Below, you\u2019ll find a detailed guide on how to use English punctuation marks correctly.<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/span><\/h2>\n\nHyphens vs. Dashes<\/a><\/h2>\nWhat Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/a><\/h3>\nHow to Use Dashes<\/a><\/h3>\nEm Dash vs. En Dash<\/a><\/h3>\nWhat Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/a><\/h2>\nSemicolons: When to Use Them (and Some Examples)<\/a><\/h2>\nCommas<\/a><\/h2>\nThe Oxford Comma<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/a>Hyphens vs. Dashes<\/h2>\nWhat do a man-eating snake, a 200-page novel, and a well-known footballer have in common?<\/p>\n
To talk about them, we need to use hyphens. In English punctuation, a hyphen is a mark that writers use to join words.<\/p>\n
A dash, on the other hand, is a longer marker that people use to indicate a pause, the beginning of an independent construction, or a parenthetical comment. For example, we can say something like: A dash \u2014which looks like a long, horizontal line\u2014 is a useful mark of separation that will make your sentences clearer and more relaxed than if you were only using commas.<\/p>\n
<\/a>What Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/h3>\nThe hyphen is an\u00a0English punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words to make a single concept. Constructions like \u201cdaughter-in-law\u201d or \u201ca 20-year-old girl\u201d are examples of hyphenated words.<\/p>\n
![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/worried-redhead-european-woman-thinks-what-answer-give-recently-received-message-wears-optical-glasses-sweater-concentrated-aside-with-doutbtful-expression-min-1024x683.jpg\")
People photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nUse hyphens in the following cases:<\/p>\n
\n- to join words that serve as a single adjective, when followed by the noun they modify:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- a two-way road<\/li>\n
- chocolate-covered cherries<\/li>\n
- a little-known writer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Remember: a compound modifier only is only hyphenated when it is immediately followed by a noun. Otherwise, it doesn\u2019t need a hyphen.<\/p>\n
\n- a pet-friendly apartment<\/li>\n
- the apartment is pet friendly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- With compound numbers:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Our much-loved aunt was seventy-three years old.<\/li>\n
- R.R Tolkien published his first book when he was forty-one years old.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- To avoid confusion due to a tricky combination of letters:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- re-sign a document (as opposed to \u201cresign <\/em>from a job\u201d)<\/li>\n
- semi-independent (to avoid having to \u201ci\u201d together)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- with the prefixes ex-, all- self-; with the suffix -elect; and between a prefix and an upper-case word.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- ex-wife<\/li>\n
- all-inclusive<\/li>\n
- self-esteem<\/li>\n
- president-elect<\/li>\n
- anti-American<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>How to Use Dashes<\/h3>\nLonger than a hyphen, dashes are a type of English punctuation mark commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. In their book The Elements of Style<\/i><\/em>, William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White describe hyphens as \u201cmarks of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses\u201d.<\/p>\nWant\u00a0to\u00a0know what different types of dashes there are and how to use them in a sentence? Keep reading\u00a0our guide on English punctuation!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Em Dash vs. En Dash<\/h4>\nEn dashes, which are called like that because they have the width of an upper-case N, are used as a kind of super hyphen that allows you to add clarity when forming complex compound constructions, i.e, multi-word adjectives that can\u2019t easily be hyphenated.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
\n- Mariah Carey\u2013style high-pitch vocals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Since \u201cMariah Carey\u201d is not a common compound modifier, adding a hyphen would look odd.<\/p>\n
\n- pre\u2013World War II alliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sometimes, it\u2019s easier to simply paraphrase, and say something like \u201calliances\u00a0made before World War II\u201d.<\/p>\n
En dashes are an element of English punctuation that is\u00a0crucial in scientific and scholarly writing because they replace the word \u201cto\u201d when used between numbers, in the sense of \u201cthrough\u201d or \u201cup to\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n- \u201cFind more information on T cells on pages 79\u2013113\u201d.<\/li>\n
- \u201cIn the years 500\u20131066 AD, during a period known as The Dark Ages\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Em dash, which is about as wide as an M, is used to indicate a pause in a sentence, but it\u2019s used in\u00a0rather\u00a0informal\u00a0contexts. Stronger than a comma, but weaker than a semicolon, it\u2019s a relatively lax punctuation mark\u00a0compared to the highly technical en dash.<\/p>\n
You can use em dashes for\u00a0the following purposes:<\/p>\n
\n- To draw the reader\u2019s attention to supplementary information:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- The new teacher\u2014who was wearing a highly inappropriate skirt\u2014entered the classroom as if she was walking on a catwalk.<\/li>\n
- She opened the gate and there he stood\u2014her long lost son.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- You can also use Em dashes to indicate a sudden interruption. This is especially common in dialogue:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- \u201cListen to me! Promise me that\u2014\u201d But then the man cut the phone cord and I didn\u2019t get to hear the rest of her phrase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>What Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/h2>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/hardworking-focused-woman-trendy-glasses-concentrating-writing-essay-sitting-cozy-cafe-near-laptop-working-making-notes-carefully-min1-300x200.jpg\")
Business photo created by lookstudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nA colon\u00a0is an English punctuation mark that\u00a0introduces a piece of information that illustrates or explains the information that precedes the colon. It does the job of directing the reader to the information following it.<\/p>\n
Think of a colon as an arrow that points to whatever comes next, as if saying \u201cthus\u201d, \u201cas follows,\u201d or \u201cwhich is\/are,\u201d:<\/p>\n
There are four types of bones in the body: long, short, flat and irregular.<\/p>\n
Colons are also used to introduce quotes:<\/p>\n
I would like to finish by quoting the great Joni Mitchell: \u201cChase away the demons, and they will take the angels with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Semicolons: When to Use Them (and\u00a0Some\u00a0Examples)<\/h2>\nIn this section, we will attempt to answer one of the most frequent questions asked by English students: How (and when!) are semicolons used?<\/p>\n
\n- Stronger than commas but not as isolating as periods, semicolons are used to join two independent phrases that are closely related without using a word to state that. For example, in the sentence below, the semicolon is replacing a cause-effect word, such as \u201csince\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We can go to the library to write our paper; Fridays are pretty quiet there.<\/em><\/p>\nAs you can see, both clauses are completely independent, which means that they could make standalone sentences. However, they can be separated by a semicolon because there is a logical connection between them.<\/p>\n
\n- You can use semicolons to separate the elements of a list when these are too long or contain internal punctuation. In such cases, the semicolon helps us keep track of the separations between the elements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The Chronicles of Narnia series has seven novels: <\/em>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; The Last Battle.<\/p>\n<\/a>Commas<\/h2>\nCommas, which are used to indicate a small break or pause, are the most popular marks in English punctuation. But are you sure you know how to use them?<\/p>\n
![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/indoor-shot-thoughtful-concentrated-young-businessman-wears-white-shirt-office-min-1024x683.jpg\")
Business photo created by nakaridore - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nFirst, let\u2019s start by saying when you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>use them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas between a subject and a verb.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My sister Julia, is a wonderful cook. (Incorrect)
\nMy sister Julia is a wonderful cook. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas with compound predicates:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Walter will sing, and play the guitar (Incorrect)
