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Ive been reading your post and I noticed that you are having trouble with punctuation. Here is something from flightline.highline.edu/writingcenter that I think might be of use to you. Hope it helps:
Punctuation 101: End Punctuation
Most writers pay little attention to sentence endings. They just drop in the necessary mark: period, question mark, or exclamation point. But these basic marks do have a variety of functions and can, occasionally, pose difficulties. Periods get forgotten, question marks can be confusing in some circumstances, and exclamation marks are probably used too often.
I. Periods
Sentences and some abbreviations end with periods. Periods say, “That’s all there is.” Although periods cause few problems, writers occasionally put them in the wrong place or forget them entirely.
1. Use periods at the end of statements.
Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, was a brilliant military strategist.
2. Use periods at the end of indirect questions and mild commands.
Indirect questions make a statement than ask an actual question.
Military theorists wonder whether any battle has been more tactically perfect than Hannibal’s at Cannae (216 B.C.).
Simple commands need a period only, though especially strong commands may be punctuated with exclamation points.
On the map, locate the Roman and Carthaginian positions.
Please find that map now!
3. Use periods to punctuate some abbreviations.
Abbr. anon. Mr. Dr. Ph.D.
Most abbreviations of short, one-word or two-word expressions require periods, but abbreviations of states’ names do not.
U.S. U.N. P.O.
FL TX
For longer terms, abbreviations written in capital letters often don’t require periods. This is especially true for acronyms, abbreviations for government agencies, programs, organizations, and other groups that form pronounceable words.
FBI CIA UNICEF NAFTA
NOW MADD NATO
When a sentence ends with an abbreviation that requires a period, don’t add another end punctuation mark unless the sentence is a question or an exclamation.
We visited the Folder Library in Washington, D.C.
Have you ever been to Washington, D.C.?
How I love Washington, D.C.!
4. Use periods in conventional ways
Periods are used to indicate decimals, to mark chapter and verse in biblical citations, and to separate parts of e-mail addresses and URLs.
0.01 $189.00 75.47
Matthew 3.1
sugarbear@mail.utexas.edu
II. Question Marks
Question marks terminate questions; they can also be used to suggest doubt or uncertainty.
1. Use question marks to end direct questions.
Who fought in the Battle of Cannae?
Do you know that Hannibal defeated the Roman legions?
How?
Question marks are used after direct questions that appear in the middle of sentences. Such questions are typically enclosed by parentheses, quotation marks, or dashes.
Skeptical of their tour guide’s claim—“Would Hannibal really position his cavalry here?”—the scholars in the group consulted a map.
Punctuate as questions any sentences that begin as statements but end with direct questions.
Hannibal’s strategy looked fine in theory, but would it work on the battlefield?
Don’t confuse this construction with an indirect question, discussed in the following section.
2. Do not use question marks to terminate indirect questions.
Indirect questions are statements that seem to have questions within them. Compare these examples to see the difference.
Indirect Question: The Roman general Varro wondered whether Hannibal’s strategy would succeed.
Direct Question: Will Hannibal’s strategy succeed?
Question Within a Statement: Varro wondered, “Will Hannibal’s strategy succeed?”
3. Use question marks to indicate that a name, date, or fact cannot be established with uncertainty.
Such a question mark should not be used to indicate that a writer is unsure of facts that might be available with more research.
Hannibal (247?-183 B.C.) was a military tactician.
She survived that terrible crash?
4. Place question marks outside quotation marks except when they are part of the quoted material itself.
Was it Terence who wrote, “Fortune helps the brave”?
“Have you read any Cicero?” the teacher asked.
III. Exclamation Marks
Exclamation marks give emphasis to statements. They are rare in academic and business writing.
1. Use exclamation marks to express surprise, strong feelings, or commands.
Exclamation marks also follow interjections—short expressions of emotions such as surprise, anger, and dismay.
We are winning!
Come here now!
Wow! That’s an awesome painting.
Oh, no! We’re lost again.
2. Do not allow exclamation marks to bump against other punctuation marks.
For instance, you wouldn’t place a comma, a colon, or a semicolon after an exclamation mark.
Wrong: “Please check your records again!,” the caller demanded.
Right: “Please check your records again!” the caller demanded.
Don’t multiply exclamation marks to add emphasis. One mark is sufficient.
Wrong: Don’t shout!!!
Right: Don’t shout!
Adapted from SF Writer, 3rd Edition. Used under the fair-use clause.
