Punctuations by Eguriase S.M. Okaka

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Punctuations


By Eguriase S. M. Okaka

 

Punctuations are marks in written language inserted to separate various parts of a sentence or clause or phrase, and all, in relation to stress of meaning, rules of grammar, laws of punctuation, et cetera.

 

Punctuation is very important to all examination students, because, in written examinations, the examiners penalize the omissions of them.

 

The different kinds of punctuation in English Language among other ones include: apostrophe, comma, colon, semi-colon, dash, hyphen, full stop, exclamation, question mark, and quotation mark.

 

APOSTROPHE

Apostrophe (‘) is the punctuation mark which indicates possession or the possessive case. In reference to singular words, apostrophe is used with “s” and usually it comes before the “s” as in the following: A boy’s ball or the teacher’s key. But in context of plural words with “s”, apostrophes normally come after the “s” to indicate possession, as in the following: A girls’ hotel or Five weeks’ labor.

 

But in relation to plural words without “s” apostrophe usually comes after their last alphabet, and before an “s” indicate the possessive condition as in the following: Children’s chapel or Women’s wing.

 

At length, apostrophe is used to indicate the omission of one or more letters, in a clause, et cetera, as in these: He’s, She’s, We’er, You’ll et cetera. The following use of apostrophe is wrong: Her’s, Our’s Their’s et ecetera.

 

COMMA

The comma (,) is used to introduce breaks between words or phrases or clauses, in order to separate their elements or items in series or in a list as in the following: Rioters, carrying clubs, knives, guns and bombs, were seen all over the place.

 

The punctuation mark, comma, is also used to separate main clause, as in what follows:

·        Motorcycle will turn right, but cars will turn left.

 Comma is further used to mark off names used in constructions, oppositions and participial phrases, as in these examples:

·        I think, ladies, the time has come for women’s liberation.

·        Eguriase, the miser, feeds fat his pocket, but grows thin every day.

·        Having seen their Lord crucified, the people went away sorrowfully.

Further, comma is used before a clause, vocative, et cetera, without a finite verb, as in this:

·        Man, I welcome him.

Comma, usually follows words indicate direct speech especially in context of a direct speech, where no exclamation or question mark is used e.g.

·        The prophet answered, here I am Lord.

·        “Here I am Lord,” the prophet answered.

Moreover, comma is used to separate parenthetical elements in phrases, clauses, et cetera as in the following:

·        Harmattan, the time of dryness and cold is here again.

·        I am sure, however that the Lord will not abandon.

At length, comma is used after salutation and the complimentary close of a letter, as in these: Dear Sir, Dear Kate, My Lord, Yours sincerely, yours faithfully.

 

COLON

The colon (:), introduce a stronger break or separation, than either comma or (even) a semicolon; it is used to indicate “a listing” or an example.

Examples:

·        Please buy the following items: salt, pepper, crayfish, tomatoes and meat.

·        The bishop reminded the deacons of this timeless truth: Honesty is the best policy.

Further colon is used to introduce the definition or description, or (even) the interpretation of what comes before it, as in the example.

·        There is one person we need in Nigeria: A leader.

Where quotation marks are not used, colon is used to introduce speech in a report or a play e.g.

Pilate:                       Are you the king of the Jews?

Jesus:                                    You said that I am.

 

SEMI-COLON

The semi-colon (;), that is halt colon, which introduces a stronger break than comma, is used to break the clauses of a compound sentence, not joined by a conjunction. Example:

·        Giving is good; receiving is better.

·        Ability hits the mark; presumption outshoots it.

Semi-colon is used to introduce words of listing or explanation or examples, as in the following examples:

·        He does well; that is, he avoids evils.

·        You should be very careful; in other words, you should be up and doing.

·        She has the best of all virtues; namely, truth.

A semi-colon introduces special adverbial forms (that is, conjunctive adverbs, like therefore, however, otherwise, consequently, et cetera) that join clauses that do not depend on each other. Example:

·        I make mistakes; therefore, I am human.

·        Obi passed the examination; however, he has not passed good manner.

·        The sinner must mend his ways; otherwise, God will abandon him on the judgment day.

 

DASH

Dash (-), is a punctuation mark, used to punctuate the beginning and end of a suspension in the form of a sentence. Example:

·        The meeting – if God so wills – will go well.

Dash, is conjunctively, used as equivalents of “to” or “er” as in the following:

·        Onitsha – Benin – Lagos.

·        Muslim – Christian dialogue.

·        1997 – 1998 year of the Holy Spirit.

 

HYPHEN

Hyphen (-), slightly shorter than dash, is used to connect two or more words into expression, as in these: Mother-in-law, Self-control, Trouser-before-knickers, etc.

Hyphen is also used to connect words in an adjectival compound. Example:

·        An out-of-date experience.

·        A well-known leader.

Hyphen is used to connote a prefix, et cetera, to a proper name or its compound, e.g. Anti-hero, non-Nigeria, Pan-African, hyper-inflation, et cetera.

Hyphen is used to connect two or more words into a part of speech, and to make a single expression of two or more words when the latter is a participle. Example:

·        To-between

·        Right-thinking

By connecting words in one, hyphen is used to prevent confusion, and to separate


prefixes, and to join a word (an adjective or noun) to a noun ending in “ed”. Example:

·        A poor-rate environment, a poor-rate environment etc.

·        Re-discover/rediscover, re-present/represent, etc.

·        Stiff-necked fool, full-fledged beggar.

Hyphen, is also used as adjectives, to break compound numbers, coined and reduplicate words. Examples:

·        Thirty-three year; one-fifth of the number

·        Never-do-well, Mr. Know-it-all, bye-bye, tip-top, willy-nilly.

 

FULL STOP

Full stop (.) is placed at the end of all sentences that are not exclamations or questions, to indicate a complete break.

Full stop is also used after abbreviations. Example: B.Phil., a.m., Mon., Dec., e.g., et cetera.

Full stops are not needed acronym or in capitalized abbreviations. Examples:

·        WAL; SAP; NADECO; et cetera.

·        VOA; BBC; PLC; et cetera.

 

EXCLAMATION MARK

Exclamation mark (! ), is a note of admiration used after exclamatory words or phrases or clauses, or all. Examples:

·        My goodness! John!

·        Halt there! Now go!

·        Order! Order!

 

QUESTION MARK

A question mark (?), is an interrogative mark of punctuation placed after a question, or before a word or date whose corrections is questioned. Example:

·        Who are you?

·         What is your father’s name?

·        Aghor? 1508 - 1585

Question marks are not used to punctuate indirect question.

·        We asked who he is and what his father’s name is.

 

QUOTATION MARK

Quotation mark (““ ) or (‘‘ ), is used round a direct citation, as in this:

·        “Cowards die many times before their death”. Caesar said.

·        “Fools die for want of wisdom”, the scripture said.

Considering the examples, if Caesar said or the scripture said interrupt their quotations, the inverted commas (both opening and close) or the quotation marks are used to in the following ways:

·        ‘Cowards’. Caesar said; die many times before their death.

·        ‘Fools’, the scripture said, “die, for want of wisdom”.

 

 

THE END

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