12. Capital letters are also used at the beginning:
a. The first word of a sentence or statement.
a. The first word of a sentence or statement.
I last saw her two days ago.
b. The first word in direct sentences.
Anita said, “May I go with you?”
c. Words indicating the division of territory / geography.
Have you been to Eastern Indonesia?
However, the direction and geographic position in the letter are not exaggerated.
This island is south of the Equator.
Capital letters are not used to:
a. Common nouns
My uncle is my mother’s brother.
b.Words that express direction.
We drove north to visit the family.
c. Name of the season.
c. Name of the season.
spring
summer
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