14 Key Punctuation Marks & Their Uses

 14 Key Punctuation Marks & Their Uses:

1. Period (.): Ends a declarative sentence.

2. Question Mark (?): Ends a direct question.

3. Exclamation Point (!): Shows strong emotion or emphasis.

4. Comma (,): Separates items in a list, clauses, or direct address.

5. Semicolon (;): Links two closely related independent clauses or separates complex list items.

6. Colon (:): Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation.

7. Apostrophe ('): Shows possession or forms contractions (e.g., it's).

8. Quotation Marks (" "): Enclose direct speech or titles of short works.

9. Hyphen (-): Joins words to form compound words (e.g., state-of-the-art).

10. Dash (—): Sets off phrases for emphasis or clarity, often indicating a break in thought.

11. Parentheses (( )): Contain extra, non-essential information or clarification. Parentheses are for 

extra detail (author-added).

12. Brackets ([ ]): These square brackets are primarily used within direct quotes to insert editorial, 

clarifying or missing information not in the original text. Brackets are for editorial changes/added 

information (inserted by someone other than the original author).

13. Ellipsis (...): Indicates omitted text, a pause, or a trailing thought.

14. Slash (/): Shows alternatives (e.g., and/or) or fractions.

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How to Improve English Spelling Mistakes Fast

How to Improve English Spelling Mistakes Fast

1. Write spelling tests twice a week.

2. Read short English paragraphs from a book daily.

3. Learn 20 new words weekly.

4. Maintain a notebook on correct spellings.

5. Revise old words once a week.

This method or practice guarantees:

1.Fewer spelling mistakes in English writings.

2. Better English writings.

3. Writing correct English spellings makes your communication clearer, more professional and easier for the reader to understand. It makes any written document in English (emails, essays, articles, reports, CVs) easier and more engaging to read.

Top 6 Activities to Learn English Without Spelling Mistakes

1. Read labels on any item you find at home.

2. Write captions for photos you upload online.

3. Participate in Group dictation competitions.

4. Play Word Memory games.

5. Spell & write the names of your favourite persons, places, animals, birds, movies etc. every day.

6. Solve crossword puzzles online and from newspapers & magazines.

Keep practicing. Wishing you a productive and fruitful 2026. Happy New Year!

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- Rumki Sen

Sample Salary Negotiation Letter/ Email After a Job Offer

 Subject: Re: Job Offer for (Position Title)

Dear (Hiring Manager's Name),

Thank you so much for offering me the position of (Position Title) at (Company Name). I am very excited about the opportunity to join your company, contribute to the team's success and take on new responsibilities.

I would like to discuss the proposed starting salary before I accept the offer and join your team. After going through the details of my background, including (number) years of experience in (relevant field), my proven track record of (mention a specific accomplishment) and my extensive skills in (mention specific skills), I believe a salary of (Your Desired Salary) would be a more appropriate reflection of my market value and the responsibilities of this role.

I am confident that my contributions will make a significant impact, and I am eager to find a compensation package that will be suitable for both of us. 

Thank you again for this exciting opportunity. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email Address] 

How to Deal with Workplace Problems

 1. Decide how to respond to a conflicting situation.

While you do not always have control of a situation, you can still choose how to respond to others in order to help reduce work conflict and stress. By responding appropriately to a difficult situation, you can solve the problem that has caused so much tension and a stressful environment.

2. Maintain your professionalism

Avoid any kind of gossip and drama. Don't engage yourself into any conversation that involves backstabbing, negativity or rumours, as these can quickly spoil your reputation. Stay neutral in conflicts and avoid taking anyone's side. Remain calm and focus on constructive discussions. Be professional in your behaviour and attitude.

3. Create a positive and supportive network.

Build genuine relationships with office colleagues across all levels, including your juniors. Be a problem-solver. Focus on finding solutions instead of constantly complaining about everything. When others are helped by you, they will trust and respect you, co-operate with you and support your goals.

