Punctuation Marks Rules and Examples Part 1


Apostrophe ‘ - An apostrophe has two main functions.
1) An apostrophe shows that a letter (or letters) has been omitted from a word in a contraction.
Examples
It’s (it is) not ready yet. Come back later.
I’d (I would) be happier if you did it without being asked.

2) An apostrophe is used to make a noun possessive.
Examples
Chicago’s winters are very cold and severe.
The dog’s feet are muddy.

Hyphen – The hyphen has two main functions.
1) The most common use of the hyphen is to form compound words, words that are made up of more than one word. Sometimes this occurs when two words are put together to serve as an adjective
Examples
I paid for two full-price tickets, but I still was not admitted to the arena. I want a refund.
After losing three jobs this year, I have no self-confidence left.

2) A hyphen is often used after the prefix of a word. If you’re not sure whether a hyphen is needed, consult a dictionary.
Examples
Post-conference activities include a tour of the city.
Don’t over-promise, and you won’t have a problem delivering on your promises.

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