\nWalter will sing and play the guitar. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- Commas should also be avoided when you want to join two independent clauses. In such cases, you should use a semicolon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We were out of food, I went to the supermarket. (Incorrect)
\nWe were out of food; I went to the supermarket. (Correct)<\/p>\n
Use commas in the following contexts:<\/p>\n
\n- After a participial phrase that introduces a clause:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Smiling to the crowd, the musicians walked onto the stage.<\/p>\n
\n- Between parenthetical comments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The ocean, I was happy to see, had a wonderful colour.<\/p>\n
\n- Before a question tag.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You\u2019ve seen this film before, haven\u2019t you?<\/p>\n
\n- When addressing a person by name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Dave, come over here right now.<\/p>\n
\n- With an appositive (a phrase that provides additional information)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My brother, Julio, is a wonderful father.<\/p>\n
\n- After \u201cbut\u201d, when it introduces an independent clause.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
He\u2019s a great husband, but he\u2019s an even better dad.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Oxford Comma<\/h3>\nWhat is the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the one that comes right before the last element in a list.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0is one of the most divisive elements of English punctuation. As we said earlier, when listing three or more elements, commas should divide each item of the list. However, the last comma\u2014the one that comes before \u201cand\u201d\u2014is not mandatory. This comma, which is often called the Oxford\u00a0or serial\u00a0comma, is a stylistic choice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal, and butter. (With the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal and butter. (Without the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s all the debate about? Well, in some cases, not using the Oxford comma can cause misunderstandings. Consider the following example:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u00a0love my teachers, Ricky Martin and Oprah.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Though many people would argue that it\u2019s clear that this is a list because of the context, some others may interpret that Ricky Martin and Oprah are the aforementioned teachers.\u00a0Oxford comma detractors, then, would say that if the sentence is confusing, it should be rephrased.\u00a0Some possible\u00a0alternatives\u00a0are:<\/p>\n
\n- I love Ricky Martin,\u00a0Oprah\u00a0and my teachers.<\/li>\n
- Besides my teachers, I also love Ricky Martin\u00a0and Oprah.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Whether you prefer to rephrase the original\u00a0sentence or use an Oxford comma will depend greatly on the stylebook you\u00a0have to follow or your own personal preference.<\/p>\n
As you can see, correct English punctuation is your best ally when writing professional emails or academic papers. Punctuation allows you to make your message meaningful and clear and it helps your readers follow your arguments better.<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nWant to learn more about English punctuation and how it can help you better your writing? The best way to improve your communication in the workplace is with the help of a professional native English teacher. They'll introduce you to all the vocabulary you'll need to impress your co-workers and wow your boss. The best part? They can adapt their classes to your schedule, so you can accommodate your studies, your work, and your personal life in the way that best suits you. Contact us now<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and get a free trial class with one of our native English teachers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s often assumed that all a student needs to master the English language is a good command of grammatical structure, excellent use of tenses, and a rich and varied vocabulary. However, there is a vital aspect of the English language that shouldn\u2019t be disregarded \u2014English punctuation. Punctuation helps readers understand clauses and sentences through visual(\u2026)<\/p>\n
Hyphens vs. Dashes<\/a><\/h2>\nWhat Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/a><\/h3>\nHow to Use Dashes<\/a><\/h3>\nEm Dash vs. En Dash<\/a><\/h3>\nWhat Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/a><\/h2>\nSemicolons: When to Use Them (and Some Examples)<\/a><\/h2>\nCommas<\/a><\/h2>\nThe Oxford Comma<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/a>Hyphens vs. Dashes<\/h2>\nWhat do a man-eating snake, a 200-page novel, and a well-known footballer have in common?<\/p>\n
To talk about them, we need to use hyphens. In English punctuation, a hyphen is a mark that writers use to join words.<\/p>\n
A dash, on the other hand, is a longer marker that people use to indicate a pause, the beginning of an independent construction, or a parenthetical comment. For example, we can say something like: A dash \u2014which looks like a long, horizontal line\u2014 is a useful mark of separation that will make your sentences clearer and more relaxed than if you were only using commas.<\/p>\n
<\/a>What Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/h3>\nThe hyphen is an\u00a0English punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words to make a single concept. Constructions like \u201cdaughter-in-law\u201d or \u201ca 20-year-old girl\u201d are examples of hyphenated words.<\/p>\n
People photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nUse hyphens in the following cases:<\/p>\n
\n- to join words that serve as a single adjective, when followed by the noun they modify:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- a two-way road<\/li>\n
- chocolate-covered cherries<\/li>\n
- a little-known writer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Remember: a compound modifier only is only hyphenated when it is immediately followed by a noun. Otherwise, it doesn\u2019t need a hyphen.<\/p>\n
\n- a pet-friendly apartment<\/li>\n
- the apartment is pet friendly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- With compound numbers:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Our much-loved aunt was seventy-three years old.<\/li>\n
- R.R Tolkien published his first book when he was forty-one years old.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- To avoid confusion due to a tricky combination of letters:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- re-sign a document (as opposed to \u201cresign <\/em>from a job\u201d)<\/li>\n
- semi-independent (to avoid having to \u201ci\u201d together)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- with the prefixes ex-, all- self-; with the suffix -elect; and between a prefix and an upper-case word.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- ex-wife<\/li>\n
- all-inclusive<\/li>\n
- self-esteem<\/li>\n
- president-elect<\/li>\n
- anti-American<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>How to Use Dashes<\/h3>\nLonger than a hyphen, dashes are a type of English punctuation mark commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. In their book The Elements of Style<\/i><\/em>, William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White describe hyphens as \u201cmarks of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses\u201d.<\/p>\nWant\u00a0to\u00a0know what different types of dashes there are and how to use them in a sentence? Keep reading\u00a0our guide on English punctuation!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Em Dash vs. En Dash<\/h4>\nEn dashes, which are called like that because they have the width of an upper-case N, are used as a kind of super hyphen that allows you to add clarity when forming complex compound constructions, i.e, multi-word adjectives that can\u2019t easily be hyphenated.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
\n- Mariah Carey\u2013style high-pitch vocals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Since \u201cMariah Carey\u201d is not a common compound modifier, adding a hyphen would look odd.<\/p>\n
\n- pre\u2013World War II alliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sometimes, it\u2019s easier to simply paraphrase, and say something like \u201calliances\u00a0made before World War II\u201d.<\/p>\n
En dashes are an element of English punctuation that is\u00a0crucial in scientific and scholarly writing because they replace the word \u201cto\u201d when used between numbers, in the sense of \u201cthrough\u201d or \u201cup to\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n- \u201cFind more information on T cells on pages 79\u2013113\u201d.<\/li>\n
- \u201cIn the years 500\u20131066 AD, during a period known as The Dark Ages\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Em dash, which is about as wide as an M, is used to indicate a pause in a sentence, but it\u2019s used in\u00a0rather\u00a0informal\u00a0contexts. Stronger than a comma, but weaker than a semicolon, it\u2019s a relatively lax punctuation mark\u00a0compared to the highly technical en dash.<\/p>\n
