Towson University
Towson University: Online Writing Support: Punctuation
This site offers a list of links to punctuation exercises/quizzes including commas, semicolons, quotation marks, apostrophes, and italics.
Get It Write
Get It Write: Using the Colon
Very clear, detailed explanation of the appropriate use of colons in sentences. You will find several examples of both correct and incorrect usage, and a short quiz to test understanding. L.9-10.2b Colons
ACT360 Media
Writing Tips: Sentence Builder Punctuation
A list of the major elements of punctuation in the English language, including the period, question mark, exclamation mark, comma, apostrophe, quotation marks, colon, semicolon, dash, and hyphen. Provides a brief description and the...
Robin L. Simmons
Grammar Bytes: Semicolon
Printable information is provided that demonstrates how to identify a semicolon.
Other
Transaction: Punctuation Guide: Semicolon
Writing lab tutorial for punctuating English writing with a semicolon.
Other
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Punctuation
This site provides the answers to six frequently asked questions regarding punctuation. For example, "Should I use a comma before AND in a series?" The question "Do commas and periods go inside our outside the closing quotation mark?" is...
Other
Punctuation Mark Rules: The Semicolon
Site provides information concerning the rules and usage of the grammatical element "the semicolon" in English punctuation. Also includes several examples.
Other
University of Bristol Faculty of Arts: Improve Your Writing: Using the Colon
In this exercise, students are given 3 sentences from which they must select the one with the correct usage of the colon. There is also a link for other grammar exercises.
Other
University of Bristol Faculty of Arts: Using the Colon to Improve Style
In this exercise, students are given sentences without a colon; they are asked to retype each sentence using the colon to make it more forceful. The site also offers a link with more grammar exercises.
Other
Illinois State University: Punctuation Made Simple
Brief tutorial on how to use some of the most confusing punctuation marks: colon, semicolon, comma, dash, and the apostrophe.
Other
Sandhills Community College: The Semicolon
A very thorough and detailed guide to the use of semicolons in English punctuation. Includes several rules and examples.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: The King's English: Punctuation
This is the Punctuation chapter from H.W. Fowler's The King?s English, 2nd ed. (1908), which provides the rules of use for British English punctuation in the early 20th century. Many of these rules still apply.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: Quotation Marks
The proper use of quotation marks is explained and shown with examples in this excerpt from H.W. Fowler's The King?s English, 2nd ed. (1908), a writing primer used in the early 20th century.
Other
Illinois State U.: Punctuation Made Simple Semicolon
What purpose does a semicolon serve in punctuation? Explore this website to learn more about this small but powerful grammar tool.
Other
Library Online: Colon and Semicolon Punctuation in Writing
Rules and examples in list form demonstrating the proper use of both the colon and semicolon.
Grammarly
Grammarly Handbook: Punctuation
An explanation of the importance of punctuation and links to specific information on several different types of punctuation marks.
Other
Saint Michael's College: Semicolon and Colon
This site discusses the three major uses of the semicolon and provides examples for each of the uses. Also discusses the use of the colon.
English Club
English Club: What Is Punctuation?
This EnglishClub tutorial reviews the purposes for punctuation. Several examples of punctuation in the context of sentences.
Grammarly
Grammarly Blog: Comma
This page focuses on comma use; it explains the importance of the comma and provides an example of how drastically a comma can change the meaning of a sentence. It also provides links to 38 different pages of comma rules and examples.
Grammarly
Grammarly Blog: Missing Comma Before a Question Tag
Rules and examples for using commas when writing a question tag at the end of a sentence.
Grammarly
Grammarly Blog: Comma Emphasizing Contrasting Ideas
This page focuses on the use of commas around contrasting ideas to emphasize that the subject has been modified; examples are provided. Signal words for contrasting ideas include not, unlike and never.
Grammarly
Grammarly Blog: Run on Sentences
Rules and examples for using commas when writing a complex sentence.
Grammarly
Grammarly Blog: Hyphen
An explanation of the use of a hyphen and links to specific hyphen usage rules.