PUNCTUATION What Are Punctuation Marks? Punctuation marks are symbols to help readers understand how to read sentences. Examples: Period-ending marks, abbreviations Question mark-ending marks Exclamation point-ending marks Comma-separating items or words, direct address, dates Semicolon-joining two parts of a compound sentence Colon-before a list of items, in times, after the salutation of a business letter Quotation marks-enclosing a direct quotation, songs, short stories, or poems Apostrophe-possessives, contractions Hyphen-word breaks, compound numbers Parentheses-additions to sentences Dash-breaks in thoughts Try This! 1] " Boating is a relaxing way to spend a summer afternoon " I replied. Where does the comma belong in this sentence? a] after the word Boating b] after the word relaxing c] after the word spend d] after the word afternoon 2] What word belongs in the rectangle? a] comma b] apostrophe c] quotation marks d] exclamation point © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.