You can use em dashes for\u00a0the following purposes:<\/p>\n
\n- To draw the reader\u2019s attention to supplementary information:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- The new teacher\u2014who was wearing a highly inappropriate skirt\u2014entered the classroom as if she was walking on a catwalk.<\/li>\n
- She opened the gate and there he stood\u2014her long lost son.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- You can also use Em dashes to indicate a sudden interruption. This is especially common in dialogue:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- \u201cListen to me! Promise me that\u2014\u201d But then the man cut the phone cord and I didn\u2019t get to hear the rest of her phrase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>What Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/h2>\nBusiness photo created by lookstudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nA colon\u00a0is an English punctuation mark that\u00a0introduces a piece of information that illustrates or explains the information that precedes the colon. It does the job of directing the reader to the information following it.<\/p>\n
Think of a colon as an arrow that points to whatever comes next, as if saying \u201cthus\u201d, \u201cas follows,\u201d or \u201cwhich is\/are,\u201d:<\/p>\n
There are four types of bones in the body: long, short, flat and irregular.<\/p>\n
Colons are also used to introduce quotes:<\/p>\n
I would like to finish by quoting the great Joni Mitchell: \u201cChase away the demons, and they will take the angels with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Semicolons: When to Use Them (and\u00a0Some\u00a0Examples)<\/h2>\nIn this section, we will attempt to answer one of the most frequent questions asked by English students: How (and when!) are semicolons used?<\/p>\n
\n- Stronger than commas but not as isolating as periods, semicolons are used to join two independent phrases that are closely related without using a word to state that. For example, in the sentence below, the semicolon is replacing a cause-effect word, such as \u201csince\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We can go to the library to write our paper; Fridays are pretty quiet there.<\/em><\/p>\nAs you can see, both clauses are completely independent, which means that they could make standalone sentences. However, they can be separated by a semicolon because there is a logical connection between them.<\/p>\n
\n- You can use semicolons to separate the elements of a list when these are too long or contain internal punctuation. In such cases, the semicolon helps us keep track of the separations between the elements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The Chronicles of Narnia series has seven novels: <\/em>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; The Last Battle.<\/p>\n<\/a>Commas<\/h2>\nCommas, which are used to indicate a small break or pause, are the most popular marks in English punctuation. But are you sure you know how to use them?<\/p>\n
Business photo created by nakaridore - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nFirst, let\u2019s start by saying when you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>use them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas between a subject and a verb.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My sister Julia, is a wonderful cook. (Incorrect)
\nMy sister Julia is a wonderful cook. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas with compound predicates:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Walter will sing, and play the guitar (Incorrect)
\nWalter will sing and play the guitar. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- Commas should also be avoided when you want to join two independent clauses. In such cases, you should use a semicolon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We were out of food, I went to the supermarket. (Incorrect)
\nWe were out of food; I went to the supermarket. (Correct)<\/p>\n
Use commas in the following contexts:<\/p>\n
\n- After a participial phrase that introduces a clause:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Smiling to the crowd, the musicians walked onto the stage.<\/p>\n
\n- Between parenthetical comments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The ocean, I was happy to see, had a wonderful colour.<\/p>\n
\n- Before a question tag.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You\u2019ve seen this film before, haven\u2019t you?<\/p>\n
\n- When addressing a person by name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Dave, come over here right now.<\/p>\n
\n- With an appositive (a phrase that provides additional information)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My brother, Julio, is a wonderful father.<\/p>\n
\n- After \u201cbut\u201d, when it introduces an independent clause.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
He\u2019s a great husband, but he\u2019s an even better dad.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Oxford Comma<\/h3>\nWhat is the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the one that comes right before the last element in a list.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0is one of the most divisive elements of English punctuation. As we said earlier, when listing three or more elements, commas should divide each item of the list. However, the last comma\u2014the one that comes before \u201cand\u201d\u2014is not mandatory. This comma, which is often called the Oxford\u00a0or serial\u00a0comma, is a stylistic choice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal, and butter. (With the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal and butter. (Without the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s all the debate about? Well, in some cases, not using the Oxford comma can cause misunderstandings. Consider the following example:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u00a0love my teachers, Ricky Martin and Oprah.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Though many people would argue that it\u2019s clear that this is a list because of the context, some others may interpret that Ricky Martin and Oprah are the aforementioned teachers.\u00a0Oxford comma detractors, then, would say that if the sentence is confusing, it should be rephrased.\u00a0Some possible\u00a0alternatives\u00a0are:<\/p>\n
\n- I love Ricky Martin,\u00a0Oprah\u00a0and my teachers.<\/li>\n
- Besides my teachers, I also love Ricky Martin\u00a0and Oprah.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Whether you prefer to rephrase the original\u00a0sentence or use an Oxford comma will depend greatly on the stylebook you\u00a0have to follow or your own personal preference.<\/p>\n
As you can see, correct English punctuation is your best ally when writing professional emails or academic papers. Punctuation allows you to make your message meaningful and clear and it helps your readers follow your arguments better.<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nWant to learn more about English punctuation and how it can help you better your writing? The best way to improve your communication in the workplace is with the help of a professional native English teacher. They'll introduce you to all the vocabulary you'll need to impress your co-workers and wow your boss. The best part? They can adapt their classes to your schedule, so you can accommodate your studies, your work, and your personal life in the way that best suits you. Contact us now<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and get a free trial class with one of our native English teachers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s often assumed that all a student needs to master the English language is a good command of grammatical structure, excellent use of tenses, and a rich and varied vocabulary. However, there is a vital aspect of the English language that shouldn\u2019t be disregarded \u2014English punctuation. Punctuation helps readers understand clauses and sentences through visual(\u2026)<\/p>\n
How to Use Dashes<\/a><\/h3>\nEm Dash vs. En Dash<\/a><\/h3>\nWhat Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/a><\/h2>\nSemicolons: When to Use Them (and Some Examples)<\/a><\/h2>\nCommas<\/a><\/h2>\nThe Oxford Comma<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/a>Hyphens vs. Dashes<\/h2>\nWhat do a man-eating snake, a 200-page novel, and a well-known footballer have in common?<\/p>\n
To talk about them, we need to use hyphens. In English punctuation, a hyphen is a mark that writers use to join words.<\/p>\n
A dash, on the other hand, is a longer marker that people use to indicate a pause, the beginning of an independent construction, or a parenthetical comment. For example, we can say something like: A dash \u2014which looks like a long, horizontal line\u2014 is a useful mark of separation that will make your sentences clearer and more relaxed than if you were only using commas.<\/p>\n
