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Set 4 - Lesson 19 ( Go to the Answer Key )
Lesson 19, Apostrophes, Brackets, Dashes, Parentheses: Special Rules for Special Punctuation
APOSTROPHE:
Use an apostrophe to indicate that a noun is showing possession or ownership. To make a plural noun possessive, put 's after plural forms that do not end in s and only an apostrophe if the plural ends with s.
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Use an apostrophe to show where letters or numbers have been left out in a contraction.
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Use an apostrophe to form the plurals of numbers and symbols, of words when they are referred to without regarding their meanings, and to show the plurals or other forms for abbreviations.
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DASH:
Use dashes mainly to set off explanations, to show an abrupt change in the flow of the sentence and to set off a thought that is repeated for stress or emphasis.
Use a dash before a clause that summarizes a series of words or phrases.
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PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS:
Use brackets [ ] to enclose comments or explanations within quoted material. Use brackets to correct errors. Use brackets to enclose a passage that already has parentheses in it.
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Use parentheses to enclose parenthetical or explanatory expressions that are not part of the primary sentence structure. Parentheses are a stronger separation than commas or dashes.
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Parentheses are used to enclose a numerical figure when it follows the same amount written out in words or when the American equivalent of foreign currency is given.
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In official court or Congressional testimony, use parentheses to enclose actions that take place during an individual's testimony and the name of a new person who begins to testify.
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Parentheses are used to enclose numbers or letters itemizing a list within a sentence.
Note: Use normal punctuation marks (. , ? ! ) within the parentheses if those marks are part of or belong to the enclosed words.
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Exercise A: Make the following nouns possessive.
1. geese | 2. lion | 3. wolves | 4. kangaroo | 5. men |
Exercise B: Make the following items plural.
1. 24 | 2. if | 3. & | 4. 1800 | 5. CEO |
Exercise C: Put the correct punctuation in the following sentences.
1. I remember how beautiful the stars were was it only last night? when we walked along the shore. 2. Ebay one of the largest on-line auction sites is very well organized. 3. Pickles, hot dogs, rolls, mustard we'll need all of it for the picnic. 4. Everywhere we went, people at least the ones who noticed told us we looked so happy. 5. There are a few things you need to be sure of 1 Have the reservations been confirmed? 2 Do you have the Travelers Checks? 3 Is the luggage all here? 6. When I traveled to Italy, I went to the bank and got six million lira $845 so I could go shopping. 7. "Four score and seven 87 years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent ......" 8. Charles finally finished painting the window frame the last one, he hoped and started to clean up the mess. |
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Examination: Put all the punctuation that is required in the following sentences, not just apostrophes, dashes, brackets or parentheses. Write the corrected sentences on the lines.
1. Its very clear said the editor that there are too many buts and commas in that sentence ____________________________________________________________________________ 2. The painter Gregory will show his works in Baltimore Maryland on Tuesday March 18 _____________________________________________________________________________
3. However you can accomplish it be here by the end of the week ____________________________________________________________________________ 4. However it would be nice if you got here earlier ____________________________________________________________________________ 5. Joe Smith hes your cousin isnt he telephoned this morning _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Did the agency ruin its reputation he wondered ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. The cattlemens assn was founded in the late 1890s ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. We will send the two thousand dollar $2000 deposit by the fastest means ________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Hurry take the parcel to the following address 4043 Cimmaron Blvd Boulder CO _______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Yes the dedication will be played on Station WABC at 1115 _______________________________________________________________________________ |
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