Foresman, Scott. “Editing Your Draft: Working Collaboratively.” SF Writer. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Punctuation 101: End Punctuation
Most writers pay little attention to sentence endings. They just drop in the necessary mark: period, question mark, or exclamation point. But these basic marks do have a variety of functions and can, occasionally, pose difficulties. Periods get forgotten, question marks can be confusing in some circumstances, and exclamation marks are probably used too often.
I. Periods
Sentences and some abbreviations end with periods. Periods say, “That’s all there is.” Although periods cause few problems, writers occasionally put them in the wrong place or forget them entirely.
1. Use periods at the end of statements.
Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, was a brilliant military strategist.
2. Use periods at the end of indirect questions and mild commands.
Indirect questions make a statement than ask an actual question.
Military theorists wonder whether any battle has been more tactically perfect than Hannibal’s at Cannae (216 B.C.).
Simple commands need a period only, though especially strong commands may be punctuated with exclamation points.
On the map, locate the Roman and Carthaginian positions.
Please find that map now!
3. Use periods to punctuate some abbreviations.
Abbr. anon. Mr. Dr. Ph.D.
Most abbreviations of short, one-word or two-word expressions require periods, but abbreviations of states’ names do not.
U.S. U.N. P.O.
FL TX
For longer terms, abbreviations written in capital letters often don’t require periods. This is especially true for acronyms, abbreviations for government agencies, programs, organizations, and other groups that form pronounceable words.
FBI CIA UNICEF NAFTA
NOW MADD NATO
When a sentence ends with an abbreviation that requires a period, don’t add another end punctuation mark unless the sentence is a question or an exclamation.
We visited the Folder Library in Washington, D.C.
Have you ever been to Washington, D.C.?
How I love Washington, D.C.!
4. Use periods in conventional ways
Periods are used to indicate decimals, to mark chapter and verse in biblical citations, and to separate parts of e-mail addresses and URLs.
0.01 $189.00 75.47
Matthew 3.1
sugarbear@mail.utexas.edu
II. Question Marks
Question marks terminate questions; they can also be used to suggest doubt or uncertainty.
1. Use question marks to end direct questions.
Who fought in the Battle of Cannae?
Do you know that Hannibal defeated the Roman legions?
How?
Question marks are used after direct questions that appear in the middle of sentences. Such questions are typically enclosed by parentheses, quotation marks, or dashes.
Skeptical of their tour guide’s claim—“Would Hannibal really position his cavalry here?”—the scholars in the group consulted a map.
Punctuate as questions any sentences that begin as statements but end with direct questions.
Hannibal’s strategy looked fine in theory, but would it work on the battlefield?
Don’t confuse this construction with an indirect question, discussed in the following section.
2. Do not use question marks to terminate indirect questions.
Indirect questions are statements that seem to have questions within them. Compare these examples to see the difference.
Indirect Question: The Roman general Varro wondered whether Hannibal’s strategy would succeed.
Direct Question: Will Hannibal’s strategy succeed?
Question Within a Statement: Varro wondered, “Will Hannibal’s strategy succeed?”
3. Use question marks to indicate that a name, date, or fact cannot be established with uncertainty.
Such a question mark should not be used to indicate that a writer is unsure of facts that might be available with more research.
Hannibal (247?-183 B.C.) was a military tactician.
She survived that terrible crash?
4. Place question marks outside quotation marks except when they are part of the quoted material itself.
Was it Terence who wrote, “Fortune helps the brave”?
“Have you read any Cicero?” the teacher asked.
III. Exclamation Marks
Exclamation marks give emphasis to statements. They are rare in academic and business writing.
1. Use exclamation marks to express surprise, strong feelings, or commands.
Exclamation marks also follow interjections—short expressions of emotions such as surprise, anger, and dismay.
We are winning!
Come here now!
Wow! That’s an awesome painting.
Oh, no! We’re lost again.
2. Do not allow exclamation marks to bump against other punctuation marks.
For instance, you wouldn’t place a comma, a colon, or a semicolon after an exclamation mark.
Wrong: “Please check your records again!,” the caller demanded.
Right: “Please check your records again!” the caller demanded.
Don’t multiply exclamation marks to add emphasis. One mark is sufficient.
Wrong: Don’t shout!!!
Right: Don’t shout!
Adapted from SF Writer, 3rd Edition. Used under the fair-use clause.
Foresman, Scott. “Editing Your Draft: Working Collaboratively.” SF Writer. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
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