The culture of speech has always been determined by its correctness. The very first step is knowledge of the principles of the Russian language.

Norms of the Russian language

Norm (derived from the Latin norma - literally "square", figurative meaning - "rule") - the generally accepted mandatory order. All sections of the language are managed in a certain way. The modern Russian language is guided by various rules. These are spelling and punctuation rules. They are orthoepic (phonetic) and phraseological, morphological and syntactic, stylistic.

For example, spelling norms regulate the choice of graphic spelling of a word. Punctuation determines the choice of punctuation marks, as well as their placement in the text.

Punctuation norms

A punctuation norm is a rule that indicates the use or non-use of certain punctuation marks when writing. The study of punctuation norms determines the knowledge of the literary language. These principles determine the culture of speech as a whole. The correct use of punctuation should ensure mutual understanding between the writer and the reader of the written text.

The use of punctuation marks is enshrined in the rules. The punctuation norm regulates the choice of options for constructing sentences. It also controls the speech of the speaker. True, the assessment of "true - false" in relation to the punctuation norm largely depends on the subject. Russian punctuation is extremely flexible.

Meaning of punctuation

The Russian language is not in vain called great and powerful. But it is not fixed and unchanging. Russian speech is saturated with neologisms and words that came from other languages. Similarly, punctuation norms are adopted in an attempt to reflect the process of integration. But we should never forget about respect for the language as a heritage honed by the age-old history of our people.

Punctuation is a branch of the science of language that studies the norms for the use of punctuation marks. Punctuation marks developed gradually in the history of the Russian language and acquired a modern look only by the 19th century. Punctuation marks were also used in ancient written monuments, but they were very different from modern ones. For example, a dot in the middle of a line was used. The dot corresponded to the modern comma. The quad, or "thinkable cross", corresponded to a dot. Moreover, in ancient times texts were written together, letter by letter. Since the 15th century, separate spelling has been increasingly observed, such a punctuation mark appears that we also use, but for us it is an “empty space”, that is, a space. Ancient scribes characterized it like this: “Ice separation, or separation, or probl. And it is placed in the Divine Scriptures in the lines between the roar (words), to open up a hollow space, so that the roar is not intertwined with the roar. according to Meletiy Smotritsky - “one”, which “from line to line” passes, not dividing, but connecting the word. In Church Slavonic, punctuation marks are very similar to modern ones. Only the question mark differs from modern punctuation marks. In Church Slavonic graphics, it is punctuation Greekism.

In modern linguistics, punctuation is a science, a linguistic discipline about punctuation marks, their composition, meanings and rules for their use. Punctuation is also understood as a set of punctuation marks. The term punctuation comes from the Latin word "punctum", which means "point". Punctuation, therefore, literally means "science of points". The word punctuation as part of the term punctuation marks is of native Russian origin. Outside of this term, it means "obstruction". Comma and punctuation are words of the same root. The main and most revealing difference between punctuation marks and other writing signs is functional: punctuation marks do not denote speech sounds and are not part of "written" words. In relation to words, writing signs are generally divided into three main groups: 1) intra-word signs - letters 2) "word" signs - numbers 3) inter-word signs - these are just punctuation marks.

How many punctuation marks are there in Russian? The ten punctuation marks are: period, comma, colon, ellipsis, semicolon, ellipsis, dash, question mark, exclamation mark, brackets, quotation marks. The following signs are added to them: a single bracket: for example: 1) ... 2) ... or a) ... b) ... etc.); footnote sign, usually in the form of an asterisk (*) (this sign is also called asterix, from the Greek Aster- "star"). Following the paragraph, punctuation marks are sometimes included in other marks of division of the text: chapters, various kinds of spaces, etc., but this is not yet widely recognized. Separately, it must be said about the hyphen. First of all, it must be strictly distinguished from a dash: they differ in style (a hyphen is 2-3 times shorter: (-), (--) and functionally: a dash is an exclusively punctuation mark, and a hyphen has 2 or 3 heterogeneous functions. The main the function of the hyphen is spelling: it forms a semi-continuous spelling of some words: in our way, in an adult way, someone, someone, someone, firstly, secondly, etc.; within the spelling, the hyphen used as a sign of word transfer from one line to another: se-stra, ses-tra or sister-ra.But the hyphen can also be a punctuation mark - to stand between the noun and the single application: Masha-rezvushka, Anika-warrior, cheat-western , an old fisherman, an old mother, a beautiful spring, an Ossetian cab driver, etc.

