Punctuation Guide
<h3>Why SPaG matters</h3>
<p>In all writing tasks, marks are awarded for Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar (SPaG). Accurate punctuation shows control and clarity of expression.</p>
<h3>Key Punctuation Marks</h3>
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<tr style="background:#f0f9f4"><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Mark</th><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Use</th><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Example</th></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Full stop .</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Ends a sentence</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">She left. He stayed.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Comma ,</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Separates list items; after fronted adverbials</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Slowly, she turned.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Semicolon ;</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Links two closely related independent clauses</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">It was cold; he shivered.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Colon :</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Introduces a list or explanation</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">He felt one thing: fear.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Apostrophe '</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Contraction (it's) or possession (John's)</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">The dog's lead.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Dash —</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Adds emphasis or an aside; dramatic pause</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">He stopped — suddenly.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Ellipsis …</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Creates suspense; shows a trailing thought</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"But what if…"</td></tr>
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