Punctuation

Question 1

What is the function do the comma

Answer 1

• to mark a natural pause in a sentence
• after a phrase beginning a sentence
• to mark off an explanation
• to separate names, adjectives, actions etc, when listed as a series
• to separate names of people addressed or spoken to
• after ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when it begins a sentence that answers a question

Question 2

What is the function of quotation marks

Answer 2

• to enclose the words actually spoken
• to indicate the title of books, plays, films etc ( use italics when typing )
• to indicate quoted statements such as proverbs or maxims
• when something is given a meaning other than the usual meaning
• to indicate verbal irony

Question 3

What is the function of the dash

Answer 3

• to indicate a break or abrupt change of thought in a sentence
• to include matter of secondary importance in a sentence
• to add an afterthought to a sentence

Question 4

What is the difference in the hyphen and the dash

Answer 4

Loosely speaking the dash separates while the hyphen joins. The hyphen is also typically smaller than the dash.

Question 5

What is the function of the hyphen

Answer 5

• to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun
• to join compound numbers
• to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters
• to divide words at the end of a line if necessary, and make the break only between syllables

Question 6

What is the function of the ellipsis

Answer 6

• when quoting material and you want to omit some words
• the ellipsis can also be used to indicate a pause in the flow of a sentence and is especially useful in quoted speech
• may be used for dramatic effect in informal writing
• when a sentence trails off

Question 7

What is the function of the brackets

Answer 7

• to add extra information to explain sorting said before

- to add extra information as an aside to creat humour

Question 8

What is the function of the semi colon

Answer 8

• links two main lapses not joined by a coordinating conjunction
• to separate a statement introduced by the words such as however, therefore, nevertheless etc from the preceding statement

Question 9

What is the function of the colon

Answer 9

• to introduce a list
• to introduce a series of ideas
• to introduce a quotation or statement
• between two clauses when the second explains or resolves the first
• placed between the title and the subtitle of a book