PUNCTUATION

SEMI COLON (;)
It represents a longer pause than that indicated by a comma. It is used:
• To seaparate clauses of a compound sentence if they contain a comma:
He was a brave, large-hearted man; and we all honoured him.
Reading makes a full man; speaking, a ready man; writing, an exact man.
• It is used between independent clauses not connected by a conjunction:
Her court was pure; her life serene.
He went his way; I went mine.
• It is used before such expressions as however, then, moreover, nevertheless,
hence, thus, for instance, consequently, that is, therefore, indeed, still, besides, yet
and accordingly, if they come between independent clauses not connected by a
conjunction:
Our teacher is very strict; therefore, I do a lot of work.
COLON (:)
It represents a still longer pause than that indicated by the semi-colon. It is used:
4.0 Before enumeration:
Send me the following articles: pen, paper and note-books.
The principal parts of a verb are: the present tense, the past tense and the
past participle.
5.0 To introduce a long quotation:
Dr, Johnson says: “Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion.”
6.0 To introduce an explanation or clarification:
This is what I want: a beautiful house with proper furnishing.
7.0 Between sentences grammatically independent but closely connected in sense:
Study to acquire a habit of thinking: no study is more important.
PRACTICE SET
Insert full stops, commas, semi-colons and colons, wherever necessary, in the
following sentences:
3 We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing while others judge us by
what we have already done.
4 Akbar the great Mughal Emperor was a lover of music
5 to err is human to forgive divine
6 you have had three accidents consequently you may not borrow the car
7 I came I saw I conquered
8 Guru Nanak Dev says truth is great
9 Shakespeare wrote four tragedies Hamlet Mcbeth King Lear and Othello.
10 The problem is this how we will reach there without the address
11 I had to meet my boss yesterday therefore I couldn’t come to your place
12 She is quite and studious he is noisy and active
SIGN OF INTEROGATION (?)
A sign of interrogation is used after sentences, which ask questions:
What is your name?
Where are you going?
Will you meet me?
It should be noted that the sign of interrogation is never used after an indirect
question:
He asked her whether she would come to meet him or not.
SIGN OF EXCLAMATION (!)
1. The sign of exclamation is used after such words, phrases or sentences
which express sudden feeling, emotion, excitement, wish, surprise,
intense longing etc.:
What a pleasant surprise!
Help! I will drown.
Sit!
Alas! He is dead.
2. It is also used for short commands:
3. Get out!
4. Shut up!
5. Don’t touch!
6. Declarative, imperative or interrogative sentences may become
exclamatory if spoken with strong feeling:
She forgot her purse. (Declarative)
She forgot her purse! (Exclamatory)
Wait for me. (Imperative)
Wait for me! (Exclamatory)
Did you sit here? (Interrogative)
Did you sit here! (Exclamatory)