Page 4 - Journal - Final

Entry #1 – Punctuation Part I

Periods

The period is perhaps the easiest punctuation
mark to master. It ends a sentence. Difficulty
generally arises only when the period is used with
other punctuation marks.

Rule 1. Use a period at the end of a complete
sentence that is a statement.

Example: I know him well

Rule 2. If the last item in the sentence is an abbreviation that ends in a period, do
not follow it with another period.

Incorrect: This is Alice Smith, M.D..

Correct: This is Alice Smith, M.D.

Correct: Please shop, cook, etc. We will do the laundry.

Rule 3. Question marks and exclamation points replace and eliminate periods at
the end of a sentence.

Correct: I've never seen Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Incorrect: I've never seen Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

Commas

Commas and periods are the
most frequently used
punctuation marks. Commas
customarily indicate a brief
pause; they're not as final as
periods.

Rule 1. Use commas to
separate words and word
groups in a simple series of
three or more items.