Punctuating with Skill

Overview/Description
 Should you use a comma or a semicolon? Does the punctuation go inside or outside of the quotation mark? What's the difference between the parentheses and brackets, the hyphen and the dash? Knowing the answers to these questions will ensure that you're using punctuation correctly and to your greatest advantage. In this course, you'll review the standard rules and guidelines for using punctuation appropriately. You'll also be given the most current information on some of those pesky rules that seem to be constantly changing. In today's world of fast-paced electronic communication, it's more important than ever to get your meaning across quickly and cleanly. A well-punctuated sentence does just that.

Target Audience
 Supervisors, leaders, managers

Expected Duration
2.0 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Terminal Punctuation

  • recognize the importance of using terminal punctuation marks appropriately.
  • identify the examples in which the period rules are applied correctly.
  • choose the examples in which question mark rules are applied correctly.
  • identify the appropriate applications of exclamation points.

    • Comma, Comma, Comma

  • recognize the importance of using commas appropriately.
  • identify the statements in which the comma rules are applied correctly.
  • identify the sentences in which commas are often misused.
  • identify the sentences in which the rules for some less common uses of the comma are applied.

    • Connecting and Separating Marks

  • recognize the importance of using semicolons, colons, dashes, and hyphens appropriately.
  • choose the examples in which the semicolon rules are applied correctly.
  • identify the statements in which the colon rules are applied correctly.
  • select the statements in which rules for dashes and hyphens are applied correctly.

    • Additional Marks

  • recognize the importance of using apostrophes, parentheses, brackets, and quotation marks appropriately.
  • choose the examples in which the apostrophe rules are applied correctly.
  • choose the examples in which the rules for parentheses and brackets are applied correctly.
  • identify the correct application of quotation marks rules in sentences.

    • Course Number: COMM0204