Punctuation

Full stop, comma, semicolon, colon, apostrophe, quotation marks, hyphen and dash, with rules and errors.

Why punctuation matters

Punctuation shows the reader where ideas begin and end and how they relate. A single comma can change meaning: 'Let's eat, Grandma!' (an invitation) and 'Let's eat Grandma!' (something very different). In the CSS paper, two or three of the sentences to be corrected test punctuation.

Full stop, question mark and exclamation mark

Full stop (.) ends a statement or command, and is used in some abbreviations (e.g., etc.).
Question mark (?) ends a direct question, but not an indirect one: He asked where I lived. (not 'lived?')
Exclamation mark (!) shows strong feeling; use it sparingly in formal writing.

Comma (,)

Between items in a list: Pakistan exports rice, cotton, textiles and sports goods.
Before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses: He studied hard, and he passed.
After an introductory word, phrase or clause: However, the plan failed. / When the bell rang, the students left.
Around non-essential (non-defining) clauses and phrases: My brother, who lives in Karachi, is a doctor.
No commas around essential (defining) clauses: Students who work hard succeed.
In direct address: Ali, please come here.
Before or after direct speech: She said, "I am ready."
Comma splice (error): two independent clauses joined only by a comma — 'It was late, we went home.' Fix with a full stop, a semicolon, or a conjunction.

Semicolon (;) and colon (:)

Semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses: The rain stopped; the sun came out.
Semicolon before a conjunctive adverb: He was ill; therefore, he stayed home.
Semicolon separates list items that already contain commas: Lahore, Punjab; Karachi, Sindh; Quetta, Balochistan.
Colon introduces a list, an explanation or a quotation after a complete sentence: You need three things: patience, practice and courage.
Do not use a colon directly after a verb or preposition: 'The colours are: red and blue' is wrong.

Apostrophe (')

Possession: the student's book (one student), the students' books (many students), the children's toys, James's car.
Contractions: don't, it's (= it is), they're (= they are).
Its (possessive) has no apostrophe: The company raised its prices.
Do not use an apostrophe to form ordinary plurals: 'apple's for sale' is wrong; 'apples for sale' is right.

Quotation marks, hyphen, dash and brackets

Quotation marks enclose direct speech and titles of short works: He said, "I will come."
Hyphen (-) joins compound words and compound adjectives before a noun: well-known writer, twenty-one, a five-year plan.
Dash (—) marks a sharp break or an emphatic addition: He had one aim — success.
Brackets (parentheses) enclose extra information: The Quaid (Muhammad Ali Jinnah) was born in 1876.
Capital letters begin sentences and proper nouns, and are used for the pronoun 'I'.

Common errors

Wrong	Right
It's tail was long.	Its tail was long.
The boy's are playing.	The boys are playing.
He asked me where I lived?	He asked me where I lived.
My father who is a doctor lives in Lahore.	My father, who is a doctor, lives in Lahore. (one father: non-defining)
I like tea, she likes coffee.	I like tea; she likes coffee. / I like tea, but she likes coffee.
She said "I am tired".	She said, "I am tired."
The ladies bags were stolen.	The ladies' bags were stolen.

Ready to test yourself?

Practise English MCQs

Comma (,)

Between items in a list: Pakistan exports rice, cotton, textiles and sports goods.

Before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses: He studied hard, and he passed.

After an introductory word, phrase or clause: However, the plan failed. / When the bell rang, the students left.

Around non-essential (non-defining) clauses and phrases: My brother, who lives in Karachi, is a doctor.

No commas around essential (defining) clauses: Students who work hard succeed.

In direct address: Ali, please come here.

Before or after direct speech: She said, "I am ready."

Comma splice (error): two independent clauses joined only by a comma — 'It was late, we went home.' Fix with a full stop, a semicolon, or a conjunction.

Semicolon (;) and colon (:)

Semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses: The rain stopped; the sun came out.

Semicolon before a conjunctive adverb: He was ill; therefore, he stayed home.

Semicolon separates list items that already contain commas: Lahore, Punjab; Karachi, Sindh; Quetta, Balochistan.

Colon introduces a list, an explanation or a quotation after a complete sentence: You need three things: patience, practice and courage.

Do not use a colon directly after a verb or preposition: 'The colours are: red and blue' is wrong.

Apostrophe (')

Possession: the student's book (one student), the students' books (many students), the children's toys, James's car.

Contractions: don't, it's (= it is), they're (= they are).

Its (possessive) has no apostrophe: The company raised its prices.

Do not use an apostrophe to form ordinary plurals: 'apple's for sale' is wrong; 'apples for sale' is right.

Quotation marks, hyphen, dash and brackets

Quotation marks enclose direct speech and titles of short works: He said, "I will come."

Hyphen (-) joins compound words and compound adjectives before a noun: well-known writer, twenty-one, a five-year plan.

Dash (—) marks a sharp break or an emphatic addition: He had one aim — success.

Brackets (parentheses) enclose extra information: The Quaid (Muhammad Ali Jinnah) was born in 1876.

Capital letters begin sentences and proper nouns, and are used for the pronoun 'I'.

Common errors

Wrong	Right
It's tail was long.	Its tail was long.
The boy's are playing.	The boys are playing.
He asked me where I lived?	He asked me where I lived.
My father who is a doctor lives in Lahore.	My father, who is a doctor, lives in Lahore. (one father: non-defining)
I like tea, she likes coffee.	I like tea; she likes coffee. / I like tea, but she likes coffee.
She said "I am tired".	She said, "I am tired."
The ladies bags were stolen.	The ladies' bags were stolen.