The English Language - Creative Writing - Becoming a creative writer - punctuation part two

As discussed in part one - in speaking to each other, we punctuate our sentences by pausing between groups of words, emphasising words and using gestures. When writing words down we should use punctuation to do the same thing.

Punctuation part two will cover the inverted comma, brackets, the dash, capital letters, the apostrophe, the question mark, and the exclamation mark.

Inverted Commas (“ “)

Inverted commas are used to indicate direct speech or a quotation.

Double inverted commas for direct speech – used only around the words actually spoken.

“I want to be a creative writer,” He explained.

Single inverted commas for quotations – around the text only being quoted.

He said and I quote, ‘I want to be a creative writer’.

Punctuation marks such as commas, full stops, or question marks are used inside the inverted commas except when the full stop is used following a quote within a sentence.

Brackets ( )

Round brackets or square – it doesn’t really matter as long as you don’t mix them. Brackets are usually put round a phrase or statement inserted into a sentence. Using brackets does not obligate you from using other punctuation correctly. Correct use of brackets means that you are able to lift the phrase or statement out of the sentence and the sentence still makes sense.

Johnny, (a creative writer) was suffering from writers block.

Brackets indicate stronger pauses than commas. You should use them for longer insertions in sentences and particularly to add extra information, which is not an essential part of the sentence.

Brackets are also used round numbers, especially in subsections of reports e.g. I(i), I(ii)

Brackets can be used to add information to a list of names:

Mrs Bradley (Year 6 Teacher)

Mr Alson (Head Teacher)

Mr & Mrs Kerson (Parents)

The Dash ( - )

A dash is longer than a hyphen.

Dashes are used instead of commas or brackets.

The accountant – a very clever man – always audited the books thoroughly.

Dashes can also be used in the middle of a sentence, where you want to change the thought or idea, or you want the reader to pause but don’t want to use a full stop:

Charlie couldn’t decide what to do at first and this went on for several months – but then he put pen to paper and wrote it all down.

CAPITAL LETTERS

The Seven Rules for using Capital Letters

1. You always start a sentence with a capital letter.

2. You always use a capital letter at the beginning of a passage of direct speech even if it is not the beginning of the sentence.

3. You always use capital letters to begin proper nouns: Stoke, Manchester, Macclesfield, Sally, Andrew, Carl

4. You always use capital letters to begin the first word and other main words in the titles of books, poems, etc. For the Love of a Brother by Keith Sutherland.

5. The pronoun I is always written as a capital letter. I.

6. Capital letters are always used for the days of the week and months of the year.

7. In abbreviations, capital letters are only used if capital letters are also used for the full word or title.

The Apostrophe ( ‘ )

The rules for using the apostrophe:

1. Use it to show where a letter has been missed out of a word: it’s, didn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t, etc.
2. Use it to show ownership. Father’s, brother’s, sister’s, Doctor’s, Dentist’s
3. If the name already ends in ‘s’ or considers the plural you add the apostrophe but not the extra ‘s’ i.e. Charles’, Doctors’, Dentists’
4. Leave the apostrophe out if you are showing belonging: The collar belonging to the cat is its collar.
5. Apostrophes are unnecessary in plurals of figures or plurals of abbreviations.

The Question Mark ( ? )

A question mark is always used when you ask a question.

The question mark is often used incorrectly.

It is either not used when it should be at the end of a direct question or use it when it is not actually needed.

You

Always use question marks when you ask direct questions:

Are you running late?

Will you be finished by the end of the month?

Is your sister going to give you a lift?

You don’t use question marks at the end of indirect questions:

Ask him if the book will be finished soon.

There should always be a full stop underneath a question mark: ?

There should always be a capital letter at the start of the following sentence.

The Exclamation Mark ( ! )

The exclamation mark is one of the most over used – unnecessarily used punctuation marks.

Exclamation marks are used to stress, express - surprise, anger, amusement or indignation:

If you don’t need them – don’t use them!

Exclamation marks are used after single words or phrases:

Oh!

Go away!

The exclamation mark incorporates a full stop therefore the next word must begin with a capital letter.

Don’t over use the exclamation mark.

Final note on punctuation

The use of correct punctuation is important. Correct punctuation makes your meaning clearer helping your reader to read, understand and enjoy what you are trying to say.

There are just three golden rules to correct punctuation:

1. Use plenty of full stops, correctly.
2. Don’t over use commas – leave them out if you don’t know how to use them correctly.
3. Read your work aloud, when you pause naturally judge whether this a long pause or a short stop – long pause would indicate a comma and short stop would indicate the end of a sentence therefore needing a full stop.

DO YOUR BEST TO USE PUNCTUATION CORRECTLY

copyright © leni sands 2011

Next, I will look at Spelling…