<\/a>What Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/h3>\nThe hyphen is an\u00a0English punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words to make a single concept. Constructions like \u201cdaughter-in-law\u201d or \u201ca 20-year-old girl\u201d are examples of hyphenated words.<\/p>\n
People photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nUse hyphens in the following cases:<\/p>\n
\n- to join words that serve as a single adjective, when followed by the noun they modify:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- a two-way road<\/li>\n
- chocolate-covered cherries<\/li>\n
- a little-known writer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Remember: a compound modifier only is only hyphenated when it is immediately followed by a noun. Otherwise, it doesn\u2019t need a hyphen.<\/p>\n
\n- a pet-friendly apartment<\/li>\n
- the apartment is pet friendly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- With compound numbers:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Our much-loved aunt was seventy-three years old.<\/li>\n
- R.R Tolkien published his first book when he was forty-one years old.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- To avoid confusion due to a tricky combination of letters:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- re-sign a document (as opposed to \u201cresign <\/em>from a job\u201d)<\/li>\n
- semi-independent (to avoid having to \u201ci\u201d together)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- with the prefixes ex-, all- self-; with the suffix -elect; and between a prefix and an upper-case word.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- ex-wife<\/li>\n
- all-inclusive<\/li>\n
- self-esteem<\/li>\n
- president-elect<\/li>\n
- anti-American<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>How to Use Dashes<\/h3>\nLonger than a hyphen, dashes are a type of English punctuation mark commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. In their book The Elements of Style<\/i><\/em>, William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White describe hyphens as \u201cmarks of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses\u201d.<\/p>\nWant\u00a0to\u00a0know what different types of dashes there are and how to use them in a sentence? Keep reading\u00a0our guide on English punctuation!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Em Dash vs. En Dash<\/h4>\nEn dashes, which are called like that because they have the width of an upper-case N, are used as a kind of super hyphen that allows you to add clarity when forming complex compound constructions, i.e, multi-word adjectives that can\u2019t easily be hyphenated.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
\n- Mariah Carey\u2013style high-pitch vocals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Since \u201cMariah Carey\u201d is not a common compound modifier, adding a hyphen would look odd.<\/p>\n
\n- pre\u2013World War II alliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sometimes, it\u2019s easier to simply paraphrase, and say something like \u201calliances\u00a0made before World War II\u201d.<\/p>\n
En dashes are an element of English punctuation that is\u00a0crucial in scientific and scholarly writing because they replace the word \u201cto\u201d when used between numbers, in the sense of \u201cthrough\u201d or \u201cup to\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n- \u201cFind more information on T cells on pages 79\u2013113\u201d.<\/li>\n
- \u201cIn the years 500\u20131066 AD, during a period known as The Dark Ages\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Em dash, which is about as wide as an M, is used to indicate a pause in a sentence, but it\u2019s used in\u00a0rather\u00a0informal\u00a0contexts. Stronger than a comma, but weaker than a semicolon, it\u2019s a relatively lax punctuation mark\u00a0compared to the highly technical en dash.<\/p>\n
You can use em dashes for\u00a0the following purposes:<\/p>\n
\n- To draw the reader\u2019s attention to supplementary information:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- The new teacher\u2014who was wearing a highly inappropriate skirt\u2014entered the classroom as if she was walking on a catwalk.<\/li>\n
- She opened the gate and there he stood\u2014her long lost son.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- You can also use Em dashes to indicate a sudden interruption. This is especially common in dialogue:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- \u201cListen to me! Promise me that\u2014\u201d But then the man cut the phone cord and I didn\u2019t get to hear the rest of her phrase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>What Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/h2>\nBusiness photo created by lookstudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nA colon\u00a0is an English punctuation mark that\u00a0introduces a piece of information that illustrates or explains the information that precedes the colon. It does the job of directing the reader to the information following it.<\/p>\n
Think of a colon as an arrow that points to whatever comes next, as if saying \u201cthus\u201d, \u201cas follows,\u201d or \u201cwhich is\/are,\u201d:<\/p>\n
There are four types of bones in the body: long, short, flat and irregular.<\/p>\n
Colons are also used to introduce quotes:<\/p>\n
I would like to finish by quoting the great Joni Mitchell: \u201cChase away the demons, and they will take the angels with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Semicolons: When to Use Them (and\u00a0Some\u00a0Examples)<\/h2>\nIn this section, we will attempt to answer one of the most frequent questions asked by English students: How (and when!) are semicolons used?<\/p>\n
\n- Stronger than commas but not as isolating as periods, semicolons are used to join two independent phrases that are closely related without using a word to state that. For example, in the sentence below, the semicolon is replacing a cause-effect word, such as \u201csince\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We can go to the library to write our paper; Fridays are pretty quiet there.<\/em><\/p>\nAs you can see, both clauses are completely independent, which means that they could make standalone sentences. However, they can be separated by a semicolon because there is a logical connection between them.<\/p>\n
\n- You can use semicolons to separate the elements of a list when these are too long or contain internal punctuation. In such cases, the semicolon helps us keep track of the separations between the elements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The Chronicles of Narnia series has seven novels: <\/em>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; The Last Battle.<\/p>\n<\/a>Commas<\/h2>\nCommas, which are used to indicate a small break or pause, are the most popular marks in English punctuation. But are you sure you know how to use them?<\/p>\n
Business photo created by nakaridore - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nFirst, let\u2019s start by saying when you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>use them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas between a subject and a verb.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My sister Julia, is a wonderful cook. (Incorrect)
\nMy sister Julia is a wonderful cook. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas with compound predicates:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Walter will sing, and play the guitar (Incorrect)
\nWalter will sing and play the guitar. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- Commas should also be avoided when you want to join two independent clauses. In such cases, you should use a semicolon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We were out of food, I went to the supermarket. (Incorrect)
\nWe were out of food; I went to the supermarket. (Correct)<\/p>\n
Use commas in the following contexts:<\/p>\n
\n- After a participial phrase that introduces a clause:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Smiling to the crowd, the musicians walked onto the stage.<\/p>\n
\n- Between parenthetical comments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The ocean, I was happy to see, had a wonderful colour.<\/p>\n
\n- Before a question tag.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You\u2019ve seen this film before, haven\u2019t you?<\/p>\n
\n- When addressing a person by name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Dave, come over here right now.<\/p>\n
\n- With an appositive (a phrase that provides additional information)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My brother, Julio, is a wonderful father.<\/p>\n
\n- After \u201cbut\u201d, when it introduces an independent clause.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
