Punctuation

Front

What is punctuation?

Back

Punctuation refers to the marks used in writing that help clarify meaning and separate linguistic units. Common punctuation marks include periods, commas, question marks, and exclamation points.

Front

What is the purpose of a comma?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, separate items in a list, and clarify meaning by grouping words.

Front

When should you use a comma before 'and' in a list?

Back

A comma should be used before 'and' in a list of three or more items to separate the last item from the rest.

Front

What is an apostrophe used for?

Back

An apostrophe is used to indicate possession (e.g., the dog's leash) or to form contractions (e.g., can't for cannot).

Front

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

Back

'Its' is a possessive pronoun meaning 'belonging to it,' while 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has.'

Front

What is a semicolon used for?

Back

A semicolon is used to connect closely related independent clauses or to separate items in a complex list.

Front

When should you use a period?

Back

A period is used to indicate the end of a declarative sentence.

Front

What is the function of quotation marks?

Back

Quotation marks are used to indicate direct speech, quotations, or titles of short works.

Front

What is the role of an exclamation point?

Back

An exclamation point is used to express strong emotion or emphasis.

Front

What is a run-on sentence?

Back

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.