Improving your English punctuation 3

Improving your English punctuation 3

When to use a full stop

(or "period" in American English)
1. At the end of the sentence
Thank you for your letter.
2. After initials in American English
Mr. G. Hoover. (The British English version is "Mr G Hoover")
3. As a decimal point
2.5%, $9.99.

When to use a colon

1. To introduce a list
You will need to bring the following: a waterproof jacket, a change of clothes, a battery-operated torch and some matches.
2. To introduce explanations
There is one thing to remember: the nights can get cold, so bring a warm jacket.
3. To write the time
The 10:40 train to London is late.
4. Between the title and subtitle of a book
Shakespeare: The Complete Works

1. To separate long items in a list
Our writing course includes several components: correspondence, including
letters and emails; style and vocabulary choice; punctuation; layout and planning.
2. To give balance to sentences, or to link parallel sentences
We went out for the day; they stayed in.

When to use a semi-colon in English

Semi-colons show a pause which is longer than a comma, but not as long as a full stop. Short clauses which are related in meaning can be separated by a comma. However, if the clauses are longer, you will probably need a semi-colon:
We'll need to hold some meetings abroad with our suppliers; please could you check your availability in April.

1. To separate long items in a list
Our writing course includes several components: correspondence, including
letters and emails; style and vocabulary choice; punctuation; layout and planning.
2. To give balance to sentences, or to link parallel sentences
We went out for the day; they stayed in.

When to use an apostrophe in English

1. With an s to show possession
The company's profits.
The 's comes after singular nouns and after irregular plural nouns (those which do not end in s).
The company's staff, the children's shoes.
But the apostrophe follows the swhen the noun is plural and regular.
Compare:
The boy's school (school of one boy) and the boys' school (school of many boys.)
With nouns which end in y in the singular, but end in ies in the plural (like company) the apostrophe follows the s when it is plural.
The company's profits (profits of one company) and the companies' profits (profits of more than one company.)
With hyphenated nouns, the 's comes at the end of the word.
My brother-in-law's Ferrarì.
2. To show abbreviation
I don't like smoking. (= do not)
3. In time references
In two weeks' time.
Be careful!
1. Apostrophes are not used for possessive pronouns.
Whose is this pen? (Not "Who's this pen" as "who's" = who is.
That pen is hers. (Not "That pen is her's.")
Its also exists as a possessive pronoun:
Its market has grown. (The market of the company).
(Not "It's market" as "it's" = it is or it has.)
2. Apostrophes are not used to make a plural of nouns that end in a vowel.
For example, "two memos" (not "two memo's").