POWER OF PUNCTUATIONS

POWER OF PUNCTUATIONS

Punctuations are a set of conventions that make it easier to read any language. In the English language the various rules are no more than conventions. Conventions are agreed ways of separating a text so that the readers‟ eyes and brain can assimilate easily. These conventions are like table manners that change over time. These are like fashions with which most writers try to experiment and innovate. However, some rules are clear and remain unaffected and have been explained for each of the punctuation mark in the following paragraphs:

(1) Full stop (.)

It is the longest pause that a reader should observe while reading a text. Full stop is used:
 At the end of a sentence except in interrogative and exclamatory sentences.
 After the initials or abbreviations e.g.
P. Dhingra for Pankaj Dhingra
Esq. for Esquire
These days full stop is omitted from well-known abbreviations like UNESCO, WHO, WTO, BHEL etc

(2) Comma (,)

It is the shortest pause and is used extensively. It is a troublesome punctuation and a few tips are:
 Put comma where one would pause while reading a sentence aloud
 To set off a noun of address e.g., „Mr. Verma, please get this bill settled‟
 To indicate omission of a word e.g., „Quality is excellent; the appearance, attractive; the price, low‟.
 To separate direct speech from the rest of the sentence e.g., „Mr. Seth, you have been very careless in your work‟.
Commas are useful in separating one part of a sentence from another. They also have a role in speaking; they may not suggest a pause long enough to be noticed but if observed properly, these can enhance your skills in delivering a speech.

(3) Semicolons (;)

If two sentences are closely related in meaning and it is not desirable to separate them by a full stop, semicolon is used. For example,
„You type the letter; I shall type the bill‟.

(4) Colons (:)

Colon is used to:
 Introduce a list e.g., „Please arrange these items: a personal computer with printer, a pad, a pack of envelops, gum stick, paper pins and paper clips‟.
 Introduce an explanation e.g., „The problem is this: we cannot get trained hands at such a short notice‟.
 Separate two contrasts e.g., „Managers make plans: insincere workers sabotage them‟.

(5) The question marks (?)

It is used after a direct question e.g., „Can I help you?‟
It should never be used after an indirect question. Grammatically, an indirect question is not a question at all e.g., „The Accounts Manager asked Mr Malhotra why he did not put the amount in fixed deposit‟.

(6) The exclamation marks (!)

It is used at the end of a sentence that expresses a strong feeling e.g., „Congratulations to all the winners!‟

(7) Quotation marks or inverted commas (“ ”)

These are also used in the text. A few tips are:
(i) The direct words of a speaker (the words that one actually hears) are enclosed in inverted commas. Since these are also used to enclose quotation ascribed to an eminent person, these inverted commas are also known as quotation marks.
(ii) An interrupted speech is also put within inverted commas e.g., “I would rather starve,” he said, “than accept such a job”.
(iii) Titles of books, magazines, newspapers, essays, poems etc are also enclosed in inverted commas e.g., “City of Sorrow” has raised a lot of interest.

(8) The apostrophe (‟)

Ever since there is an emphasis on conversational English to be adopted as the preferred style of writing, this has become very popular. A few tips are:
(i) It is used in place of an omitted letter in a contraction e.g., „doesn‟t for does not‟.
(ii) All possessive nouns contain an apostrophe e.g., A week‟s wages, Customers‟ views etc
(iii) Apostrophe is also used to form plurals of alphabets and figures:
 Dot your i‟s and cross your t‟s.
 Let us take up the issue with a few of the MP‟s.
 His phone number is all 2‟s.

(9) Hyphens (-)

A few rules are:
(i) It is used to join parts of a compound word e.g., maid-servant etc
(ii) It is used to combine a word with its prefix e.g., Post-dated etc

(10) The dash ( -)

A few useful rules are:
(i) It is used to show a sudden change of thought e.g., „The substance of the story is us – but do you have the time to listen to me‟.
(ii) It is also used for explanation e.g., „In this term, there are three core subjects – Strategic Management, Project Management and Quality Management.

(11) Parentheses ( )

They serve the purpose of double dashes. They separate from the main sentence, a phrase or a clause that does not belong to it e.g., „The scheme (see the enclosed brochure) is designed to give you the maximum return on your money‟.

(12) Capital letters

It is not a part of punctuations but it is useful to understand where in a text, capital letters are used:
 First alphabet of a sentence
 First alphabet of a quotation
 All proper nouns
 Names of religious sects, political parties
 All nouns and pronouns referring to God
 Pronoun „I‟
 Interjection „O‟
 All words in a heading excepting the articles, prepositions and conjunctions
 Abbreviations of degrees, titles etc
 Forms of address e.g., Dear Sir / Madam etc