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1.
DO: Follow the rules
There are grammatical rules that are important to understand to use proper punctuation. Remember, commas are used to separate items in a series. Apostrophes are needed for the possessive form of a singular noun. A semicolon can be used to join two thoughts that are not preceded by nor, yet, and, or but.
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2.
DO: All commas in a sentence serve the same purpose
Commas in the same sentence should serve the same purpose. Remember, commas should be used in a sentence to mark a slight break in the sentence, so reading out loud will help with placement.
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3.
DO: Understand the different types of dashes
There are several types of dashes that I used when help writing my college essay with punctuation. The hyphen is used to join words together, while the figure dash is used to set off lists or emphasize added material that interrupts the flow of the sentence. There are other types of formal dashes, namely the en or em dash, so named because they are the width of an n or m respectively.
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4.
DON'T: Be afraid to use the colon
The colon is most often used to express time or to introduce a list. Do not mistake the placement of a colon for the placement of a comma. An example of proper colon placement is, " I went to the supermarket and bought: a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, a bag of apples, and some cheese."
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