Contraction or Possessive?
Put away the children's toys.
possessive
The room is well-appointed.
hyphen
puncture ➙
punct + ure
1. She is a doctor, he is a lawyer.
2. She is a doctor, but he is a lawyer.
3. She is a doctor but he is a lawyer.
1. She is a doctor, he is a lawyer.
< ! >
exclamation point
Mary's got a cold.
contraction
Don't leave – I'll be there in a minute.
dash
compunction ➙
com + punct + ion
1. I like chocolate; he likes vanilla.
2. I like chocolate; but he likes vanilla.
3. I like chocolate. He likes vanilla.
2. I like chocolate; but he likes vanilla.
< ; >
semi-colon
He's on his way.
contraction
hyphen
punctual ➙
punct + u + al
1. Don't go in there; it's messy.
2. Don't go in there, it's messy.
3. Do't go in there, for it's messy.
2. Don't go in there, it's messy.
< " >
quotation marks
The Lawrences' house is on the corner.
possessive
Some people are pro- and some people are anti-national parks.
hyphens
punctuation ➙
punct + u + ate + ion
1. Honestly I never liked him.
2. Honestly, I never liked him.
3. I never liked him, honestly.
1. Honestly I never liked him.
< ' >
apostrophe
(or single quotation mark)
The cat thinks it's a dog.
contraction
Three women – a nun, a nurse, and a teacher – tied for first place.
dashes
punctilious ➙
punct + ile + i + ous
1. On the way, we stopped for gas.
2. We stopped for gas, on the way.
3. We stopped on the way for gas.
2. We stopped for gas, on the way.
< — >
em dash