1.

Use period to end a declarative or

imperative sentence.

I am telling the truth.

Be honest even though it would hurt.
2. Use period to end an indirect question

They asked me whether I could help them settle

their dispute.
She asked him how he managed to understand
her peculiarities.
3. Use period after abbreviations of titles,
geographical terms, or initials
Lt. Col. Lieutenant Colonel
Ltd. Limited
Ph. D. Doctor of Philosophy
Inc. Incorporated
4. Use period in phrasing polite sentences
when the audience is expected to comply
rather than reply.

May I ask those at the back to occupy the front

seats.
Will you please present your tickets before
entering the hall.
5. Scholarly abbreviations required period.

I. (line)
II. (lines)
op.cit. (opera citato, in the work cited)
viz. (videlicet, namely)
NOTE: Acronyms are abbreviations that are
pronounced as words. They are not
punctuated.

UNESCO, CIA, ADMU, COA

Note: Radio and television stations do not
use period for their call letters.

DZRH, DZMM, WTN, ABS-CBN, GMA

Note: Units of measurement do not use
periods when abbreviated

mph (miles per minute)

kg (kilogram)
1. Use question mark to end an
interrogative sentence and direct
question.

Do you prefer to send e-mails or snail mail?

Whom are you writing to, Ted?
2. Use question mark to turn a statement
to question.

There is a hidden message?

You mean she can accept your proposal?
1. Use comma with coordinating
conjunctions, between the clauses of a
compound sentence. And, but, for, nor,
or, so, yet are coordinating conjunctions.
 Use comma with coordinating conjunctions, between the clauses of a
compound sentence.
And, but, for, nor, or, so, yet are coordinating conjunctions.

The elections will be very close, and no one

knows this better than the campaign managers.
 Use comma with coordinating conjunctions, between the clauses of a
compound sentence.
And, but, for, nor, or, so, yet are coordinating conjunctions.

Many bashers post negative comments about

possible contenders, yet they have not proven
their innocence on court cases filed against them.
2. Use comma between items in a series
which may be word, phrases, or clauses.
The final comma before the and is a mark that
prevents misreading.
Use comma between items in a series which may be word, phrases, or
clauses. The final comma before the and is a mark that prevents misreading.

They were advised to have moments of silence,

to listen to each other, and to settle their dispute.
Unclear:
The team agreed to use mini-bicycles, remote-
controlled boats and toy airplanes.
Unclear:

The team agreed to use mini-bicycles, remote-controlled boats and toy airplanes.

Clear:
The team agreed to use mini-bicycles, remote-
controlled boats, and toy airplanes.
Unclear:

The team agreed to use mini-bicycles, remote-controlled boats and toy airplanes.

Clear:
The team agreed to use mini-bicycles, remote-
controlled boats, and remote-controlled toy
airplanes.
(The boats and airplanes are remote-controlled.
Repeating the modifier makes it clear. The comma
before and does not affect the meaning)
Unclear:

The team agreed to use mini-bicycles, remote-controlled boats and toy airplanes.

Clear:
The team agreed to use toy airplanes, mini-
bicycles, and remote-controlled boats.
(Rearranging the items in the series clarified the
sentence. The comma ensures clarity.)
3. Use comma to separate paired words
that are treated as single items.

Do you prefer sausage, and eggs, ham and eggs

or bacon and eggs.
Do you prefer sausage and eggs, ham and eggs,
or bacon and eggs?
4. Use comma in introductory word,
phrase, or clause.

Furious, he quickly crumpled the letter.

With great effort, he tried to calm himself.
Even when he left the class remained on task .

Even when he left, the class remained on task.

5. Use comma to separate coordinate
adjectives that appear before a noun and
are not joined by and.
Coordinate adjectives: Adjectives that are not
with and coordinate:
hot and humid days corrupt local officials
active and bright pupils expensive sports cars

replaced by comma To determine whether adjectives

hot, humid days are coordinates, apply the and
test. If the phrase does not make
active, bright pupils sense, the adjectives are not
coordinate.
6. Use comma with parenthetical
expressions.

A. Common expressions like of course, I hope

Of course, she believes in what you say.

6. Use comma with parenthetical
expressions.

B. Conjunctive adverb like however

She tried to leave; however, the guards did not

allow her.
6. Use comma with parenthetical
expressions.

C. Names of persons being addressed

Thank you, Mrs. Lim

6. Use comma with parenthetical
expressions.

D. contrasting expressions

She prefers white, not brown

7. Use comma to set off a direct quotation
from the rest of a sentence.

Mother suggested, Choose the better one.

I think this is the best, Carol answered.

NOTE: When a direct quotation is
punctuated with a question mark or
exclamation point, no comma is used before
the expression indicating direct quotation.
How can you choose between two kids? the
social worker asked.

How dare you do that! the mother exclaimed.

8. Use comma to set off nonrestrictive
appositive. Restrictive appositives
cannot be omitted from a sentence
without changing the meaning of the
sentence. Nonrestrictive appositives can
be omitted.
Non-restrictive:
Let me introduce to you my father, Mr. Carlo
Reyes.
(I have only one father.)
Restrictive:
My sister Conchita lives with him in Canada.
(I have more than one sister. Without the
appositive Conchita, the reader cannot tell whom
I am referring to.)
My younger sister, Jean, will be migrating there
next year.
(I have one younger sister. The appositive Jean
may be omitted without changing the meaning of
the sentence.)
9. Use comma in titles, dates, and places

Mara Victa, Ph.D.

Makati, Philippines
September 21, 2019