PUNCTUATION

• Use COMMAS and put a comma dividing SENTENCES.

When I arrived at the theatre, the show was beginning

John, who lives in Manchester, is my cousin.


• If there are already a lot of COMMAS, use DASHES to mark internal connection between elements.

When I arrived at the theatre —which is owned by an Englishman—, the show was beginning.



• Use SEMICOLONS instead of a stop when the meaning of two ideas is very close.

I don’t enjoy flying; in fact, I actually hate it.



• Also when items on a lists are long or complex.

There are three reasons for this: it makes me feel physically ill; I prefer to travel more slowly; the seats are too close.

http://www.slideshare.net/c28fernandez/punctuation-nightmares