He\u2019s a great husband, but he\u2019s an even better dad.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Oxford Comma<\/h3>\nWhat is the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the one that comes right before the last element in a list.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0is one of the most divisive elements of English punctuation. As we said earlier, when listing three or more elements, commas should divide each item of the list. However, the last comma\u2014the one that comes before \u201cand\u201d\u2014is not mandatory. This comma, which is often called the Oxford\u00a0or serial\u00a0comma, is a stylistic choice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal, and butter. (With the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal and butter. (Without the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s all the debate about? Well, in some cases, not using the Oxford comma can cause misunderstandings. Consider the following example:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u00a0love my teachers, Ricky Martin and Oprah.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Though many people would argue that it\u2019s clear that this is a list because of the context, some others may interpret that Ricky Martin and Oprah are the aforementioned teachers.\u00a0Oxford comma detractors, then, would say that if the sentence is confusing, it should be rephrased.\u00a0Some possible\u00a0alternatives\u00a0are:<\/p>\n
\n- I love Ricky Martin,\u00a0Oprah\u00a0and my teachers.<\/li>\n
- Besides my teachers, I also love Ricky Martin\u00a0and Oprah.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Whether you prefer to rephrase the original\u00a0sentence or use an Oxford comma will depend greatly on the stylebook you\u00a0have to follow or your own personal preference.<\/p>\n
As you can see, correct English punctuation is your best ally when writing professional emails or academic papers. Punctuation allows you to make your message meaningful and clear and it helps your readers follow your arguments better.<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nWant to learn more about English punctuation and how it can help you better your writing? The best way to improve your communication in the workplace is with the help of a professional native English teacher. They'll introduce you to all the vocabulary you'll need to impress your co-workers and wow your boss. The best part? They can adapt their classes to your schedule, so you can accommodate your studies, your work, and your personal life in the way that best suits you. Contact us now<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and get a free trial class with one of our native English teachers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s often assumed that all a student needs to master the English language is a good command of grammatical structure, excellent use of tenses, and a rich and varied vocabulary. However, there is a vital aspect of the English language that shouldn\u2019t be disregarded \u2014English punctuation. Punctuation helps readers understand clauses and sentences through visual(\u2026)<\/p>\n
What Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/a><\/h2>\nSemicolons: When to Use Them (and Some Examples)<\/a><\/h2>\nCommas<\/a><\/h2>\nThe Oxford Comma<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/a>Hyphens vs. Dashes<\/h2>\nWhat do a man-eating snake, a 200-page novel, and a well-known footballer have in common?<\/p>\n
To talk about them, we need to use hyphens. In English punctuation, a hyphen is a mark that writers use to join words.<\/p>\n
A dash, on the other hand, is a longer marker that people use to indicate a pause, the beginning of an independent construction, or a parenthetical comment. For example, we can say something like: A dash \u2014which looks like a long, horizontal line\u2014 is a useful mark of separation that will make your sentences clearer and more relaxed than if you were only using commas.<\/p>\n
<\/a>What Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/h3>\nThe hyphen is an\u00a0English punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words to make a single concept. Constructions like \u201cdaughter-in-law\u201d or \u201ca 20-year-old girl\u201d are examples of hyphenated words.<\/p>\n
People photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nUse hyphens in the following cases:<\/p>\n
\n- to join words that serve as a single adjective, when followed by the noun they modify:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- a two-way road<\/li>\n
- chocolate-covered cherries<\/li>\n
- a little-known writer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Remember: a compound modifier only is only hyphenated when it is immediately followed by a noun. Otherwise, it doesn\u2019t need a hyphen.<\/p>\n
\n- a pet-friendly apartment<\/li>\n
- the apartment is pet friendly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- With compound numbers:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Our much-loved aunt was seventy-three years old.<\/li>\n
- R.R Tolkien published his first book when he was forty-one years old.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- To avoid confusion due to a tricky combination of letters:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- re-sign a document (as opposed to \u201cresign <\/em>from a job\u201d)<\/li>\n
- semi-independent (to avoid having to \u201ci\u201d together)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- with the prefixes ex-, all- self-; with the suffix -elect; and between a prefix and an upper-case word.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- ex-wife<\/li>\n
- all-inclusive<\/li>\n
- self-esteem<\/li>\n
- president-elect<\/li>\n
- anti-American<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>How to Use Dashes<\/h3>\nLonger than a hyphen, dashes are a type of English punctuation mark commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. In their book The Elements of Style<\/i><\/em>, William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White describe hyphens as \u201cmarks of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses\u201d.<\/p>\nWant\u00a0to\u00a0know what different types of dashes there are and how to use them in a sentence? Keep reading\u00a0our guide on English punctuation!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Em Dash vs. En Dash<\/h4>\nEn dashes, which are called like that because they have the width of an upper-case N, are used as a kind of super hyphen that allows you to add clarity when forming complex compound constructions, i.e, multi-word adjectives that can\u2019t easily be hyphenated.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
\n- Mariah Carey\u2013style high-pitch vocals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Since \u201cMariah Carey\u201d is not a common compound modifier, adding a hyphen would look odd.<\/p>\n
\n- pre\u2013World War II alliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sometimes, it\u2019s easier to simply paraphrase, and say something like \u201calliances\u00a0made before World War II\u201d.<\/p>\n
En dashes are an element of English punctuation that is\u00a0crucial in scientific and scholarly writing because they replace the word \u201cto\u201d when used between numbers, in the sense of \u201cthrough\u201d or \u201cup to\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n- \u201cFind more information on T cells on pages 79\u2013113\u201d.<\/li>\n
- \u201cIn the years 500\u20131066 AD, during a period known as The Dark Ages\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Em dash, which is about as wide as an M, is used to indicate a pause in a sentence, but it\u2019s used in\u00a0rather\u00a0informal\u00a0contexts. Stronger than a comma, but weaker than a semicolon, it\u2019s a relatively lax punctuation mark\u00a0compared to the highly technical en dash.<\/p>\n
You can use em dashes for\u00a0the following purposes:<\/p>\n
\n- To draw the reader\u2019s attention to supplementary information:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- The new teacher\u2014who was wearing a highly inappropriate skirt\u2014entered the classroom as if she was walking on a catwalk.<\/li>\n
- She opened the gate and there he stood\u2014her long lost son.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- You can also use Em dashes to indicate a sudden interruption. This is especially common in dialogue:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- \u201cListen to me! Promise me that\u2014\u201d But then the man cut the phone cord and I didn\u2019t get to hear the rest of her phrase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>What Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/h2>\nBusiness photo created by lookstudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nA colon\u00a0is an English punctuation mark that\u00a0introduces a piece of information that illustrates or explains the information that precedes the colon. It does the job of directing the reader to the information following it.<\/p>\n
Think of a colon as an arrow that points to whatever comes next, as if saying \u201cthus\u201d, \u201cas follows,\u201d or \u201cwhich is\/are,\u201d:<\/p>\n
There are four types of bones in the body: long, short, flat and irregular.<\/p>\n
Colons are also used to introduce quotes:<\/p>\n
I would like to finish by quoting the great Joni Mitchell: \u201cChase away the demons, and they will take the angels with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Semicolons: When to Use Them (and\u00a0Some\u00a0Examples)<\/h2>\nIn this section, we will attempt to answer one of the most frequent questions asked by English students: How (and when!) are semicolons used?<\/p>\n
