Punctuation, Part 1

Punctuation, Part 1

Jelte, "Semicolon".https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Semicolon.png. 5/12/2008 via Wikimedia. Public Domain.

In this blog post I will be writing about three different types of punctuation as described in Rules For Writers. 

Semicolon: (;)

The semicolon is used to connect to equal parts of sentence of the same grammatical rank. A semicolon can be used when a writer wants to omit a coordinating clause. When using a transitional phrase like "after all", the writer will use a semicolon then the transitional phrase then a comma. Sometimes a semicolon is used emphasize a contrast or distinction. I have never really been a huge user of semicolons but they add nice variety to sentences and can break up a run-on so I may use them more often in the future.

Colon: (:)

The colon is used to bring attention to the words that come after it. The most common use of a colon is using it before a list but it can be used before an appositive, a quotation, or a summary. Colons can also be used after a salutation in a letter, between hours and minutes when stating a time (7:30), when stating a ratio (5:2) and between a title and subtitle. A colon must always follow a full independent clause.

Apostrophe: (')

The apostrophe is used to show that a noun is possessive meaning that it shows ownership. If a noun does not end in "s" then when using an apostrophe a writer adds "('s)". If the noun is plural and ends with "s" than a writer adds the apostrophe after the "s". An apostrophe can also indicate that an indefinite pronoun is possessive. By adding a "('s)" to a word like "someone" it implies that somebody owns something. Numbers do not use apostrophes. I often use apostrophes in my writing.

Reflection:
I peer edited the essays of Mark and Tyler and looked out for the three items of punctuation that I wrote about. In Mark's essay he used a colon that occurred in this sentence, "This distinction may seem innocuous, but it serves a key point in Bouie's agenda: it offers two sides to the issues, and helps him build into wider narrative describing a conflict between competing wings of the GOP quite effectively". Mark uses the colon because he wanted to draw attention to what he was saying after it. In Tyler's essay he did not use an apostrophe when he should have. He writes, "Schliefers argument", but Schliefer should have an apostrophe after the "s" because it is Schliefer's argument.