What Punctuation Mark Should I Use? A Free Printable Punctuation Cheat Sheet

There may be many occasions when you are composing a written document that you have to stop and ask yourself: “what punctuation mark should I use?”

Punctuation marks can be very confusing, and there are endless lists and rules out there that dictate when you should, and should not, use them. If you are not fully confident with the rules that govern the use of punctuation marks, then our free printable punctuation cheat sheet may be just what you’re looking for. We have simplified the rules as much as possible and condensed them into a two-page cheat sheet that you can print out and refer to on a regular basis.

To access the punctuation cheat sheet, simply click on the picture below and the document will load in a new window.

If you want more in-depth information about each punctuation mark, take a look at our guide to the 14 most common punctuation marks. You may also be interested in this funny overview of why punctuation matters. For an updated version of this guide with a free printable booklet, see our guide to proofreading punctuation.

 

Punctuation Mark	Basic Rules of Use	Example
Period (.)	Used to indicate the end of a sentence.	I am going to the store.
Comma (,)	Used to separate items in a list, to separate clauses in a sentence, and to set off introductory elements.	I need milk, bread, and eggs. I went to the store, but I forgot my wallet. After the game, we went out to eat.
Semicolon (;)	Used to separate two independent clauses that are closely related, to separate items in a list that already contain commas, or to set off items in a list that contain internal commas.	I have to finish my essay; then, I can go to bed. We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain on our trip to Europe.
Colon (:)	Used to introduce a list, a quote, an explanation, or an example.	There are three things you need to do: clean your room, do your homework, and take out the trash. She said it best: “Life is short.”
Exclamation Mark (!)	Used to indicate strong feelings or excitement.	I can’t believe we won the game!
Question Mark (?)	Used to indicate a question.	What time is the meeting?
Dash (-)	Used to set off additional information or to indicate a sudden change in thought.	I love to eat fruit – especially strawberries. I was going to go to the store, but – oh no! – I forgot my keys.
Quotation Marks	Used to indicate direct speech or a quote.	She said, “I am going to the store.”
Parentheses ()	Used to enclose additional information or as a way to set off non-essential information in a sentence.	My sister (who is a doctor) will be visiting us this weekend. The cake (which was delicious) was made by my grandmother.
Ellipsis (…)	Used to indicate an omission or a pause in speech or thought.	The teacher asked, “Who can tell me…?” He paused before answering.

 

 

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