EVOLVE/writing/punctuation

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Punctuation has been around since Ancient Greece and no-one can really agree on its exact uses to this day. Here is a list of the most common punctuation and how to use it.

:	Colon- This is a short pause which: i) introduces a list ii) introduces an explanation of what goes before it. I went shopping: I went to Tesco, Wall Mart and the local shop.
;	Semi-Colon- Heavier than the colon, this: i) introduces a sub-category in a list ii) separates two clauses that are closely linked I went shopping; I love shopping
,	Comma- This indicates a pause in a sentence. They are used in lists but the last comma is replaced by the word ‘and’. In spoken English a comma can be ‘heard’ by the rising intonation of the word that precedes it. Commas are also used like brackets in appositives which add extra information to a sentence. I went shopping with James, Chris, David and Paul.
.	Full Stop- This is a complete stop in a sentence. They show a change from one idea to another. In spoken English it is ‘heard’ by falling intonation. They are followed by a CAPITAL LETTER. They are also used in abbreviations. These are sometimes called ‘dot’ as in email addresses and ‘point’ when used with numbers. I visited Mr. Barthorpe’s Shop.
?	Question Mark- Signals the end of a question. It is paralleled at the start of a sentence by an auxiliary verb or ‘wh-‘ question word. Did you buy anything there? What did you buy?
!	Exclamation Mark- Signals the end of a surprised or angry statement. They are used with the imperative mood. Oh Dear! LOOK OUT!
-	Hyphen/Dash- A hyphen connects compound words. A dash can replace punctuation and introduce a new idea. I want to write a book - or at least be a co-author.
’	Apostrophe- An apostrophe can i) show possession – if the possessor is singular we put the apostrophe before the possessive ‘s’ if the possessors are plural we put it after the ‘s’. ii) It can be used to replace missing letters in contractions. Don’t take them; they’re John’s girls’ books.
( )	Brackets- Separate extra additional information from the main sentence. Usually, any other speech marks come inside brackets. Mark (who is here now) will be coming too.
“”	Quotation Marks- These speech marks are used to show an exact quotation of what was said. Usually, any other speech marks come inside quotation marks. “Can I come too?” asked Mark when he arrived.

Task 1
Correct the punctuation in these sentences

1. SHUT UP

2. I cant understand this question can you

3. If he comes here on sunday I will meet him.

4. You and i should go to the cinema one day.

5. you are next mr. clifford said the secretary.

6. have you ever used a computer before

7. Is your sister paula as weak willed as you?

8. Please may, I open the window!

9. James Brown the singer not my best friend is on tv later.

10. the things we need for our holiday in june are. a british passport, our tickets and money.

11. don’t be late

12. Are you sure that youre the manager of uwic – cardiffs best university?

Task 2
Add punctuation to this text

last week on thursday i went to visit my brother james who was angry with me because his birthday is on the thirteenth of august and i havent seen him until now october a full two months later
why didnt you come to see me on my birthday he asked me I told him that it was because i work on saturdays and this year his birthday was on a saturday
you didnt even send me a present he shouted you didnt even write me a card
i could see that he was angry by the way he shouted at me i told him that i had been working in london recently and that i was very sorry
would you forget your girlfriends birthday he asked me
of course i wouldnt i said which was a lie i never forget my girlfriends birthday or i would really be in trouble

Answers

Task 1

1. SHUT UP!

2. I can’t understand this question, can you?

3. If he comes here on Sunday, I will meet him.

4. You and I should go to the cinema one day.

5. “You are next, Mr. Clifford.” said the secretary.

6. Have you ever used a computer before?

7. Is your sister Paula as weak willed as you?

8. Please, may I open the window?

9. James Brown (the singer not my best friend) is on T.V. later.

OR FOR A MORE FORMAL STYLE

James Brown, the singer not my best friend, is on T.V. later.

10. The things we need for our holiday in June are: a British passport, our tickets and money.

11. Don’t be late!

12. Are you sure that you’re the manager of U.W.I.C. – Cardiff’s best university?

Task 2

Last week on Thursday, I went to visit my brother James who was angry with me because his birthday is on the thirteenth of august, and I haven’t seen him until now; October - a full two months later.
“Why didn’t you come to see me on my birthday?” he asked me, I told him that it was because I work on Saturdays and this year his birthday was on a Saturday.
“You didn’t even send me a present!” he shouted “You didn’t even write me a card!”
I could see that he was angry by the way he shouted at me: I told him that I had been working in London recently and that I was very sorry.
“Would you forget your girlfriend’s birthday?” he asked me.
“Of course I wouldn’t!” I said (which was a lie, I never forget my girlfriend’s birthday or I would really be in trouble!)

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Intermediate Writing: Punctuation

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