\n- Stronger than commas but not as isolating as periods, semicolons are used to join two independent phrases that are closely related without using a word to state that. For example, in the sentence below, the semicolon is replacing a cause-effect word, such as \u201csince\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We can go to the library to write our paper; Fridays are pretty quiet there.<\/em><\/p>\nAs you can see, both clauses are completely independent, which means that they could make standalone sentences. However, they can be separated by a semicolon because there is a logical connection between them.<\/p>\n
\n- You can use semicolons to separate the elements of a list when these are too long or contain internal punctuation. In such cases, the semicolon helps us keep track of the separations between the elements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The Chronicles of Narnia series has seven novels: <\/em>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; The Last Battle.<\/p>\n<\/a>Commas<\/h2>\nCommas, which are used to indicate a small break or pause, are the most popular marks in English punctuation. But are you sure you know how to use them?<\/p>\n
Business photo created by nakaridore - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nFirst, let\u2019s start by saying when you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>use them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas between a subject and a verb.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My sister Julia, is a wonderful cook. (Incorrect)
\nMy sister Julia is a wonderful cook. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas with compound predicates:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Walter will sing, and play the guitar (Incorrect)
\nWalter will sing and play the guitar. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- Commas should also be avoided when you want to join two independent clauses. In such cases, you should use a semicolon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We were out of food, I went to the supermarket. (Incorrect)
\nWe were out of food; I went to the supermarket. (Correct)<\/p>\n
Use commas in the following contexts:<\/p>\n
\n- After a participial phrase that introduces a clause:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Smiling to the crowd, the musicians walked onto the stage.<\/p>\n
\n- Between parenthetical comments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The ocean, I was happy to see, had a wonderful colour.<\/p>\n
\n- Before a question tag.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You\u2019ve seen this film before, haven\u2019t you?<\/p>\n
\n- When addressing a person by name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Dave, come over here right now.<\/p>\n
\n- With an appositive (a phrase that provides additional information)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My brother, Julio, is a wonderful father.<\/p>\n
\n- After \u201cbut\u201d, when it introduces an independent clause.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
He\u2019s a great husband, but he\u2019s an even better dad.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Oxford Comma<\/h3>\nWhat is the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the one that comes right before the last element in a list.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0is one of the most divisive elements of English punctuation. As we said earlier, when listing three or more elements, commas should divide each item of the list. However, the last comma\u2014the one that comes before \u201cand\u201d\u2014is not mandatory. This comma, which is often called the Oxford\u00a0or serial\u00a0comma, is a stylistic choice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal, and butter. (With the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal and butter. (Without the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s all the debate about? Well, in some cases, not using the Oxford comma can cause misunderstandings. Consider the following example:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u00a0love my teachers, Ricky Martin and Oprah.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Though many people would argue that it\u2019s clear that this is a list because of the context, some others may interpret that Ricky Martin and Oprah are the aforementioned teachers.\u00a0Oxford comma detractors, then, would say that if the sentence is confusing, it should be rephrased.\u00a0Some possible\u00a0alternatives\u00a0are:<\/p>\n
\n- I love Ricky Martin,\u00a0Oprah\u00a0and my teachers.<\/li>\n
- Besides my teachers, I also love Ricky Martin\u00a0and Oprah.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Whether you prefer to rephrase the original\u00a0sentence or use an Oxford comma will depend greatly on the stylebook you\u00a0have to follow or your own personal preference.<\/p>\n
As you can see, correct English punctuation is your best ally when writing professional emails or academic papers. Punctuation allows you to make your message meaningful and clear and it helps your readers follow your arguments better.<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nWant to learn more about English punctuation and how it can help you better your writing? The best way to improve your communication in the workplace is with the help of a professional native English teacher. They'll introduce you to all the vocabulary you'll need to impress your co-workers and wow your boss. The best part? They can adapt their classes to your schedule, so you can accommodate your studies, your work, and your personal life in the way that best suits you. Contact us now<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and get a free trial class with one of our native English teachers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s often assumed that all a student needs to master the English language is a good command of grammatical structure, excellent use of tenses, and a rich and varied vocabulary. However, there is a vital aspect of the English language that shouldn\u2019t be disregarded \u2014English punctuation. Punctuation helps readers understand clauses and sentences through visual(\u2026)<\/p>\n
Commas<\/a><\/h2>\nThe Oxford Comma<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/a>Hyphens vs. Dashes<\/h2>\nWhat do a man-eating snake, a 200-page novel, and a well-known footballer have in common?<\/p>\n
To talk about them, we need to use hyphens. In English punctuation, a hyphen is a mark that writers use to join words.<\/p>\n
A dash, on the other hand, is a longer marker that people use to indicate a pause, the beginning of an independent construction, or a parenthetical comment. For example, we can say something like: A dash \u2014which looks like a long, horizontal line\u2014 is a useful mark of separation that will make your sentences clearer and more relaxed than if you were only using commas.<\/p>\n
<\/a>What Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/h3>\nThe hyphen is an\u00a0English punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words to make a single concept. Constructions like \u201cdaughter-in-law\u201d or \u201ca 20-year-old girl\u201d are examples of hyphenated words.<\/p>\n
People photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nUse hyphens in the following cases:<\/p>\n
\n- to join words that serve as a single adjective, when followed by the noun they modify:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- a two-way road<\/li>\n
- chocolate-covered cherries<\/li>\n
- a little-known writer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Remember: a compound modifier only is only hyphenated when it is immediately followed by a noun. Otherwise, it doesn\u2019t need a hyphen.<\/p>\n
\n- a pet-friendly apartment<\/li>\n
- the apartment is pet friendly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- With compound numbers:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- Our much-loved aunt was seventy-three years old.<\/li>\n
- R.R Tolkien published his first book when he was forty-one years old.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- To avoid confusion due to a tricky combination of letters:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- re-sign a document (as opposed to \u201cresign <\/em>from a job\u201d)<\/li>\n
- semi-independent (to avoid having to \u201ci\u201d together)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- with the prefixes ex-, all- self-; with the suffix -elect; and between a prefix and an upper-case word.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- ex-wife<\/li>\n
- all-inclusive<\/li>\n
- self-esteem<\/li>\n
- president-elect<\/li>\n
- anti-American<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>How to Use Dashes<\/h3>\nLonger than a hyphen, dashes are a type of English punctuation mark commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. In their book The Elements of Style<\/i><\/em>, William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White describe hyphens as \u201cmarks of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses\u201d.<\/p>\nWant\u00a0to\u00a0know what different types of dashes there are and how to use them in a sentence? Keep reading\u00a0our guide on English punctuation!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Em Dash vs. En Dash<\/h4>\nEn dashes, which are called like that because they have the width of an upper-case N, are used as a kind of super hyphen that allows you to add clarity when forming complex compound constructions, i.e, multi-word adjectives that can\u2019t easily be hyphenated.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
