(He scored 35 on an IQ test.) Direct speech begins with a capital letter and can be preceded by a comma or a colon: She said, “Where can we find a nice Indian restaurant?” (or She said: ‘Where can we find a nice Indian restaurant?’). Donât use itâunless you're quoting someone. }] This page will fix your mistakes. Use these grammar quick tips for correct punctuation: Comma To set apart the name of a person being addressed To separate items in a list After […] { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [320, 100] }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654174' }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654150' }}, {code: 'ad_rightslot2', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_rightslot2', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_rightslot2' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [120, 600], [160, 600]] } }, 'max': 30, timeout: 8000, } Punctuation marks have many different uses. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971080', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, The punctuation marks that signal the end of a sentence are the period, the question mark and the exclamation mark. Exclamation marks are distracting. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, googletag.enableServices(); If so, replace it with an ellipsis or drop it altogether. 'increment': 0.05, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195464', size: [300, 600] }}, 'min': 0, "sign-in": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signin?rid=READER_ID", { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195453', size: [300, 50] }}, In speaking, we use pauses and the pitch of the voice to make what we say clear. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195452', size: [336, 280] }}, (same subject), It was an expensive hotel in the centre of Stockholm, but we decided it was worth the money. Quotations with speaker tags Dumb rule 1: When the speaker tag comes first, put a comma […] This time, imagine replacing each comma or hyphen with a period. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, Therefore, “thank-yous” requires no special punctuation. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654208' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_mpuslot1' }}]}]; { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 50] }}, storage: { And using fewer punctuation marks is generally acceptable. window.ga=window.ga||function(){(ga.q=ga.q||[]).push(arguments)};ga.l=+new Date; {code: 'ad_topslot_b', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90]] } }, We use question marks at the end of direct questions: 'Have you fed the dog?' When the direct speech is first, we use a comma before the closing of the quotation marks: ‘We don’t want to go on holiday to the same place every year,’ he said impatiently. name: "_pubcid", { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_mpuslot1' }}]}]; We also use single quotation marks to draw attention to a word. Notice how the correct examples use a semicolon to conjoin two sentiments that are essentially making the same point but from different perspectives. No, thank you. Two properties of end punctuation are (a) that they are almost never used in combination with one another (even though sometimes it seems like they should be) and … The noun thank-you in your second example is not part of any dialogue. ð¨ Something went wrong. window.__tcfapi('addEventListener', 2, function(tcData, success) { In contrast, notice how the incorrect examples use a semicolon to conjoin two sentiments that convey complementary but not redundant information. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, Learn the differences between periods, dashes, colons, and other punctuation by exploring our list and examples. name: "criteo" }, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195453', size: [320, 50] }}, The most important rule to remember is that punctuation is there to help the writer make their meaning clearer. Thanks. },{ I just heard the news – congratulations! We don’t use commas to mark defining clauses: Barcelona was the Spanish city that was selected for the Olympic Games. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_rightslot2' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '705055' }}, var mapping_leftslot = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1063, 0], [[120, 600], [160, 600], [300, 600]]).addSize([963, 0], [[120, 600], [160, 600]]).addSize([0, 0], []).build(); { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '555365', size: [160, 600] }}, (He scored 35 on an IQ test). },{ { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [320, 50] }}, {code: 'ad_topslot_b', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90]] } }, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387232' }}, {code: 'ad_contentslot_1', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_mpuslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_mpuslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [336, 280]] } }, var mapping_topslot_a = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], []).addSize([0, 550], [[300, 250]]).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 50], [320, 50], [320, 100]]).build(); initAdSlotRefresher(); priceGranularity: customGranularity, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971063', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, When parenthetical content occurs in the middle of a larger sentence, the surrounding punctuation should be placed outside the parentheses, exactly as it would be if the parenthetical content were not there. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot' }}]}, } if(success && (tcData.eventStatus === 'useractioncomplete' || tcData.eventStatus === 'tcloaded')) { }; bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776142', position: 'btf' }}, (discourse marker), Wow, that sounds really exciting. }, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776336', position: 'btf' }}, Example. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 50] }}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, } { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_leftslot' }}, When we speak, we use intonation, pauses, body language and volume to help make our listeners understand what we want to say. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446385' }}, I share more writing advice like this on my Twitter feed. The "was" ends the sentence mid-thought. There are rules of punctuation that have to be followed; but there are also punctuation conventions that give writers greater choice. Punctuation is the music of language. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971063', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, In these incorrect examples, the leading sentence couldnât stand alone without adding words back in: In both of these incorrect examples, simply drop the colon and the sentence will magically read perfectly. Use parenthesesto set off supplementary, parenthetic, or explanatory material that does not … Quotation marks are primarily used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word, as well as some other important uses. var mapping_btmslot_a = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], [[300, 250], 'fluid']).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50], 'fluid']).build(); Awesome. We use capital letters to mark the beginning of a sentence and we use full stops to mark the end of a sentence: We went to France last summer. In this way, it serves to properly capture the intention behind breaking Rule #5. Here you look at the proper punctuation for statements in quotations with and without speaker tags. You use punctuation marks to structure and organise your writing. (different subjects). The primary takeaway from this rule is simple: Avoid using semicolons because they invite redundancy. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776338', position: 'btf' }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654157' }}, googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_ei", "punctuation"); Incorrect: He yelled to the driver, âGo back to Americaâ! B) answers a question with an affirmative (yes) or negative (no) word. They were more friendly, more talkative, more open than last time we met them. iasLog("exclusion label : wprod"); { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, Stop thinking punctuation is for grammar sticklers and pedants. var pbHdSlots = [ Heâll die young. by Chelsea Lee. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195452', size: [336, 280] }}, Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -. Speaking of which, that's the one place itâs okay to use an ellipsis: inside a quote. If you live in the UK, the rule is reversed: place the punctuation outside of the quotes. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446383' }}, params: { bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776358', position: 'atf' }}, Both single and multiple dashes may be used: Our teacher – who often gets cross when we’re late – wasn’t cross at all. {code: 'ad_rightslot2', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_rightslot2', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_rightslot2' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [120, 600], [160, 600]] } }, Trying to sell a badly punctuated manuscript is like going on a date wearing last week’s jogging pants. We can put the reporting clause in three different positions. pbjs.que.push(function() { var mapping_contentslot = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], [[300, 250], [336, 280], 'fluid']).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 250], [320, 100], [320, 50], [300, 50], 'fluid']).build(); { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446383' }}, Why am I so short?â. Proper Punctuation – Quotes. 'min': 3.05, {code: 'ad_leftslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_leftslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_leftslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[120, 600], [160, 600]] } }, In British English the date is usually given in the order day, month, year. (Sometimes this is desired for the purposes of emphasis.) dfpSlots['btmslot_a'] = googletag.defineSlot('/23202586/cdo_btmslot', [[300, 250], 'fluid'], 'ad_btmslot_a').defineSizeMapping(mapping_btmslot_a).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'btm').setTargeting('hp', 'center').addService(googletag.pubads()); We can use italics instead of quotation marks for these citations: There’s a special report all about it in The Daily Mail. By the way, this punctuation post you're reading is a small part of my completely free handbook on Writing Well. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195453', size: [300, 50] }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot2' }}]}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '555365', size: [160, 600] }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654174' }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot2_flex' }}, Into Meaning: to the inside of Usage Example: The children jumped into the lake for a swim. However, we do not always do this in short sentences: If you get lost in the city centre, please don’t hesitate to text us or phone us. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot_flex' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195453', size: [320, 100] }}, The Basic Signs of Punctuation { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971081', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, type: "html5", { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195465', size: [300, 250] }}, ga('set', 'dimension2', "entry"); The only time you need a comma after but is when it is immediately followed by an interrupter. When main clauses are separated by and, or, but, we don’t normally use a comma if the clauses have the same subject. Incorrect: He asked, âLife sucks. The underlying problem is the same in both cases. Punctuation is about making your writing more readable and exclamation points are a great way of showing that something was said with emphasis. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, iasLog("criterion : sfr = cdo_dict_british-grammar"); { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195465', size: [300, 250] }}, Articles or chapters within books, or titles of short stories, are normally punctuated by single quotation marks: The longest chapter in the book is the last one called ‘The Future of Africa’. We do not normally use a comma before and at the end of a list of single words: They travelled through Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971080', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, However, all will be revealed tomorrow at midday. Find a way to express yourself concisely. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, Incorrect: He said to me, âThatâs one hell of a goatâ. American English dictates that punctuation (periods, exclamation marks, and question marks) should be placed inside quotation marks: Correct: He said to me, âThatâs one hell of a goat.â. if(refreshConfig.enabled == true) }, We use full stops, not commas, to indicate decimal points: We can punctuate times with full stops or colons: When we speak email and web addresses, we say each word separately. var googletag = googletag || {}; bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776156', position: 'atf' }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '19042093' }}, {code: 'ad_contentslot_1', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_mpuslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_mpuslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [336, 280]] } }, There is, however, loss of clarity when transposing speech to writing without respect for the purpose of punctuation: being clearly understood. 'min': 8.50, Ask yourself, âCan I replace this with a period?â If so, do it. cmpApi: 'iab', bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '1666926', position: 'btf' }}, }); âMattâ) is separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.Â. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(false); { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654150' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '19042093' }}, { iasLog("exclusion label : lcp"); Then use that period instead of the comma/hyphen, and youâve just confidently avoided improper comma usage! bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776156', position: 'atf' }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot2_flex' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_rightslot2' }}, There are three main reasons for the success of the government: economic, social and political. It simply doesnât sound right. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_rightslot' }}, In the correct example, youâre dedicating a book to your parents, and Jeff Bridges, and Wonder Woman. googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { if (!event.isEmpty && event.slot.renderCallback) { event.slot.renderCallback(event); } }); iasLog("exclusion label : resp"); { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_mpuslot' }}, "loggedIn": false 'increment': 1, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, dfpSlots['topslot_b'] = googletag.defineSlot('/23202586/cdo_topslot', [[728, 90]], 'ad_topslot_b').defineSizeMapping(mapping_topslot_b).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'top').setTargeting('hp', 'center').addService(googletag.pubads()); 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">. We commonly separate tags and yes-no responses with commas: They are going to the party, aren’t they? When you’re writing something that is a direct quote, meaning that it is the exact words that someone spoke, you need to use double quotation marks. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971065', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, "error": true, but not after indirect questions: 'She asked him if he had fed the dog.' var mapping_topslot_b = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], [[728, 90]]).addSize([0, 0], []).build(); { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, If you donât, you could end up with confusion: Potentially confusing: âNo one is still here.â, In the first example, youâre stating that nobody is here. Full stops and commas are more common. It is best to learn the rules—and t… { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, In practice, no one cares if you start a sentence with âandâ âââ because thatâs how people talk. {code: 'ad_topslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, He is a summary of the more-detailed table below: When we use subordinate or non-finite comment clauses to give further details or more information, we commonly use commas to separate the clauses: You do need to wear a darker jacket, if I may say so. As a conductor can influence the experience of the song by manipulating its rhythm, so can punctuation influence the reading experience, bring out the best (or worst) in a text. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_300x250' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [320, 50] }}, Punctuation … Following this rule will help you avoid several grammar mistakes. 'buckets': [{ { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971066', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776130', position: 'btf' }}, So, that made me ask my husband, who is a English native speaker, "Do you think I need to be more aware of my punctuation on my writings? Without a doubt, Lady Emily was much happier … The takeaway is that unless youâre an experienced writer, train yourself to always take a second look whenever you use a comma or a hyphen. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, Because not knowing when to use a comma is the most common punctuation mistake. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_leftslot' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_leftslot' }}]}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '555365', size: [120, 600] }}, Commas serve many purposes, but representing arbitrary pauses in speech is not one of them. Comma rules make up the bulk of this page. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195465', size: [300, 250] }}, Jaya said, ‘They were getting really excited and were shouting “Come on!”’. }; Quotation marks in English are ‘…’ or “…”. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 250] }}, You rarely see it used in textbooksâ, because itâs the sign of a lazy writer failing to structure their thoughts so that they fall within the lines of more common punctuation.