Recently, in some scientific texts, a single slash line - a fractional line - has been used quite often in the meaning of a union or, in particular, when separating unions and, or: and / or, i.e. then comes the text, which can either be attached to the previous text, or be in a separating relationship with it. The fractional line in this meaning is also a punctuation mark. Parentheses are also used in this function. Here is an example of such brackets: Chapters and paragraphs in books have, as a rule, “an independent number and (or) heading” (according to the Dictionary of Publishing Terms). Instead of parentheses, here you can use a fractional bar; "independent number and/or heading". The fractional line appears in the Morse code character system. In general, the following “alphabet” of punctuation marks is obtained (attention is drawn to the order in which they are listed):

• dot (.),
• colon (:),
• ellipsis (....),
• semicolon (;),
• comma (,),
• commas (,),
• quotation marks: a) paws (, ”) b) Christmas trees (“ ”),
• question mark (?),
• Exclamation point (!),
• hyphen, or dash (in punctuation role) (--),
• dash (--),
• double dash (-- --),
• slash (/),
• bracket ()),
• parentheses: (),
• footnotes (*),
• paragraph, or paragraph indent.

Punctuation marks play an important role in the perception of written text. You can't argue with that. Let's take an example - the phrase "Execution cannot be pardoned", which changes the meaning to the opposite depending on where the comma is. Properly placed punctuation marks are a guarantee that the text will be clear to whom it was addressed. However, even we, who successfully graduated from high school (I passed by here), often experience difficulties with punctuation.

Many people remember from school that a comma is always placed before "what". Speaking of punctuation marks, the word "always" is best avoided. For example, a union can occur as part of expressions that are integral in meaning (they are also called indecomposable combinations), and then putting a comma in front of it would be a mistake. That's right, for example: get what you need, do what you want, have something to do, do it right, appear as if nothing had happened, strive at all costs, don't go where you shouldn't, spend the night where you have to, the picture is a miracle how good , work that is necessary.

In a complex sentence, a comma is always needed before the union "what"! Not always! And here the word "always" is better to forget. Yes, a comma is placed before the union that attaches the subordinate clause. For example: Some slacker wrote that there is love on earth. Or: Wait for the yellow rains to make you sad. But if the subordinate clause consists of only one allied word, there is no comma before it: We are going to meet, but we don’t know when yet. The girl did not come on a date and did not even explain why.

More about the difficulties that await in complex sentences. They may also have this: one main clause has several subordinate clauses. In this case, the same rules apply as for homogeneous members. If the clauses are not connected by unions, a comma is placed between them: How do I want to come up with a means so that happiness is ahead, so that at least for an hour I can return to childhood, catch up, save, hug to my chest ... And if there is a non-repeating union between the clauses and, the comma is not put neither before nor after. An example of this rule was in the text of the Total Dictation - 2016 and led to a large number of errors. And rightly so: It was clear that the troops needed a truce and that the only opportunity to declare it could be the Olympic Games ...

And if between the parts of the sentence is not the union "what", but the union "and"? Such sentences are called compound sentences. As a general rule, a comma is placed before the union in them. For example: Gold rusts and steel decays. But even here there are pitfalls. So, we do not put a comma if the complex sentence includes interrogative or exclamatory sentences: To whom are these texts addressed and what is their meaning? How ridiculous he is and how stupid his antics! A comma will also be a mistake if two simple sentences in the complex have a common secondary term: From a long sitting, his legs numb and his back hurts.

