Category: punctuation

Single quotation marks? Double quotation marks? They can seem intimidating, but when the purpose of quotation marks is understood, the rules are easier to follow. The Use of Quotation Marks Quotation marks set apart statements or words, adding a loud emphasis to whatever they surround. The most basic rule is that a quotation must be…

Misplaced, omitted, sprinkled like confetti on the page, usurped by punctuation marks like the semicolon and colon—if commas could talk, these would be their complaints. The basic rules that follow may clarify some of the confusion and help writers sidestep common misapplications. Commas are used to set off items in a series of three or…

Little things can make a big difference. This is especially true of apostrophes, punctuation marks used to show possession or indicate that one or more letters have been left out of a word. In the following paragraphs we’ll cover a few of the most common apostrophe rules so you’ll be familiar with when to use…