Enlightenment Series 1st Year Prof. SHAHID ZAMAN: 0322-7165005 (BBA, M.

A English)

Punctuation
P-1.Punctuation (derived from the Latin punctum, a point) means the right use of putting in points or stops
in writing.
SHAHID ZAMAN
(BBA, M.A English)
Lecturer English
Following are the principal stops: 0322-7165005

Sr. No English Urdu

1. Full Stop or period (.) ‫ختمہ‬
2. Comma (,) ‫سکتہ‬
3. Inverted Commas (“ “) ‫واوین‬
4. Apostrophe (‘) ‫حزفی عالمت‬
5. Semicolon (;) ‫وفقہ‬
6. Colon (:) ‫رابطہ‬
7. Question mark (?) ‫سوالیہ‬
8. Exclamation mark (!) ‫فجائیہ اور ندائیہ‬
9. Dash (-) ‫خط‬
10. Double Dash (--) --
11. Ellipsis or Three dots (…) ‫نشان حزف‬

P-2. Importance of Punctuation in writing.

To express your idea or meaning in actual sense, correct use of punctuation is necessary. Look at the
examples below.
Example 1. The Policeman says, “The thief has stolen the goods.”
Example 2. “The Policeman,” says the thief, “has stolen the goods.” Interrupted
Quotation

P-3. CAPITAL LETTERS.

Capital letters are used:
i. To begin a sentence.
Example 1. The package was lying by the front door.

ii. To begin each fresh line of poetry.

Example 1. Who learn to walk beneath the weight

iii. To begin all proper nouns and adjectives derived from them.
Example 1. How all kind of women came in and out, blondes, redheads, and Spanish.
Example 2. Zaibunnisa, with assistance of Mehrun, Zabda and Shamsun cut them
Example 3. “Strange. You think those Martians killed them?”
Example 4. One evening in January, a well-groomed young man having walked up Davis Road to the
Mall turned to Charing Cross.
 Enlightenment Series 1st Year Prof. SHAHID ZAMAN: 0322-7165005 (BBA, M.A English)

iv. For all nouns and pronouns which indicate the Deity.
Example 1. If I am lying the curse of Allah be on me and may I be drowned in some pond.

v. To write pronoun I and interjection O.

Example 1. “Not that I believe a word what you told us.”
Example 1. “O, him! Yes! He saw me pickup this string here.”

vi. For titles of books, magazines, newspapers.

Example 1. Where she stopped, the sign said: “Mrs. Sofronie. Hair Articles of All Kinds.”
Example 2. “I don’t know whether you saw the notice in the Morning Post, but—“

vii. For abbreviations and Trademarks.

Example 1. “This is Lenox Hill Hospital.”
Example 2. Mr., Mrs., B.A, M.A and ATM etc.

viii. For reported and reporting speech in direct speech.

Example 1. He inquired, “Is Mr. Hubert here?”
Example 2. “I don’t care to know,” he answered.
Example 3. “What are you talking about?” Arthur asked him.

Note: We do not use capital letters for sun, earth and moon and for the names of seasons.

P-4. Full Stop or Period.

i. It is used to mark the end of a declarative or an imperative sentence. It represents greatest pause.
Example 1. I didn’t want to go with him.
Example 2. Shut the door.

ii. It is also used in abbreviations.

Example. M.A, B.A, F.Sc
SHAHID ZAMAN
(BBA, M.A English)
P-5. Comma. Lecturer English
Comma represents shortest pause and is used: 0322-7165005

i. To separate a series of words in the same construction

Example 1. I wanted to taste yams, tomatoes and potatoes grown in this land.

ii. To separate each pair of words connected by “and”

Example 1. High and low, rich and poor, wise and foolish, all must die.
Example 2. He looked as if he were fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and
blue jeans.

iii. To mark off time, reason or circumstances or to separate adverbial clause

Example 1. Arthur was in the living room, reading.
Example 2. “I worked in a shop once, when I was twenty.”

iv. To mark off noun in apposition

Example 1. The Mayor, a stout serious man, was waiting for Hubert.
 Enlightenment Series 1st Year Prof. SHAHID ZAMAN: 0322-7165005 (BBA, M.A English)

Example 2. Once when Chaudhary Fateh Dad, the member of the District Board, reprimanded him.

v. To indicate direct address

Example 1. “Here you are, Harry.” Sam handed him a pocket mirror.
Example 2. “Harry, what colour of eyes have you got?’
Example 3. It’s supper time, Harry,” they said.

vi. Before coordinating conjunctions(connect phrases, clauses or sentences equal to each other)

F A N B O Y S
For and nor But Or Yet So

Example 1. It had a long strap, and she carried it slung across her shoulder.
Example 2. She was breathing rapidly, and I realized that she had high fever.
Example 3. There were two slips in the road and I couldn’t drive my car.
Note: Comma is placed between coordinating clauses but not before subordinate clause.

vii. To mark a direct quotation from the rest of the sentence

Example 1. “This is Mrs. Lewis,” she said.
Example 2. He said, “Go to hell.”
viii. Between different parts of the address
Example 1. “Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lewis, 217-E, Thirty-seventh Street, New York, New York
10016.”
ix. Before more adverbs and adverbial phrase
Example 1. Impulsively, she dropped them into her purse.
Example 2. Stumbling into the living room, she picked up the receiver.

