PUNCTUATION

I have seen test questions based on punctuation in certain exams – like the one used to be conducted by
SIBM. The CAT too has at times included aspects of punctuation in their questions. You had a correctly
punctuated option as the scoring one against incorrectly punctuated ones. It is, however, useful to have
some clarity about the rules of punctuation, though not from the examination point of view alone. Besides,
a handbook on usage cannot afford to leave this out.
We will examine only a few punctuation marks. It is better to mention what is left out. I have left out the
rules related to the use of the question mark, the exclamation mark, the quotation marks, the brackets, and
the hyphen. The others are examined from a practical point of view. Finer details are not mentioned.




Commas
Use commas to separate each item (including the one after and) in a series of three or more.
Correct: The will required that her money be equally divided among her husband, daughter, son, and
nephew.
Omitting the comma after son would change the meaning of the sentence and indicate that the son and
nephew would have to share one third of the money. Omit this comma (called the Oxford or Serial comma)
only when you are sure of the meaning you want to communicate.
When two adjectives qualify a noun, e.g. intelligent, talented lady, use a comma to separate them only
when it is possible to insert and in between the adjectives (intelligent and talented). If you cannot insert
and do not use the comma.
Correct: She is an intelligent, talented lady. (intelligent and talented)
Correct: She is an intelligent young lady. (not intelligent and young)
Use a comma when an ly adjective is used with other adjectives.
Correct: She is a friendly, young lady.
To test if an ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with the noun. If it can, (friendly lady) use
the comma.
Incorrect: I get headaches in brightly, lit rooms.
brightly is not an adjective because it cannot be used alone with rooms.
Correct: I get headaches in brightly lit rooms.
Notice the use of commas (or their absence) in date:
16th July 2004
June 16, 2004
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
16 June 2004
In sentences use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year and after the year.
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Correct: I met my wife on September 25, 1988, in Ruparel College.
Correct: I met my wife on September 25, 1988 in Ruparel College.
If any part of the date is omitted, leave out the comma.
Correct: We met in September 1988 in Ruparel College.
Use a comma to separate the city from the state and after the state.
Correct: I lived in Mumbai, Maharashtra, for 20 years.
Correct: I lived in Mumbai, Maharashtra for 20 years.
Use commas to surround degrees or titles used with names.
Sreenivas, B. Tech., spoke to Shilpa, MBA.
Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the flow of the sentence.
Correct: I am, as you have probably noticed, very nervous about this.
When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma after it. Conversely, do not use a comma
when the sentence starts with the main clause followed by a dependent clause.
Correct: If you are not sure about this, let me know now.
Correct: Let me know now if you are not sure about this.
Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence.
Correct: To apply for this job, you must have previous experience.
Correct: On 14th many couples will give each other gifts.
(A comma after the date is optional – the phrase at the beginning is of only two words On 14th.)
If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description following it is considered nonessential
and should be surrounded by commas. (description introduced using who or which)
Chandra, who is the director of Philab, is quitting. (Chandra is named so the description is not
essential)
The boy who comes from Vasai Road got calls from all the six IIMs.
We would not know which boy is being referred to otherwise; therefore, no commas are used.
Using a comma is optional to separate two sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction — and, or, but,
for, nor. (See the chapter on conjunctions.)
Use the comma to separate two sentences if it will help avoid confusion.
Correct: I chose the colours red and green, and blue was his first choice.
Use a comma to introduce or interrupt direct speech.
He actually said, “I do not care.”
“Why,” I asked, “do you always forget to do it?”
Use a comma when beginning sentences with introductory words such as well, now, or yes.
Yes, I do need that report.




Colons
Use the colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list of items when introductory words such as
namely, for example, or that is do not appear. Skip two spaces after a colon.
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You may be required to bring many items: tables, chairs, and computers..
I want the following items: A table, chair, and computer.
I want a secretary who can do the following: 1) type, 2) take shorthand, and 3) answer telephones.
But, I want a secretary who can 1) type, 2) take shorthand, and 3) answer telephones.
No colon precedes the numbers in the last example because I want a secretary who can is not a complete
sentence.
Use the colon to introduce a list in tabular form whether it is preceded by a complete sentence or not.
I want a secretary who can:
a) type
b) take shorthand
c) answer telephones
I want a secretary who can do the following:
a ) type
b) take shorthand
c) answer telephones
Use the colon to introduce a direct quotation.
It is stated in the Constitution: “Any Indian national above 18 is entitled to vote”.




