How to check the punctuation. Punctuation rules

Punctuation marks are very important parts of the text. A person who does not use them in writing, risks making it so that those to whom the text is addressed simply do not understand the meaning. Yes, and read such a message will be impossible. Therefore, you just need to check the punctuation once the text is written. This is not only respect for the addressees, but also for oneself, because literate written speech is an indicator of high culture. In the article we will analyze what punctuation is needed for, what are the main punctuation marks and what function each of them performs.

History of the occurrence of punctuation marks

Punctuation marks did not appear right away. Initially, the texts were difficult to comprehend, because they were written without them. The fact that it is necessary to make written reports readable in Europe was first understood by the French. The setting of special stops, commas, they adopted from the Greeks in the XV century.

As for Russia, he formulated the idea of what punctuation is needed for the first time, Mikhailo Lomonosov. The rules were put forward by him in the 18th century. Moreover, he spoke not only about the use of commas, but also exclamation marks. Karamzin also introduced a dash and a colon.

Meaning of punctuation marks

What is the purpose of punctuation marks? Knowing this is a great help when you need to check the text for punctuation.

The most important sign is the dot. It is used to separate one sentence from another, it means the end of the minimum message and the beginning of a new one. Sometimes, instead of a point, signs, question marks or exclamations are used. The first is used in those proposals that contain a question, the second - in emotionally colored, motivating.

For an example, it's enough to compare three sentences: Natalia Pavlovna is an outstanding surgeon. (Quiet intonation, the goal is a fact message). - Natalia Pavlovna - an outstanding surgeon? (question). - Yes Natalia Pavlovna - an outstanding surgeon! (Enthusiastic feelings).

Sometimes at the end of the sentence a special sign is put - an ellipsis, it indicates the incompleteness of thought.

We often use commas. These signs separate some logical segments from others, create enumerations. Without commas, it is very difficult to understand the meaning of a sentence. The famous phrase "you can not punish execution" is a striking example of this.

In order to clarify any facts, use a colon. It can also point to a series of homogeneous terms.

Dash (by the way, this is the only name of the punctuation mark, having a foreign origin - French) is necessary when an alliance or a word is missed. It also indicates that in the sentence one thought is opposed by another.

The use of semicolons is extremely rare. This sign is joined by parts completely unrelated logically with each other.

Homogeneous terms

Now let's look at the basic rules that will help to check the punctuation. One of the most common is commas for homogeneous sentences. Recall, these are those that answer one question and relate to one member of the proposal. Absolutely any constituents of a syntactic unit can be homogeneous.

To check the signs of punctuation with them, you need to pay attention to the unions that connect them. If there are none, a comma is always put. On the meadow grew red, bright yellow, white flowers.

It is also necessary to put a punctuation mark if the homogeneous terms are connected in pairs. Red and yellow, blue and white flowers grew on the meadow. As we see, in this case the comma separates two homogeneous definitions with the union and.

With repeated unions, a punctuation mark is placed after the first. On the meadow grew red, and bright yellow, and blue and white flowers.

For homogeneous terms, there may be a generalizing word. In this case, to verify the correctness of punctuation will help determine where it is. If up to a number of homogeneous terms, then you need to put a colon. After that - a dash. For example: In the meadow grew all kinds of flowers: red, bright yellow, blue and white. The general word for flowers is used before homogeneous definitions. Red, bright yellow, blue, white - all sorts of flowers decorated the meadow.

Separation

Separation is a special emphasis on punctuation and intonation. Check the punctuation with it will help you find the word to be determined. This is necessary if it is a question of isolated definitions. Let's give some examples:

Swifts scurrying between the trees, on the fly caught insects. The Swaris' word is used before an isolated definition (it is expressed by participial turnover).

Tourists, tired and hungry, soon approached the abandoned hut. Defined word tourists are facing a distinct definition (it is expressed by homogeneous definitions, connected with the help of the union).

It is always necessary to put commas when selecting:

• Decoupled turns. Having withdrawn herself, she was able to escape from the pressing problems.
• Separate members refer to a personal pronoun. Satisfied and inspired, we arrived at the competition site.
• The application is always detached in two cases: when it refers to a personal pronoun and when it refers to a nominal noun. For example: She, a doctor of the highest category, was forced to back down. - A doctor of the highest category, she was forced to back down. Another example: My aunt, a doctor of the highest category, immediately remained without work. - A doctor of the highest category, my aunt suddenly remained without work.

Introductory words and addresses

The punctuation in the sentence with the introductory constructions and appeals is quite simple. You just need to know what those elements are.

When we address someone, his name or how we call him, attracting attention, will be an appeal. In the sentence, it is always allocated with commas. Olga Petrovna, bring me a book about plants. "My dear grandfather, how are you?" - Dear brothers, let's defend our Motherland till the end!

You can check the punctuation in syntactical units with introductory constructions by correctly selecting them from the context. It should be remembered that their purpose is to pay special attention to any utterance, to separate it from others. Listen, is it so important to come tomorrow? "I'll go, finally, I'll sort it out." - According to the staff, the interior of the office should be changed long ago.

Punctuation in complex sentences

As for complex sentences, the statement of a comma between their parts is always necessary. With complex subjects it is easier, because they are difficult to confuse with some other. What is the punctuation in them (class 5 is already the time when the topic is being studied)? Let us give some examples.

• I want you to move quickly to a new apartment.
• She knows where all the mushrooms are hiding in the forest.
• Katerina, as soon as the first birds sang, rose from the bed and engaged in farming.

Punctuation in compound sentences

It is much more difficult to define a compound sentence. Most often it is confused with a simple one, which has homogeneous predicates in the composition. It is very important to correctly identify the grammatical basis and understand how many of them.

Let us examine two examples. Swallows flew around the house and wrote out bizarre figures in the air. - Swallows flew around the house, and those present looked with admiration at their bizarre air figures. The first sentence is a simple one, homogeneous predicates were flying in it, they were written out together by an alliance and, therefore, a comma is not needed. The second example is a compound sentence, there are two grammatical bases: the swallows flew, the present watched. A comma before is necessary.

Punctuation in complex sentences

Inside a complex sentence there can be an unconnected relationship. In this case, most often put a comma, dash or colon, less often - a semicolon. We will analyze such cases. We note at once, much depends on the intonation and the general meaning of the sentence.

The library closed, all employees have already gone home. - The library closed - all employees went home. - All the staff went home: the library was closed.

• If there is a normal enumeration of a certain sequence of actions, then a comma (the first example) will be put.
• When the second part indicates a consequence from the first - it is necessary to put a dash (second sentence).
• To expand the content of the first part in more detail, a colon is used (the last sentence).

The semicolon is put less often. Its use is necessary when in simple parts there are many complicating elements (they are very common).

The library, located in the park, closed to keep a record of the books; Staff remained working overtime.

Here in the first part is not only involved in trafficking, but also this block is a complex sentence. It is necessary to use a semicolon.