A period (.) after every declarative and every imperative sentence; as, It is true. Do right.

A period after every abbreviation; as, Dr., Mr., Capt.

An interrogation point (?) after every question.

The exclamation point (!) after exclamations; as, Alas! Oh, how lovely!

Quotation marks (" ") enclose quoted expressions; as, Socrates said: "I believe the soul is immortal."

A colon (:)is used between parts of a sentence that are subdivided by semicolons.

A colon is used before a quotation, enumeration, or observation, that is introduced by as follows, the following, or any similar expression; as, Send me the following: 10 doz. "Armstrong's Treasury."

A semicolon (;) between parts that are subdivided by commas.

The semicolon is used also between clauses or members that are disconnected in sense; as, Man grows old; he passes away; all is uncertain. When as, namely, that is, is used to introduce an example or enumeration, a semicolon is put before it and a comma after it; as, The night was cold; that is, for the time of year.

A comma (,) is used to set off co-ordinate clauses, and subordinate clauses not restrictive; as, Good deeds are never lost, though sometimes forgotten.

A comma is used to set off transposed phrases and clauses; as, "When the wicked entice thee, consent thou not."

A comma is used to set off interposed words, phrases and clauses; as, Let us, if we can, make others happy.

A comma is used between similar or repeated words or phrases; as, The sky, the water, the trees, were illumined with sunlight.

A comma is used to mark an ellipsis, or the omission of a verb or other important word.

A comma is used to set off a short quotation informally introduced; as, Who said, "The good die young"?

A comma is used whenever necessary to prevent ambiguity.

The marks of parenthesis () are used to enclose an interpolation where such interpolation is by the writer or speaker of the sentence in which it occurs. Interpolations by an editor or by anyone other than the author of the sentence, should be inclosed in brackets, [ ].

Dashes ( - ) may be used to set off a parenthetical expression, also to denote an interruption or a sudden change of thought or a significant pause.