Author: Curtis Newbold

Semicolons are often seen as a strange and mysterious punctuation mark; they’re part period and part comma. So why use them? They’re useful to break up the stylistic approach to sentence structure, allowing writers to combine two related thoughts, often removing a word or two in the process. They’re also

Quotation marks are most commonly used to signify direct quotes. However, they also have a unique quality in that they can communicate sarcasm or snarkiness. They can also draw attention to words being described as words and they distinguish a short media piece from its larger container. Good writers need

Question marks are easily recognized has the icon that turns a statement into a question. You may be interested to know, however, that while question marks typically fall at the end of a sentence, they can sometimes be used mid-setence. Terms You Need to Know to Use Question Marks QUESTIONA

Periods (also known as “full stops” or “full points”) are probably the most recognizable and widely used punctuation mark. Their primary and most common purpose is to end a sentence. But periods can (and should!) be used for a variety of other purposes as well, including creating acronyms and abbreviations.

Parentheses are valuable writing tools; they allow writers to insert added detail within a sentence, clarify a writer’s thinking, or include citations to avoid plagiarism. It’s important to know how to use parentheses—especially for citation purposes!—but you won’t want to overuse parentheses for the purposes of inserting added detail. Be

Hyphens are incredibly helpful for clarifying meaning. Notice, for example, the difference in meaning between these two phrases: “hot water bottle” and “hot-water bottle.” In the first phrase, there is a bottle that is physically hot to the touch. In the second phrase, it’s a bottle that holds hot water.

Exclamation marks (also known as exclamation “points” in American English) help clarify emotion or emphasis. While their interpretation is nuanced, exclamation marks help declare a dramatic declaration that feels more emphatic than a sentence ending in a simple period. In order to really make the emotion work, it’s best to

En dashes are probably the most misused and misunderstood punctuation mark. They are longer than a hyphen yet shorter than an em dash and they really only serve one purpose: to indicate a period of time. While their use may seem subtle, using them correctly can show an acute awareness

Em dashes allow for sophisticated and creative approaches to writing, giving the writer unique abilities to add emphasis, clarify information, and interrupt thoughts right in the middle of a sentence! While correct use of em dashes can add variety and intrigue to writing, overuse em dashes can sound informal and