English Language Writing Skills

By Danso Kwasi Nti Samuel (DAS). Study the complete course source, examine every model and practise alongside Professor Jarvis.

Course printed page 51 PDF page 57 of 505

For tables, matching columns, IPA and original formatting, open the course PDF above.

Collaborative work in class on Detailed Punctuation Rules

Jenna: So, guys, we’re starting with punctuation today, right? I went through the notes, and

it's packed with information.

Michael: Yep. Punctuation is essential for clear communication. We need to understand its

importance and learn how to use it properly.

Lena: Definitely. The notes explain that punctuation helps organize and           structure

sentences, indicating pauses, ends, and connections between ideas. Let’s start with commas.

Jenna: Sure. Commas are used to separate parts of a sentence and tell readers to pause. For

example, "Practice will be held before school, in the afternoon, and at night." It separates

items in a series.

Michael: Commas after introductory clauses or phrases are important too. Like, "If your

friends enjoy Chinese food, they will love this restaurant." It sets the stage for the main

clause.

Lena: And they set off nonessential phrases. For instance, "The man, I think, had a funny

laugh." The phrase "I think" is extra information but doesn’t change the main meaning.

Jenna: Exactly. Moving on to full stops, they end sentences and indicate a complete

thought. Like, "Kumasi is the home of Prempeh College."

Michael: Full stops are pretty straightforward. Question marks follow direct questions, like

"When did Joe buy a red shirt?" But not after indirect questions, like "Marie wants to know

when Joe bought a red shirt."

Lena: Exclamation marks indicate strong emotion or emphasis, like "What a good movie!"

But we should use them sparingly to avoid exaggeration.