The semicolon is used to separate main clauses without a coordinate conjunction, items in a series that contain commas and main clauses containing several commas. A dash is used to show sudden shifts in tone or hesitation in dialogue. Ellipses show omissions within quotes. Brackets are used inside quotes to explain, clarify or correct. Parentheses enclose nonessential elements, letters or figures used to label items in lists.
Apostrophes indicate possessive cases, show omissions and form plurals.
Quotation Marks Quotation marks are used to enclose a direct quotation and to set off quotations of dialogue, poetry, and long prose passages. Single quotation marks enclose a quotation within a quotation. The format of usual print materials used in an educational setting include a table of contents, preface, copyright page, title and subtitle, index, glossary, appendix and bibliography. By understanding the purpose for each section of a printed document, the student will be able to utilize the document to its fullest extent. Each section is described.