PUNCTUATIONS; COMMA and COLON

PUNCTUATIONS

(Comma and Colon)

Using Comma (,) :

1.       Beginning or opening part of sentence or paragraph.

Ø  Examples             : a. once upon a time, there was …

  b. Suddently, I saw shadow …

2.       To separate non restrictive modifiers. Non restrictive modifiers are optimal, meaning such modifiers can be added or deleted without changing the meaning of the main clause.

Ø  Examples             : a. The bag, which I left in my car, is from the store.

  b. The doggy, with the pink leash, belong to me.

Note      : Don’t use commas to separate restrictive modifiers. Restrictive modifiers are essential                                                                                                                                           to the meaning of the main clause.

3.       In dates, geographical places, numbers, personal tittles, direct addresses, and brief interjections.

Ø  Examples             : a. Elvarida was born on Friday, may 31,1993.

  b. Many students are from Medan, North Sumatera.

  c. The car costs $1,50

  d. Elvaridha, M.Ed

  e. You would never kick the kitty, would you?

4.       Before Quotes (“).

Ø  Examples             : a. Miss Melgis Said, “don’t forget”.

  b. Father said, “make a cup of coffee”.

5.       To separate a List of things.

Ø  Examples             : a. this cake is made from flour, eggs, sugar, etc.

  b. She buys books, pen, bag, shoes, etc.

6.       After time expression.

Ø  Examples             : a. First, put into the bowl two cup of flour.

  b. Next, you can add eggs .

7.       The comma with the conjunctions and, or, nor, but, for, can be used to join two closely related ideas within a single sentence. It indicates that there are two main ideas within the sentence.

Ø  Examples             : a. The students read the paragraph again and again, but they did not

       Understand the main idea of the paragraph.

  b. Listening and reading are language Skills as Inputs, and speaking and

      Writing are language skills as outputs.

                                                               

Using Colon (:)  :

1.       Introduces a List .

Ø  Examples             : a. The Beverage was made from many items : sugar, water, fruits, and

       Ice.

  b. group one consist of 6 persons : madi, nanda, Tri, Ary, ando, and wawan.

2.       Between Hours and Minutes.

Ø  Examples             : a. 12 : 45

  b. 01 : 55 a.m

3.       Between the chapter and the verse in the Al-Qur’an, in citations for some Literary work, and between the Volume and number of some publications.

Ø  Examples             : a. Vol.5 : 25

                  b. QS. Al Baqarah : 15 :74.

                  c. Part 8 : 511.

4.       After the salutation of Business Letter.

Ø  Examples             : a. Dea Mr.Ronald :

  b. Dear Leader Of The Company :

5.       In the Heading of a Business Memo.

Ø  Examples             : To :

  Subject :