Parentheses always come in pairs (opening and closing).Parenthetical information is … [Read more...] about Parentheses and Brackets
Other Punctuation
Quotation Marks (” “)-Not Dialogue
Quotation marks have a variety of uses in addition to indicating dialogue.For uses of quotation … [Read more...] about Quotation Marks (” “)-Not Dialogue
Ellipsis vs. Dash
Ellipses are different from dashes, but they share enough to need some clarification.In … [Read more...] about Ellipsis vs. Dash
Apostrophes Contract, Possess
Apostrophes have two jobs: to form contractions and to show possession.n'tCredits: Photo … [Read more...] about Apostrophes Contract, Possess
Dashes Connect, Explain
Dashes come in three sizes, each with their own job:the em dash (the width of a non-proportional … [Read more...] about Dashes Connect, Explain
Quotation Marks (” “)-Dialogue
For other uses of quotation marks, see Quotation Marks Indicate More than DialogueImage … [Read more...] about Quotation Marks (” “)-Dialogue
Parentheses
( )Non-essential information is not needed by the sentence, but it may help the reader. … [Read more...] about Parentheses
Semicolons
;A semicolon is a super-comma, a cross between a comma and a period.Credit: Photo by … [Read more...] about Semicolons
Exclamations Express Strong Emotion.
!Use exclamation marks sparingly for strong emotion! They SHOUT! They YELL! They … [Read more...] about Exclamations Express Strong Emotion.
Colons
When to use a colon and when not to use itCredit: Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash … [Read more...] about Colons
Periods End
A sentence offers a complete thought with “who” “did what” (independent clause).It may add “to … [Read more...] about Periods End
Slash
The slash is best used in informal writing, like letters or emails./The slash usually refers … [Read more...] about Slash
Question Marks Ask in Dialogue
A question mark indicates something asked rather than told.?The question mark is the written … [Read more...] about Question Marks Ask in Dialogue
Ellipsis
An ellipsis (three dots) replaces words left out in conversation, usually indicating … [Read more...] about Ellipsis
Contractions Shorten
Contractions use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters.Contractions shorten words with an … [Read more...] about Contractions Shorten
