Basic Punctuation Rules

They come after the independent clause and before the word, phrase, sentence, quote, or list

Indicates that introductory words moved from the end of the sentence

DON'T use this with possessive personal pronouns

These set off nonessential phrases or appositives (words or phrases that rename a noun).

Semicolons and colons should ALWAYS be placed outside the closing quotation marks!

Used between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

These can help avoid confusion between items in lists where there are already commas.

Joins two independent clauses that are closely related, without a coordinating conjunction

At the end of a sentence, this can separate information from the rest of the sentence.

Used to separate three or more words, phrases, clauses in a series

These enclose the exact words of someone

Commas are used in contractions to mark where the missing letter or letters would be.

Do not use a comma between adjectives that need to be in a particular order.

In the middle of a sentence, these can put special emphasis on a group of words

Used with plural possessive nouns

They signal to the reader that the information in both sentences should be taken together.

Occurs when two independent clauses are connected with ONLY a comma - it's like a run-on

NEVER use this after a verb that directly introduces a list

Used after an introductory dependent clause

This will show possession, add to singular nouns or indefinite pronouns that end in one or body