PUNCTUATIONS

Punctuations
The ability to use punctuation marks correctly, that
is, according to the accepted conventions is an
indispensable part of writing skills. A large number
of students exhibit palpable deficiencies in this
respect. It needs to be realised that a writer with
inadequate command of punctuation rules denies
himself immense resources of English language for
effective and elegant expression.

09/03/09
Exercise

Which indicates (of the two sentences) that there were

only two people in the car?

• The two passengers who were seriously hurt

were taken to a nearby hospital.
• The two passengers, who were seriously hurt,
were taken to a nearby hospital.
In which has the speaker pried into the
private lives of his friends?

•Everyone I know has a secret ambition.

•Everyone, I know, has a secret
ambition.

Which sentence has cannibalistic

overtones?

•We are going to eat, Ahmad, before we

proceed further.
•We are going to eat Ahmad before we
proceed further.
• Which is a matter of identification?

• He is the one, I believe.

• He is the one I believe.

In which case has the speaker managed to

change his friends’ attitude towards him?

• Now, my friends listen to me.

• Now my friends listen to me.
In which case is the Prime Minister probably
feeling more alone?

• The Prime Minister, who was recently ousted

by the masses and his wife, arrived in London
yesterday.
• The Prime Minister, who was recently ousted
by the masses, and his wife arrived in London
yesterday.

• Which is the neurotic personality?

• She too eagerly awaits the spring.

• She, too, eagerly awaits the spring.
Which sentence shows extraordinary powers of
persuasion?

•I left him convinced he was a fool.

•I left him, convinced he was a fool.

Which is more flattering to Mrs. Khan?

•Mrs. Khan is a pretty generous woman.

•Mrs. Khan is a pretty, generous woman.