Improving Vocabulary Blog » Grammar and Vocabulary http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog The Official Improving Vocabulary Blog Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:21:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 The exclamation mark http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog/2009/06/the-exclamation-mark/ http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog/2009/06/the-exclamation-mark/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:20:54 +0000 wordman http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog/?p=150 An exclamation mark which is characterized by the following symbol “!” is used to express surprise at a particular part of a text, whether because it is unusual or surprising. In dialogue, it is used to convey the emotions from the speaker although it can be used as a command as well.  An exclamation mark, just like a question mark is only ever placed at the very end of a sentence. Exclamation marks should be used sparingly in writing.

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]]> http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog/2009/06/the-exclamation-mark/feed/ 0 Punctuation example – colon use http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog/2009/06/punctuation-example-colon-use/ http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog/2009/06/punctuation-example-colon-use/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:18:47 +0000 wordman http://www.improvingvocabulary.org/blog/?p=148 A colon, which is created using the following symbol “:” is used to introduce a list, introduce a quotation, or to provide a definition or explanation of something.  Here are some common examples of colon usage:

Colon introducing a list

In order to bake a cake you will need the following ingredients:

-sugar

-milk

-eggs.

Colon introducing a quotation

As a wise man once said:

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”

Colon providing a definition

Arthritis: a painful inflammatory disorder which is characterized by joint stiffness and pain.

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