--Rumki Sen

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English Grammar Test - Fill in the blanks

Fill in the blanks with have, have had or had had.

1. I ........................... a headache since morning.

have

had

have had

had had

2. I ............................ a headache in the morning.

have

had

had had

3. I .......................... a headache. I don't want to go to the party.

have

had

have had

4. The Prime Minister ............................ discussions with the President.

has had

had have

have had

5. I ........................... several problems recently.

have had

have

had

6. The cat ............................ her kittens.

had

have had

have

has had

7. I ......................... any rest for days.

haven't had

haven't

don't have

8. She .......................... five children in six years.

has

has had

had has

9. I .......................... this car for ten years.

have had

had had

had

10. I ........................... enough of your impertinence.

have had

had

have

11. I ........................... that car for ten years before I sold it.

have had

had have

had had

12. I ............................... a call from my boss.

Please select 2 correct answers

have just had

just have

just had

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Source: https://www.englishgrammar.org

English Grammar Quiz

 English Grammar Quiz

1. I told my teacher that I _________ what she said.

 did not believe
 was not believing

2. I ________ the number 12 bus just down the road.

 could see
 was seeing

3. At the moment Maria ________ her homework, as she does every day.

 does
 is doing

4. The baby ________ 21 inches long.

 measures
 is measuring

5. Please be quiet. I ________ to the radio.

 listen
 am listening

6. Everything on the menu ________ delicious.

 tastes
 is tasting

7. Why ________ so selfish about this?

 are you
 are you being

8. Was he on time or was he ________ ?

 late
 being late

9. He told the police he'd only had a small drink and was ________ not to drive too fast.

 careful
 being careful

10. Is she always ________ with children and animals?

 so patient
 being so patient

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Source: EnglishClub

Important Articles on Resume Writing, Cover Letter Writing & Job Interview Tips

Some Very Important Articles on Resume Writing, Cover Letter Writing & Job Interview Tips:

1. How To Format Your Resume

   https://www.perfectediting.com/how-to-format-your-resume.html

2. Don't Make These 8 Cover Letter Mistakes

   https://www.perfectediting.com/8-Cover-Letter-Mistakes.html

3. 10 Deadly But Often-Made Resume Blunders to Avoid

   https://www.perfectediting.com/resume-blunders-to-avoid.html

4. 6 Real-Life Examples of Cover Letter Blunders

   https://www.perfectediting.com/Real-Life-Examples-Cover-Letter-Blunders.html

5. HOW to Stand Out from the Crowd by ASKING for the Job During the Interview!

   https://www.perfectediting.com/interview-tips.html

6. Most Common Job Interview Mistakes

   https://www.perfectediting.com/job-interview-mistakes.html

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Articles (Published on Perfect Editing Solutions' website).

How Can I Make My Resume ATS-Friendly?

 1. Avoid Fancy Resume Designs. Use a clean, straightforward format with 

white background.

2. Use a professional and traditional font like Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, 

Verdana, Times New Roman.

3. Avoid images and graphics or complex layouts that might not translate 

properly on different devices.

4. Use standard resume section headings. Standard resume section headings 

include contact information, work experience, skills, core competencies and 

Resume summary or objective.

5. Use keywords and phrases from the job descriptions. For example: complex 

projects, customer satisfaction, project planning, stakeholder communication, 

cross-functional teams management, strict deadlines, budget constraints, etc.

6. Match keywords to your experiences. Identify relevant keywords from a job 

description or desired field and then carefully include those words and phrases 

into your resume, cover letter or online profile to highlight the specific 

skills and experiences that are necessary for the job requirements.

7. List skills in bullet points. Skills may include Management, Communication, 

Leadership, Problem Solving, Time Management, Active Listening, Computer Proficiency, 

Creativity, etc.

8. Mention your present and past jobs details clearly. Remember to include your designations, job durations, etc. Describe your key responsibilities under each job in a paragraph style without the use of any table or complex formatting.

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--Rumki Sen