Punctuation
Introduction
We often spend a lot of time on words. Whether we are trying to learn words in a different language or just select the perfect words to capture an idea, point, or argument, we intuitively sense their importance. Words matter! However, punctuation acts like the control valves or the traffic signs for the words we choose and use. To make sure that we are communicating clearly, punctuation is essential!
Watch
- Nine Punctuation Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make, from Wanted Adventure https://goo.gl/FCyqMN Links to an external site. (YT 5:25)
Visit
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Punctuation |
EF – Education First |
Purdue Owl |
Videos |
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The Period or Full Stop |
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The Comma |
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The Exclamation Point |
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The Question Mark |
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The Colon |
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The Semi Colon |
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Parentheses and Brackets |
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The Quotation Mark |
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The Apostrophe |
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The Hyphen and The Dash |
Key Ideas
- Think of punctuation like the traffic signs you see all over the roads. Each sign serves a distinct purpose to direct the flow of traffic, and each punctuation mark serves a distinct purpose to control the flow and understanding of the reader. Just as failing to note a traffic sign correctly can get you lost or cause you to crash, incorrectly using punctuation can cuase your reader to get lost or misunderstand you.
- Punctuation takes practice and moderation, and the use of certain punctuation can vary from language to language. Even native English speakers struggle with when to use a colon vs. a semi-colon, so never be afraid to double check to make sure you are using punctuation correctly.
Apply
- As you get feedback from your teachers and the Mizzou grading team, and you notice correction on one type of punctuation or another, revisit these websites and videos for additional ideas or practice.
- Visit https://goo.gl/WFoFGa Links to an external site. for practice
- Visit https://goo.gl/T4mWLC Links to an external site. for additional information and online games to sharpen grammar/punctuation