There are no conjunctions in a complex sentence. A complex sentence, between the parts of which there are no unions, is called unionless. The punctuation marks in it depend on the meaning of the phrase. For simple enumeration, a comma is placed. If the second part explains, reveals the content of the first part, indicates the reason for what was said above, a colon is necessary. If the second part, on the contrary, contains a consequence, a result, a conclusion from what was said in the first part, we put a dash. Compare: She married him, he began to earn more (a simple enumeration of events). She married him: he began to earn more (she decided to become his wife because he began to earn more). She married him - he began to earn more (the growth of his income was the result of marriage).

When do you need a sign before "how"? A comma is placed before the union "how" if it attaches a subordinate clause: I remember how I first came to this city. A comparative turnover with a union stands out, such as: Like a straw, you drink my soul; The air is clean and fresh, like a baby's kiss. But you don't need to use a comma if the conjunction like means "as", for example: I'm telling you this as a linguist (= "I am a linguist", there is no comparison here). A comma is not put even if the turnover with the union as part of the predicate or is closely related to it in meaning, for example: The son did not call, and the mother was sitting on pins and needles (without turnover with as a predicate it does not make sense here).

How is everything in simple sentences? A simple sentence (one where there is only one grammatical basis) can be complicated by introductory words and plug-in sentences, participial and adverbial phrases, clarifying, explanatory and connecting constructions ... And here is the time to name punctuation reference books, where all these constructions are written in detail. The most complete is D. E. Rosenthal's reference book "Punctuation". And, of course, indispensable for all those who write the complete academic reference book "Rules of Russian Spelling and Punctuation" edited by V. V. Lopatin.

Introductory words. Introductory words are distinguished by commas, many people remember this: Onegin, I was younger then, I think I was better ... Less often they recall another rule: if the introductory word is at the beginning or at the end of a separate turnover, then it is not separated from the turnover by any punctuation mark: This the film was shot in some Soviet city, it seems in Riga. This film was filmed in some Soviet city, in Riga, I think.

Words that are erroneously separated by commas. It must be remembered that such words and combinations as literally, as if, in addition, are not introductory and are not distinguished by commas, because, in the final analysis, it is unlikely, like, even, as if, as if, moreover, meanwhile, for sure. However, the word raises many questions. Remember: if it is at the beginning of a sentence or between parts of a sentence and is used as a union, but the comma after it is erroneous: It is difficult to remember all these rules, but it is necessary. Or: This conversation can be continued for a long time. However, it's time for us to have lunch. However, the introductory word can only be in the middle of the sentence: It's time for us, however, to have lunch.

Why do many of these rules not pass in school? School textbooks really do not talk about all the punctuation rules. There is nothing to worry about, because biology lessons do not provide all the information known to academicians, and school physics lessons do not prepare doctors of physical and mathematical sciences. The same is true with Russian language lessons: the task of the school is to provide basic information about the Russian language and spelling, and not to prepare professional editors and proofreaders. To become a specialist in the field of the Russian language, you need to study further - as well as to master any other profession.

Worst punctuation mistake ever. It's a comma inside the address. From school, almost everyone remembers that appeals are separated by a comma: Hello, Yura! Hello mother! Good evening, Ivan Petrovich! And they put a comma in such a place, for example: Dear Ivan Petrovich! Dear Kate! But the comma here is a mistake, because the words respected, dear, beloved, etc. are part of the appeal. That's right: Dear Ivan Petrovich! Dear Kate! But: Good evening, dear Ivan Petrovich! Dear Katya, I love you - in these examples, the whole appeal is separated by a comma, dear Ivan Petrovich and dear Katya.

Punctuation(from lat. punctum - dot) is a section of the Russian language that studies arrangement of punctuation marks, as well as the punctuation system itself. Punctuation in Russian serves in order to accurately convey in writing what the author wanted to express. Punctuation rules created in order to regulate the intonational structure of speech, as well as syntactic and semantic relations in the language.

We all remember the greatness and power of our language. This refers not only to its lexical richness, but also to its flexibility. This also applies to punctuation - there are both strict rules and guidelines that depend on the situation, style and meaning of the text.