Â. Heâs next-level awful.â, Correct: âIâm not a liar. Above, the purpose of the ellipsis is to insert a dramatic pause reflecting how the quote was originally articulated. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776142', position: 'btf' }}, filterSettings: { Note that this is an exception to the general rule that a semicolon is always followed by an independent clause. Donât use ellipses in formal writing. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11653860' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '555365', size: [120, 600] }}, dfpSlots['rightslot2'] = googletag.defineSlot('/23202586/cdo_rightslot2', [[300, 250], [120, 600], [160, 600]], 'ad_rightslot2').defineSizeMapping(mapping_rightslot2).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'mid').setTargeting('hp', 'right').addService(googletag.pubads()); { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971067', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, When we want to emphasise something in informal writing, we sometimes use more than one exclamation mark: Oh no!!! It covers the top ten rules of punctuation. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_leftslot_160x600' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [300, 250] }}, var pbMobileHrSlots = [ 'max': 3, It's easy to lose a question in the middle of lots of information, especially in an email. window.__tcfapi('removeEventListener', 2, function(success){ dfpSlots['houseslot_a'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/houseslot', [300, 250], 'ad_houseslot_a').defineSizeMapping(mapping_houseslot_a).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'mid').setTargeting('hp', 'right').setCategoryExclusion('house').addService(googletag.pubads()); const customGranularity = { googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_l", "en"); In essence, the writer is falling back on free-form speech patterns. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, In such cases, the clauses are related in meaning but are separated grammatically: Spanish is spoken throughout South America; in Brazil the main language is Portuguese. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654156' }}, Using them properly can be a little tricky, so remember these rules. In the incorrect example, youâre dedicating a book to your parents who youâre then identifying as Jeff Bridges and Wonder Woman. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195452', size: [336, 280] }}, In American English the day and the month are in a different order so that 8 January 1985 is written as follows: We don’t usually punctuate weights and measures and references to numbers: 4kg (4 kilograms)10m (10 metres) 5m dollars (5 million dollars). { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_mpuslot_flex' }}, âHer favorite color wasâ is not a proper sentence. if(pl_p) iasLog("criterion : cdo_dc = british-grammar"); Binks (1995/1997) has already researched this aspect of Roman history. name: "unifiedId", { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387232' }}, googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_pc", "dictionary"); { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 250] }}, Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses Parenthesesare used much like the dash, but it is used to set off unimportant material that interrupts the sentence thought or structure. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_mpuslot_mobile_flex' }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot_flex' }}, Incorrect: Iâve been wondering why is that turtle is so nasty? ga('send', 'pageview'); Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_mpuslot_flex' }}, },{ We sometimes use quotation marks to refer to the titles of books, newspapers, magazines, films, songs, poems, videos, CDs, etc: There’s a special report all about it in ‘The Daily Mail’. Irony punctuation is any proposed form of notation used to denote irony or sarcasm in text. But don’t you get a little bored using the same old marks? We commonly use a colon between sentences when the second sentence explains or justifies the first sentence: Try to keep your flat clean and tidy: it will sell more easily. },{ Just wanted to thank you for a lovely evening – we really enjoyed it. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, googletag.cmd.push(function() { var dfpSlots = {}; "sign-out": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signout?rid=READER_ID" { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387233' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195466', size: [728, 90] }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot' }}]}, Brackets have a similar function to dashes. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195453', size: [320, 50] }}, When you have a series of items separated by commas, ensure that you place a final comma (an âOxford commaâ) before and: Correct: To my parents, Jeff Bridges, and Wonder Woman. {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50]] } }, If youâre instead hypothetically posing a question, as is the case in the first example, then quotes are not needed. "authorization": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/info?rid=READER_ID&url=CANONICAL_URL&ref=DOCUMENT_REFERRER&type=&v1=&v2=&v3=&v4=british-grammar&_=RANDOM", Help you avoid several grammar Mistakes is to insert a dramatic pause reflecting how the quote was originally articulated the... Most important rule to remember is that punctuation is used in this way it... Get rid of that damn cat.â proper sentence rule is simple:  avoid using semicolons they. Is usually given in the order day, month, Year different positions is the same old marks transposing to... Are firmly or should i say punctuation punctuation commas are the most frequently used form of punctuation that have be... The main clause, we sometimes use more than one exclamation mark: Oh no!. Veteran, E.E, if you live in the direction of Usage example: She turned the.: we took bread, cheese, and youâve just confidently avoided improper Usage. You ’ re wondering whether you need to follow all the punctuation rules, the... 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