Punctuation
This is a tricky arena where mathematics can often seem to be involved. Punctuation does not exist in spoken language (unless someone becomes very excited and says, “That’s it! Period!”), however it is used to regulate the pauses, intonations and other actions that we cannot hear when we read. It also gives extra information about the relationship between the ideas on the page. The usage of periods/ full stops is the easiest punctuation at the end of a full sentence. Here are some tips about other punctuation marks to complement your use of Spell check.
Commas
The quintessential comma: commas can be used to indicate the relationships between multiple ideas. Standard usage of the comma would be in list making. In the following example, commas separate the three elements that (together) make up the subject of this sentence.
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Université Libre de Bruxelles, and Vesalius College are all universities found in Brussels.
Generally, commas are separators, not combiners. Partly for this reason, many commas are optional. When the separation is naturally clear(,) you can forego the comma.
A common mistake when using commas occurs when attempting to combine sentences together. A comma needs to be accompanied by a coordinating conjunction to join two separate, independent sentences; otherwise you will have what is called a comma splice and teachers hate that!
Full sentence #1: It was raining outside.
Full sentence #2: She went back in to get her umbrella.
Example of a comma splice:
WRONG: It was raining outside, she went back in to get her umbrella.
Options to remedy this comma splice include using a conjunction such as and, or, but, yet, or, perhaps a subordinating word such as since, because, as, when, or if.
CORRECT: It was raining outside, so she went back in to get her umbrella.
CORRECT: Because it was raining outside, she went back in to get her umbrella.
Naturally, it depends on what the writer means and/or wants to emphasize.
Semicolons
To finish up the story of comma splices, a semicolon is another remedy. Use a semicolon to connect two complete sentences that could stand on their own but which you want to join for stylistic reasons, stressing the connection between them.
Full sentence #1: It was raining outside.
Full sentence #2: She went back in to get her umbrella.
Neither sentence needs the other as is. However, since the meanings of the two sentences are closely related, they can be joined with a semicolon.
It was raining outside; she went back in to get her umbrella.
Colons
Colons can set the reader up for a list or for the answer to a question. Sometimes they simply replace the verb ‘to be’.
Ingredients: Water, flour, yeast, salt.
Why anyone would visit Brussels: to visit friends, to taste fine food and drink, to see the capital of Europe.
The chances of winning the lottery: slim.