⚠️ This is a very interesting question. The short answer is that it depends on what country you are writing in.
In British and Australian English, one typically uses single quotation marks ( ‘ ‘ ). If writing in North America, double quotation marks are typically used ( “ “ ).
The most important rule when using these little punctuation marks is that the style of the opening and closing quotation marks match, e.g., 'Good morning, Mary,' called Adrian, or "Good morning, Stephen," called Jane.
One of the common ESL mistakes we encounter is the misuse of quotation marks. If quotations are distinguished only by the use of quotation marks and you are quoting more than one paragraph, use an opening quote at the beginning of each paragraph.
#Punctuation
In British and Australian English, one typically uses single quotation marks ( ‘ ‘ ). If writing in North America, double quotation marks are typically used ( “ “ ).
The most important rule when using these little punctuation marks is that the style of the opening and closing quotation marks match, e.g., 'Good morning, Mary,' called Adrian, or "Good morning, Stephen," called Jane.
One of the common ESL mistakes we encounter is the misuse of quotation marks. If quotations are distinguished only by the use of quotation marks and you are quoting more than one paragraph, use an opening quote at the beginning of each paragraph.
#Punctuation
🐊COMPOUND ADJECTIVES🐊
• I saw a man-eating alligator.
We are describing the alligator. What type of alligator is it? It is one that eats men (or people).
• I saw a man eating alligator.
This sentence without the hyphen sounds like a man is eating an alligator.
(man is the subject, eating is the verb, alligator is the object or thing that is being eaten).
As you can see, the hyphen (or lack of it) makes a big difference in the meaning of the sentence.
#Punctuation
#Grammar
#Adjectives
@PMPerfect1
• I saw a man-eating alligator.
We are describing the alligator. What type of alligator is it? It is one that eats men (or people).
• I saw a man eating alligator.
This sentence without the hyphen sounds like a man is eating an alligator.
(man is the subject, eating is the verb, alligator is the object or thing that is being eaten).
As you can see, the hyphen (or lack of it) makes a big difference in the meaning of the sentence.
#Punctuation
#Grammar
#Adjectives
@PMPerfect1
*✨*Ƥracтιce Maĸeѕ Ƥerғecт*✨*
🐊COMPOUND ADJECTIVES🐊 • I saw a man-eating alligator. We are describing the alligator. What type of alligator is it? It is one that eats men (or people). • I saw a man eating alligator. This sentence without the hyphen sounds like a man is eating an alligator.…
📘COMPOUND ADJECTIVES📘
How do we know when to put a hyphen? 🤔
If you can use the word “and” between the two adjectives or words, then a hyphen isn't necessary.
🍃 She has a big blue book.
(Big and Blue are adjectives)
Can we say: She has a big and blue book.
✅ Yes, it is possible
🍃 He is a world famous singer.(Is this correct?)🤔
Can we say: He is a world and famous singer.
❎ No, it doesn't sound correct so we need a hyphen to join the words world and famous:
🍃He is a world-famous singer.
✅ Correct
Also, look at the following:
🍃 It's an old coal-mining town.
⚠️Notice how we didn't put a hyphen between the word old and coal. If we had have done that, we would have been referring to old coal, as in coal that is old. We want to emphasis that the town in old and not the coal.
Here we can say:
It is old and a coal-mining one.
#Punctuation
#Grammar
#Adjectives
@PMPerfect1
How do we know when to put a hyphen? 🤔
If you can use the word “and” between the two adjectives or words, then a hyphen isn't necessary.
🍃 She has a big blue book.
(Big and Blue are adjectives)
Can we say: She has a big and blue book.
✅ Yes, it is possible
🍃 He is a world famous singer.(Is this correct?)🤔
Can we say: He is a world and famous singer.
❎ No, it doesn't sound correct so we need a hyphen to join the words world and famous:
🍃He is a world-famous singer.
✅ Correct
Also, look at the following:
🍃 It's an old coal-mining town.
⚠️Notice how we didn't put a hyphen between the word old and coal. If we had have done that, we would have been referring to old coal, as in coal that is old. We want to emphasis that the town in old and not the coal.
Here we can say:
It is old and a coal-mining one.
#Punctuation
#Grammar
#Adjectives
@PMPerfect1
✨Comma Splice
🔻A comma splice occurs when you divide two complete clauses with a comma. Although we may use this phrasing when we speak, it is always a mistake when you write.
🔸Hand me the salt and pepper, the eggs are bland. ✘
🔸You sat on my pastry, now I can’t eat it. ✘
🔸The birds come to the feeder every day, I have to refill it
constantly. ✘
🔻When two clauses are related, they should be joined by a comma
and a conjunction, or divided by either a semicolon or a period (if they belong in two separate sentences). If you examine the incorrect examples, you will notice that—in addition to the solution of using either a semicolon or a period—you might alternatively try using a conjunction such as because, so, or and.
🔹You sat on my pastry, so now I can’t eat it. ✔️
🔹You sat on my pastry; now I can’t eat it. ✔️
➕Bonus:
🔻Although a semicolon is a handy replacement in a comma splice for related clauses, one should never separate unrelated clauses with a semicolon.
🔹The birds come to the feeder every day; tomorrow I leave for Zimbabwe.
It may have a nice ring to it, but the clauses have nothing to do with each other.
#Punctuation
#Common_mistakes
@PMPerfect1
🔻A comma splice occurs when you divide two complete clauses with a comma. Although we may use this phrasing when we speak, it is always a mistake when you write.
🔸Hand me the salt and pepper, the eggs are bland. ✘
🔸You sat on my pastry, now I can’t eat it. ✘
🔸The birds come to the feeder every day, I have to refill it
constantly. ✘
🔻When two clauses are related, they should be joined by a comma
and a conjunction, or divided by either a semicolon or a period (if they belong in two separate sentences). If you examine the incorrect examples, you will notice that—in addition to the solution of using either a semicolon or a period—you might alternatively try using a conjunction such as because, so, or and.
🔹You sat on my pastry, so now I can’t eat it. ✔️
🔹You sat on my pastry; now I can’t eat it. ✔️
➕Bonus:
🔻Although a semicolon is a handy replacement in a comma splice for related clauses, one should never separate unrelated clauses with a semicolon.
🔹The birds come to the feeder every day; tomorrow I leave for Zimbabwe.
It may have a nice ring to it, but the clauses have nothing to do with each other.
#Punctuation
#Common_mistakes
@PMPerfect1
Thank you teacher. ❌
Thank you, teacher.❌
Thank you Teacher. ❌
Thank you, Teacher. ✅
When you directly address a person at the end of the sentence, you need a comma first.
When you use an occupation/title in direct address (instead of their name) you should capitalize it.
#Punctuation
@PMPerfect1
Thank you, teacher.❌
Thank you Teacher. ❌
Thank you, Teacher. ✅
When you directly address a person at the end of the sentence, you need a comma first.
When you use an occupation/title in direct address (instead of their name) you should capitalize it.
#Punctuation
@PMPerfect1