PPT: Punctuations | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - CAT PDF Download

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P u n c t u a t i o n
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P u n c t u a t i o n
Spacing with 
Punctuation
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P u n c t u a t i o n
Spacing with 
Punctuation
Rules
Rule 1: Spacing After 
Punctuation
With a computer, use only one space 
following periods, commas, semicolons, 
colons, exclamation points, question 
marks, and quotation marks. The space 
needed after these punctuation marks is 
proportioned automatically.
Proper Spacing
Modern word processing has eliminated 
the need for double spaces after 
punctuation marks. Single spaces are 
now the standard in all professional and 
academic writing contexts.
Historical Context
The double-space rule originated with typewriters, which used monospaced fonts. With 
today's proportional fonts, a single space provides sufficient visual separation between 
sentences.
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P u n c t u a t i o n
Spacing with 
Punctuation
Rules
Rule 1: Spacing After 
Punctuation
With a computer, use only one space 
following periods, commas, semicolons, 
colons, exclamation points, question 
marks, and quotation marks. The space 
needed after these punctuation marks is 
proportioned automatically.
Proper Spacing
Modern word processing has eliminated 
the need for double spaces after 
punctuation marks. Single spaces are 
now the standard in all professional and 
academic writing contexts.
Historical Context
The double-space rule originated with typewriters, which used monospaced fonts. With 
today's proportional fonts, a single space provides sufficient visual separation between 
sentences.
Rule 2
Hyphen Usage
Use no spaces on either side of a 
hyphen. Example: We borrowed 
twenty-three sheets of paper.
Period Rule 1
Use a period at the end of a complete 
statement. Example: I know him well.
Period Rule 2
If the last item in the sentence is an 
abbreviation that ends in a period, do 
not follow it with another period. 
Correct: This is Alice Smith, M.D. 
Correct: Please shop, cook, etc. We 
will do the laundry.
Page 5


P u n c t u a t i o n
Spacing with 
Punctuation
Rules
Rule 1: Spacing After 
Punctuation
With a computer, use only one space 
following periods, commas, semicolons, 
colons, exclamation points, question 
marks, and quotation marks. The space 
needed after these punctuation marks is 
proportioned automatically.
Proper Spacing
Modern word processing has eliminated 
the need for double spaces after 
punctuation marks. Single spaces are 
now the standard in all professional and 
academic writing contexts.
Historical Context
The double-space rule originated with typewriters, which used monospaced fonts. With 
today's proportional fonts, a single space provides sufficient visual separation between 
sentences.
Rule 2
Hyphen Usage
Use no spaces on either side of a 
hyphen. Example: We borrowed 
twenty-three sheets of paper.
Period Rule 1
Use a period at the end of a complete 
statement. Example: I know him well.
Period Rule 2
If the last item in the sentence is an 
abbreviation that ends in a period, do 
not follow it with another period. 
Correct: This is Alice Smith, M.D. 
Correct: Please shop, cook, etc. We 
will do the laundry.
Rule 3
Question Marks
Question marks replace 
and eliminate periods at 
the end of a sentence 
when asking a direct 
question. They indicate 
that the sentence is 
interrogative rather than 
declarative.
Exclamation Points
Exclamation points replace 
and eliminate periods at 
the end of a sentence. 
They express strong 
emotion, emphasis, or 
surprise in the statement.
Replacement Rule
When a sentence ends 
with a question mark or 
exclamation point, no 
additional period is 
needed. The terminal 
punctuation serves the 
dual purpose of ending the 
sentence and expressing 
its nature.