\n- Mariah Carey\u2013style high-pitch vocals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Since \u201cMariah Carey\u201d is not a common compound modifier, adding a hyphen would look odd.<\/p>\n
\n- pre\u2013World War II alliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sometimes, it\u2019s easier to simply paraphrase, and say something like \u201calliances\u00a0made before World War II\u201d.<\/p>\n
En dashes are an element of English punctuation that is\u00a0crucial in scientific and scholarly writing because they replace the word \u201cto\u201d when used between numbers, in the sense of \u201cthrough\u201d or \u201cup to\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n- \u201cFind more information on T cells on pages 79\u2013113\u201d.<\/li>\n
- \u201cIn the years 500\u20131066 AD, during a period known as The Dark Ages\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Em dash, which is about as wide as an M, is used to indicate a pause in a sentence, but it\u2019s used in\u00a0rather\u00a0informal\u00a0contexts. Stronger than a comma, but weaker than a semicolon, it\u2019s a relatively lax punctuation mark\u00a0compared to the highly technical en dash.<\/p>\n
You can use em dashes for\u00a0the following purposes:<\/p>\n
\n- To draw the reader\u2019s attention to supplementary information:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- The new teacher\u2014who was wearing a highly inappropriate skirt\u2014entered the classroom as if she was walking on a catwalk.<\/li>\n
- She opened the gate and there he stood\u2014her long lost son.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- You can also use Em dashes to indicate a sudden interruption. This is especially common in dialogue:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- \u201cListen to me! Promise me that\u2014\u201d But then the man cut the phone cord and I didn\u2019t get to hear the rest of her phrase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>What Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/h2>\nBusiness photo created by lookstudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nA colon\u00a0is an English punctuation mark that\u00a0introduces a piece of information that illustrates or explains the information that precedes the colon. It does the job of directing the reader to the information following it.<\/p>\n
Think of a colon as an arrow that points to whatever comes next, as if saying \u201cthus\u201d, \u201cas follows,\u201d or \u201cwhich is\/are,\u201d:<\/p>\n
There are four types of bones in the body: long, short, flat and irregular.<\/p>\n
Colons are also used to introduce quotes:<\/p>\n
I would like to finish by quoting the great Joni Mitchell: \u201cChase away the demons, and they will take the angels with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Semicolons: When to Use Them (and\u00a0Some\u00a0Examples)<\/h2>\nIn this section, we will attempt to answer one of the most frequent questions asked by English students: How (and when!) are semicolons used?<\/p>\n
\n- Stronger than commas but not as isolating as periods, semicolons are used to join two independent phrases that are closely related without using a word to state that. For example, in the sentence below, the semicolon is replacing a cause-effect word, such as \u201csince\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We can go to the library to write our paper; Fridays are pretty quiet there.<\/em><\/p>\nAs you can see, both clauses are completely independent, which means that they could make standalone sentences. However, they can be separated by a semicolon because there is a logical connection between them.<\/p>\n
\n- You can use semicolons to separate the elements of a list when these are too long or contain internal punctuation. In such cases, the semicolon helps us keep track of the separations between the elements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The Chronicles of Narnia series has seven novels: <\/em>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; The Last Battle.<\/p>\n<\/a>Commas<\/h2>\nCommas, which are used to indicate a small break or pause, are the most popular marks in English punctuation. But are you sure you know how to use them?<\/p>\n
Business photo created by nakaridore - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nFirst, let\u2019s start by saying when you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>use them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas between a subject and a verb.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My sister Julia, is a wonderful cook. (Incorrect)
\nMy sister Julia is a wonderful cook. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- You shouldn\u2019t use commas with compound predicates:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Walter will sing, and play the guitar (Incorrect)
\nWalter will sing and play the guitar. (Correct)<\/p>\n
\n- Commas should also be avoided when you want to join two independent clauses. In such cases, you should use a semicolon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
We were out of food, I went to the supermarket. (Incorrect)
\nWe were out of food; I went to the supermarket. (Correct)<\/p>\n
Use commas in the following contexts:<\/p>\n
\n- After a participial phrase that introduces a clause:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Smiling to the crowd, the musicians walked onto the stage.<\/p>\n
\n- Between parenthetical comments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The ocean, I was happy to see, had a wonderful colour.<\/p>\n
\n- Before a question tag.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You\u2019ve seen this film before, haven\u2019t you?<\/p>\n
\n- When addressing a person by name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Dave, come over here right now.<\/p>\n
\n- With an appositive (a phrase that provides additional information)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
My brother, Julio, is a wonderful father.<\/p>\n
\n- After \u201cbut\u201d, when it introduces an independent clause.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
He\u2019s a great husband, but he\u2019s an even better dad.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Oxford Comma<\/h3>\nWhat is the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the one that comes right before the last element in a list.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0is one of the most divisive elements of English punctuation. As we said earlier, when listing three or more elements, commas should divide each item of the list. However, the last comma\u2014the one that comes before \u201cand\u201d\u2014is not mandatory. This comma, which is often called the Oxford\u00a0or serial\u00a0comma, is a stylistic choice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal, and butter. (With the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
Martin needs milk, cereal and butter. (Without the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s all the debate about? Well, in some cases, not using the Oxford comma can cause misunderstandings. Consider the following example:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u00a0love my teachers, Ricky Martin and Oprah.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Though many people would argue that it\u2019s clear that this is a list because of the context, some others may interpret that Ricky Martin and Oprah are the aforementioned teachers.\u00a0Oxford comma detractors, then, would say that if the sentence is confusing, it should be rephrased.\u00a0Some possible\u00a0alternatives\u00a0are:<\/p>\n
\n- I love Ricky Martin,\u00a0Oprah\u00a0and my teachers.<\/li>\n
- Besides my teachers, I also love Ricky Martin\u00a0and Oprah.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Whether you prefer to rephrase the original\u00a0sentence or use an Oxford comma will depend greatly on the stylebook you\u00a0have to follow or your own personal preference.<\/p>\n