P-6. Inverted Comma.

Inverted commas are used:

i. To enclose the direct marks of a speaker; or quotation
Example 1. He inquired, “Is Hubert here?”

Example 2. “All paths go to the same place,” he answered.

Interrupted
Example 3. ‘As a matter of fact, I can,’ said Jorkens, ‘a very similar case.’ Quotation

ii. For Titles of books, programs, poems, essays, shows etc.

Example 1. These lines have been taken from the poem “Night Mail” written by W. H. Auden.
Example 2. You remember our performance of “Talbot Champneys in Our Boys”

P-7. Apostrophe.
i. Apostrophe is used to show the omission of a letter or letters (make contractions).

Example 1. Now, You’re comin’ to something, son,” he said.

Example 2. “It won’t take long to explain,” replied Mr. Steward.
 Enlightenment Series 1st Year Prof. SHAHID ZAMAN: 0322-7165005 (BBA, M.A English)

SHAHID ZAMAN
P-8. The Semicolon. (BBA, M.A English)
The semicolon represents the pause of greater importance than the comma. It is Lecturer English
used: 0322-7165005
i. To separate the independent clauses in a compound sentence

Example 1. Sweat poured out from his face and hands and his body; he was drenched into the hotness of his
fear.
Example 2. “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.”

P-9. The Colon.

The colon represents more complete pause than that expressed by the semi-colon. It is used:
i. To introduce a quotation or meaning.

Example 1. This nation will rise up and live up the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be
self-evident; that all men are created equal.”

P-10. The Dash.

The dash is used:

i. To indicate an abrupt stop and change of thought

Example 1.”If you are selling something ---,” Arthur said.
Example 2. “Wanted to show you I am not –,” She shrugged.

ii. To resume scattered subject

Example 1. Roger looked at the door – looked at the woman – looked at the door – and went to the
sink.
Example 2. “Are you” -- he seemed to draw back slightly -- “are you really saying -- “

P-11. Exclamation Mark (!)

Exclamation mark is used:
i. To show sudden emotion, feeling, wonder and wish.
Example 1. “Nonsense!” Mr. Bittering looked out the window.
Example 2. “A piece of string, a piece of string! By my word of honour I don’t lie.” And he died.
 Enlightenment Series 1st Year Prof. SHAHID ZAMAN: 0322-7165005 (BBA, M.A English)

Practice Exercises
Hints: SHAHID ZAMAN
(BBA, M.A English)
Lecturer English
 Make distinction between reported and reporting speech
0322-7165005
 Capitalization
 End point punctuation
 Commas
 Contractions

1. it wont take long to explain replied mr steward may i come in

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2. if you push the button mr steward told him somewhere in the world someone you dont know will die
in return for which you will receive a payment of $50000.

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3. i feel like a salt crystal he said in a mountain stream being washed away.

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4. i was seen with pocket book who saw me mr manana the harness man saw you pick up the pocket
book

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5. did they tell you what became of the men and women who built this settlement lieutenant.

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6. mrs lewis yes this is lenox hill hospital.

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7. she said you a lie by the time two or three people passed stopped turned to look and some stood
watching.
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 Enlightenment Series 1st Year Prof. SHAHID ZAMAN: 0322-7165005 (BBA, M.A English)

Practice Exercises
Hints: SHAHID ZAMAN
(BBA, M.A English)
Lecturer English
 Make distinction between reported and reporting speech 0322-7165005
 Capitalization
 End point punctuation
 Commas
 Contractions

8. this is mrs lewis she said yer mrs lewis mr steward sounded pleased I am curious that’s natural mr
steward said
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9. look at this jess he bragged did you ever see better alfalfa grow out of the earth
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10. it s the best looking hay i ve ever seen any place i said i ve never seen better looking alfalfa even in
little sandy river bottoms

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11. well you didnt have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes said mrs leulla bates
washington jones you could have asked me

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12. life is like a race jorkens went on in which they tire after a while and sit down or get interested in
something else instead

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13. if jim doesn’t like me she said to herself before he looks at me a second time he ll say I look like a
girl who works for money

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