Capitalization
Capitalize the first word of a sentence. Capitalize a proper noun.
Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence.
He said, “Treat her as you would your own daughter.”
“Look out!” she screamed. “You almost ran into my child.”
It is often requested that you capitalize a person’s title when it precedes the name.
Chairperson Banga OR chairperson Banga
Do not capitalize when the title is acting as a description following the name.
Mr. Banga, the chairperson of the company, will address us at noon.
Capitalize when the person’s title follows the name on the address or signature line.
Sincerely,
Mr. Banga, Chairperson
Capitalize the titles of high-ranking government officials when used with or without their names.
The President will address the Lok Sabha. All MPs are expected to attend.
President Kalam will discuss the security.
Capitalize directions only when they refer to specific regions.
We have had Presidents from the South.
The southwest monsoon starts in June.
Do not capitalize names of seasons.
I love summer colours and rain flowers.
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Capitalize titles of publications except for a, an, the, but, as, if, and, or, nor, and other little words when
used internally. Capitalize short verb forms like Is, Are, and Be.
The Day of the Jackal
Who Moved My Cheese?
Capitalize words derived from proper nouns.
Correct: I must take English and maths.
English is capitalized because it comes from the proper noun England but maths does not come from
any proper noun).
Correct: I must take French and Mathematics.
(Mathematics is a specific course).




Semicolon
Use the semicolon in place of a period to separate two sentences where the conjunction has been left out.
Correct: Call me tomorrow; I will explain everything then.
Correct: I have paid my dues; therefore, I expect all the privileges listed in the Student Rule Book.
Do not use a semicolon in front of words such as therefore and however if they do not connect two
complete sentences or are used as interrupters.
Correct: I would, therefore, like a response.
Correct: I would be happy, however, to speak in the Seminar.
Use the semicolon to avoid confusion where commas already exist.
This conference has people that have come from Mumbai, Maharashtra; Bangalore, Karnataka; and
Chennai, TN.
Period
Use a period after a sentence. Use a period after an indirect question.
He asked where his suitcase was.
If the last word in the sentence ends in a period, do not follow it with another period.
I know that M.D. She is my sister-in-law.
Please shop, cook, etc. I will do the floor.
Ellipses
‘Ellipsis’ is singular and ‘ellipses’ is plural
The omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but that must be supplied to make a
construction grammatically complete is called an ellipsis; marks … or *** or — is used to indicate an
ellipsis.
If words are omitted at the end of a quoted sentence, use ellipses marks followed by the necessary ending
punctuation mark.
She said, “Can you tell me what happened to...?”
The grammar book states, “The omission of one or more words that are obviously understood … is
called an ellipsis.”
The original sentence read:
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The omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but that must be supplied to make a
construction grammatically complete is called an ellipsis




Apostrophes
Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter has been
removed.
Examples:
Don’t (do not)
Hasn’t (has not)
Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show possession by one
person.
the boy’s room
To show possession by more than one person, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the
apostrophe.
boys’ room.
Birla’s car (car belongs to one Birla)
Birlas’ car (car belongs the Birla family)
To show singular possession with proper nouns ending in s or an s sound, you have the option of dropping
the s that would normally follow the apostrophe.
Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.
Anil and Sunita’s home is under construction.
Anil’s and Sunil’s job contracts will be renewed next year. (separate ownership)
Anil and Sunita’s applications for loans have been approved by the banks. (joint ownership of more
than one application)
Apostrophe used with pronouns will indicate contractions. None of the pronouns show the possessive using
the apostrophe.
No apostrophe in yours, hers, theirs, mine, his, its
It’s nice (It is nice)
Its greatness (the greatness belongs to it)
Avoid apostrophes to show the plurals of numbers and contractions.
Correct: She consulted three MBAs.
Correct: I had lived here in the 70s.
Writing Numbers
The numbers one through ten should be spelled out; use figures for numbers greater than ten.
Correct: I want five copies.
Correct: I want 15 copies.
With a group of related numbers where one number is above 10 in a sentence, write them all in figures. Use
words if all related numbers are 10 or below.
Correct: I asked for 5 copies, not 50.
Correct: My two dogs fought with their one cat.
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Incorrect: I asked for five copies, not 50.
If the numbers are unrelated, then you may use both figures and words.
Correct: I asked for 50 pencils for my five students.
Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens with them.
Correct: One-half of the cakes have been eaten.
Correct: a two-thirds majority in the parliament.
Represent large numbers in the simplest way possible.
The simplest way to express large numbers is the best. And be consistent in the form you use.
10 lakh rupees
Rs. 10 lakh
ten lakh rupees
NOT
Rs. 10,00,000
Correct: You can earn anywhere from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 5,000,000.
Incorrect: You can earn anywhere from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 50 lakh.
Write decimals in figures. Put a zero (0) in front of a decimal unless the decimal itself begins with a zero.
Interest rates increased by 0.75%
Last quarter GDP increased by .09%
Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck.
Do not hyphenate one hundred, two hundred, etc.