Hyphens, Em Dashes, and En Dashes: When to Use Them and How to Type Them
The hyphen, the em dash, and the en dash are all horizontal marks of varying lengths. Each functions differently from the others. Below we define...
Using Ellipses
An ellipsis consists of either three or four periods, or dots. A single dot is called an ellipsis point. The definition is pretty straightforward, but...
Using a Comma before “And” (and Other Coordinating Conjunctions) in a Sentence
If the number of page visits is a reliable indicator, this topic—using a comma before and—is on the minds of many people. The third most...
Using Commas and Periods with Parentheses
This site addresses a number of punctuation issues, including punctuating with quotation marks, using the semicolon and colon, and deciding when to use the Oxford...
Using Semicolons
Semicolons have two functions: First, they are used to separate items in lists when one or more of those items has internal commas. As such,...
