Other Punctuation
Semicolons
Can be used:
to correct a “comma splice”
I went to the football game, it was fun. ← Wrong
I went to the football game; it was fun. ← Right
to separate two independent clauses without a fanboy
Mr. Hartle teaches Math; Mr. Thompson teaches History.
Colons
Can be used:
After an independent clause to direct attention to a list, an appositive or a quotation.
There is something great about sports: they reveal character.
Quotations
For a detailed writeup of the quotations and citations, please click here.
In non MLA writing, commas and periods appear inside the quote.
-We said, “What we said.”
When a dialogue tag interrupts a quoted sentence, begin the second part of the quotation with a lowercase letter.
-”Maybe,” the students wondered, “we could get some extra credit.”
If the quoted text is a complete sentence, it should begin with a capital letter.
Melville once said, “Man’s insanity is heaven’s sense.”
If the quoted text is not a complete sentence, it should not begin with a capital letter.
If there is an MLA citation, the period goes at the end of the sentence. If a comma ends the quoted portion, omit the comma. ←COMMON MISTAKE!
-Melville writes, “Melville” (Melville 30).
In MLA, question marks and exclamation marks appear inside the quote. A period is still needed.
Melville asks, “Melville?” (Melville 30).
Ellipses (dot dot dot)
Only necessary when taking out text from the middle of the quote.
-Melville writes, “Man’s . . . sense.”
ELIPSES ARE NOT NECESSARY TO BEGIN OR END A QUOTED SECTION IF A SMALL SECTION OF A SENTENCE IS QUOTED.
Should be a space between each period. ( . . . ) NOT: (...)
Titles
The titles of books, magazines, newspapers, plays, movies, tv/radio series, works of art, ships, planes, and spacecraft are all italicized. (Underlined only in handwritten works.)
Quotation marks are for the titles of poems, short stories, articles, songs, single tv programs, and chapter titles. (Any work that could be found in ANOTHER work, usually short written pieces.)
Semicolons
Can be used:
to correct a “comma splice”
I went to the football game, it was fun. ← Wrong
I went to the football game; it was fun. ← Right
to separate two independent clauses without a fanboy
Mr. Hartle teaches Math; Mr. Thompson teaches History.
to replace a period
Mr. Hartle teaches Math. Mr. Thompson teaches History.
to link two independent clauses with an independent clause marker.
Many corals grow very gradually; in fact, the creation of a coral reef can take centuries.
to separate items in a series containing internal punctuation.
Delbarton’s most experienced teachers are Mr. Thompson, who teaches AP Euro; Mr. Hartle, who teaches AP Stats; and Mr. Devine, who teaches AP Physics.
Colons
Can be used:
After an independent clause to direct attention to a list, an appositive or a quotation.
A typical routine includes the a number of exercises: twenty knee bends, fifty sit-ups, fifteen leg lifts, and five minutes of running in place.
Exception: If the list follows the main verb of the sentence.
Delbarton’s most experienced teachers are Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hartle, and Mr. Devine.
Between independent clauses ONLY IF THE SECOND ONE EXPLAINS OR SUMMARIZES THE FIRST
Faith is like love: it cannot be forced.There is something great about sports: they reveal character.
Quotations
For a detailed writeup of the quotations and citations, please click here.
In non MLA writing, commas and periods appear inside the quote.
-We said, “What we said.”
When a dialogue tag interrupts a quoted sentence, begin the second part of the quotation with a lowercase letter.
-”Maybe,” the students wondered, “we could get some extra credit.”
If the quoted text is a complete sentence, it should begin with a capital letter.
Melville once said, “Man’s insanity is heaven’s sense.”
If the quoted text is not a complete sentence, it should not begin with a capital letter.
If there is an MLA citation, the period goes at the end of the sentence. If a comma ends the quoted portion, omit the comma. ←COMMON MISTAKE!
-Melville writes, “Melville” (Melville 30).
In MLA, question marks and exclamation marks appear inside the quote. A period is still needed.
Melville asks, “Melville?” (Melville 30).
Ellipses (dot dot dot)
Only necessary when taking out text from the middle of the quote.
-Melville writes, “Man’s . . . sense.”
ELIPSES ARE NOT NECESSARY TO BEGIN OR END A QUOTED SECTION IF A SMALL SECTION OF A SENTENCE IS QUOTED.
Should be a space between each period. ( . . . ) NOT: (...)
Titles
The titles of books, magazines, newspapers, plays, movies, tv/radio series, works of art, ships, planes, and spacecraft are all italicized. (Underlined only in handwritten works.)
Quotation marks are for the titles of poems, short stories, articles, songs, single tv programs, and chapter titles. (Any work that could be found in ANOTHER work, usually short written pieces.)
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