As you can see, correct English punctuation is your best ally when writing professional emails or academic papers. Punctuation allows you to make your message meaningful and clear and it helps your readers follow your arguments better.<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nWant to learn more about English punctuation and how it can help you better your writing? The best way to improve your communication in the workplace is with the help of a professional native English teacher. They'll introduce you to all the vocabulary you'll need to impress your co-workers and wow your boss. The best part? They can adapt their classes to your schedule, so you can accommodate your studies, your work, and your personal life in the way that best suits you. Contact us now<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and get a free trial class with one of our native English teachers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s often assumed that all a student needs to master the English language is a good command of grammatical structure, excellent use of tenses, and a rich and varied vocabulary. However, there is a vital aspect of the English language that shouldn\u2019t be disregarded \u2014English punctuation. Punctuation helps readers understand clauses and sentences through visual(\u2026)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What do a man-eating snake, a 200-page novel, and a well-known footballer have in common?<\/p>\n To talk about them, we need to use hyphens. In English punctuation, a hyphen is a mark that writers use to join words.<\/p>\n A dash, on the other hand, is a longer marker that people use to indicate a pause, the beginning of an independent construction, or a parenthetical comment. For example, we can say something like: A dash \u2014which looks like a long, horizontal line\u2014 is a useful mark of separation that will make your sentences clearer and more relaxed than if you were only using commas.<\/p>\n The hyphen is an\u00a0English punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words to make a single concept. Constructions like \u201cdaughter-in-law\u201d or \u201ca 20-year-old girl\u201d are examples of hyphenated words.<\/p>\n People photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Use hyphens in the following cases:<\/p>\n Remember: a compound modifier only is only hyphenated when it is immediately followed by a noun. Otherwise, it doesn\u2019t need a hyphen.<\/p>\n Longer than a hyphen, dashes are a type of English punctuation mark commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. In their book The Elements of Style<\/i><\/em>, William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White describe hyphens as \u201cmarks of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses\u201d.<\/p>\n Want\u00a0to\u00a0know what different types of dashes there are and how to use them in a sentence? Keep reading\u00a0our guide on English punctuation!<\/p>\n En dashes, which are called like that because they have the width of an upper-case N, are used as a kind of super hyphen that allows you to add clarity when forming complex compound constructions, i.e, multi-word adjectives that can\u2019t easily be hyphenated.<\/p>\n For example:<\/p>\n Since \u201cMariah Carey\u201d is not a common compound modifier, adding a hyphen would look odd.<\/p>\n Sometimes, it\u2019s easier to simply paraphrase, and say something like \u201calliances\u00a0made before World War II\u201d.<\/p>\n En dashes are an element of English punctuation that is\u00a0crucial in scientific and scholarly writing because they replace the word \u201cto\u201d when used between numbers, in the sense of \u201cthrough\u201d or \u201cup to\u201d.<\/p>\n The Em dash, which is about as wide as an M, is used to indicate a pause in a sentence, but it\u2019s used in\u00a0rather\u00a0informal\u00a0contexts. Stronger than a comma, but weaker than a semicolon, it\u2019s a relatively lax punctuation mark\u00a0compared to the highly technical en dash.<\/p>\n You can use em dashes for\u00a0the following purposes:<\/p>\n Business photo created by lookstudio - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n A colon\u00a0is an English punctuation mark that\u00a0introduces a piece of information that illustrates or explains the information that precedes the colon. It does the job of directing the reader to the information following it.<\/p>\n Think of a colon as an arrow that points to whatever comes next, as if saying \u201cthus\u201d, \u201cas follows,\u201d or \u201cwhich is\/are,\u201d:<\/p>\n There are four types of bones in the body: long, short, flat and irregular.<\/p>\n Colons are also used to introduce quotes:<\/p>\n I would like to finish by quoting the great Joni Mitchell: \u201cChase away the demons, and they will take the angels with them.\u201d<\/p>\n In this section, we will attempt to answer one of the most frequent questions asked by English students: How (and when!) are semicolons used?<\/p>\n We can go to the library to write our paper; Fridays are pretty quiet there.<\/em><\/p>\n As you can see, both clauses are completely independent, which means that they could make standalone sentences. However, they can be separated by a semicolon because there is a logical connection between them.<\/p>\n The Chronicles of Narnia series has seven novels: <\/em>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; The Last Battle.<\/p>\n Commas, which are used to indicate a small break or pause, are the most popular marks in English punctuation. But are you sure you know how to use them?<\/p>\n Business photo created by nakaridore - www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n First, let\u2019s start by saying when you shouldn\u2019t <\/em>use them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My sister Julia, is a wonderful cook. (Incorrect) Walter will sing, and play the guitar (Incorrect) We were out of food, I went to the supermarket. (Incorrect) Use commas in the following contexts:<\/p>\n Smiling to the crowd, the musicians walked onto the stage.<\/p>\n The ocean, I was happy to see, had a wonderful colour.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve seen this film before, haven\u2019t you?<\/p>\n Dave, come over here right now.<\/p>\n My brother, Julio, is a wonderful father.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a great husband, but he\u2019s an even better dad.<\/p>\n What is the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the one that comes right before the last element in a list.<\/p>\n This\u00a0is one of the most divisive elements of English punctuation. As we said earlier, when listing three or more elements, commas should divide each item of the list. However, the last comma\u2014the one that comes before \u201cand\u201d\u2014is not mandatory. This comma, which is often called the Oxford\u00a0or serial\u00a0comma, is a stylistic choice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Martin needs milk, cereal, and butter. (With the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n Martin needs milk, cereal and butter. (Without the Oxford comma)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, what\u2019s all the debate about? Well, in some cases, not using the Oxford comma can cause misunderstandings. Consider the following example:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u00a0love my teachers, Ricky Martin and Oprah.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though many people would argue that it\u2019s clear that this is a list because of the context, some others may interpret that Ricky Martin and Oprah are the aforementioned teachers.\u00a0Oxford comma detractors, then, would say that if the sentence is confusing, it should be rephrased.\u00a0Some possible\u00a0alternatives\u00a0are:<\/p>\n Whether you prefer to rephrase the original\u00a0sentence or use an Oxford comma will depend greatly on the stylebook you\u00a0have to follow or your own personal preference.<\/p>\n As you can see, correct English punctuation is your best ally when writing professional emails or academic papers. Punctuation allows you to make your message meaningful and clear and it helps your readers follow your arguments better.<\/p>\n \u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial English Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n Want to learn more about English punctuation and how it can help you better your writing? The best way to improve your communication in the workplace is with the help of a professional native English teacher. They'll introduce you to all the vocabulary you'll need to impress your co-workers and wow your boss. The best part? They can adapt their classes to your schedule, so you can accommodate your studies, your work, and your personal life in the way that best suits you. Contact us now<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and get a free trial class with one of our native English teachers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s often assumed that all a student needs to master the English language is a good command of grammatical structure, excellent use of tenses, and a rich and varied vocabulary. However, there is a vital aspect of the English language that shouldn\u2019t be disregarded \u2014English punctuation. Punctuation helps readers understand clauses and sentences through visual(\u2026)<\/p>\n<\/a>Hyphens vs. Dashes<\/h2>\n
<\/a>What Is a Hyphen and When to Use it?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/a>How to Use Dashes<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Em Dash vs. En Dash<\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/a>What Is a Colon & How to Use It<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Semicolons: When to Use Them (and\u00a0Some\u00a0Examples)<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
<\/a>Commas<\/h2>\n
\n
\nMy sister Julia is a wonderful cook. (Correct)<\/p>\n\n
\nWalter will sing and play the guitar. (Correct)<\/p>\n\n
\nWe were out of food; I went to the supermarket. (Correct)<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/a>The Oxford Comma<\/h3>\n
\n