Punctuation in Russian speech achieved through punctuation. Punctuation marks- these are graphic symbols necessary in order to convey the intonation and meaning of the sentence, as well as to place certain accents in speech.

In Russian, there are the following punctuation marks:

1) End-of-sentence signs: dot, question mark and exclamation point;

2) Separation signs of parts of a sentence: comma, dash, colon and semicolon;

3) Signs highlighting individual parts of a sentence: quotes and brackets.

I came home late. Why is the bedroom light still on? So it is, she was waiting for me! "Things at work again?" she asked wearily. The apartment smelled of drugs (probably she drank valerian tincture so as not to worry), so I tried to calm her down and go to bed as soon as possible. All the events of that day flashed before my eyes: a scandal at work; a reprimand from a boss who unfairly accused me of what had happened; walking around the city at night in thought.

Punctuation marks can be repeated and combined. For example, the use of a question mark and an exclamation mark at the same time indicates that we have rhetorical question(a question that does not require an answer or the answer to which everyone already knows):

Who knew that everything would happen like this?!

How long?!

Can also be combined comma with dash. This combination allows you to connect different values:

A cool wind blew, it got dark in the forest - a summer village evening was coming.

This combination of punctuation marks can also be explained by the use of different constructions, for example, the use of a dash between the subject and the predicate in a sentence:

You, brother, are the dearest person that I have left on earth.

Despite the fact that in Russian there are cases when there are no strict rules for the use of certain punctuation marks, even in such cases there are certain recommendations. For example, in such cases there are basic punctuation mark, i.e., the one to which preference is given. For example, the main punctuation mark when using insert structures are brackets:

After yesterday's downpour, we all (except Anna, who happened to have a raincoat) got a cold.

In this case, it is allowed to highlight the plug-in construction using a dash (a secondary punctuation mark in this case):

He sat down thoughtfully on the bench - it was wet from the rain - and thought about what had happened today.

All punctuation and punctuation rules we will look at it in more detail in future articles.

There are only 10 punctuation marks. But in writing they help to express all the variety of shades of the meaning of oral speech. The same sign can be used in different cases. And at the same time play a different role. 20 chapters outline the main patterns of punctuation, which are studied at school. All rules are illustrated with illustrative examples. Give them special attention. Remember the example - you will avoid mistakes.

• Introduction: What is punctuation?

  §one. The meaning of the term punctuation
  §2. What punctuation marks are used in written speech in Russian?
  §3. What role do punctuation marks play?

• Chapter 1 Period, question mark, exclamation point. ellipsis

  Period, question and exclamation marks
  Ellipsis at the end of a sentence

• Chapter 2 Comma, semicolon

  §one. Comma
  §2. Semicolon

• Chapter 3 Colon

  Why is a colon needed?
  Colon in a simple sentence
  Colon in compound sentence

• Chapter 4 Dash

  §one. Dash
  §2. double dash

• Chapter 5. Double signs. Quotes. Parentheses

  §one. Quotes
  §2. Parentheses

• Chapter 6. Punctuation of a simple sentence. Dash between subject and verb

  A dash is put
  Dash is not put

• Chapter 7 Punctuation marks with homogeneous members

  §one. Punctuation marks for homogeneous members without a generalizing word
  §2. Punctuation marks for homogeneous members with a generalizing word

• Chapter 8

  §one. Separation of agreed definitions
  §2. Separation of inconsistent definitions
  §3. Application isolation

• Chapter 9

  Circumstances stand apart
  Circumstances are not separate

• Chapter 10

  §one. Clarification
  §2. Explanation

• Chapter 11

  §one. Introductory sentences
  §2. Offers with introductory sentences
  §3. Offers with plug-in structures

• Chapter 12

  Appeals and their punctuation in written speech

• Chapter 13

  §one. Comma separation of comparative turns
  §2. Turnovers with a union as: comparative and non-comparative

• Chapter 14

  §one. Punctuation design of direct speech, accompanied by the words of the author
  §2. Puncture design of the dialogue