| English Grammar & Terminology Definition of Punctuation |
| Definition: The use of standard marks and signs in writing and printing to separate words into sentences, clauses, and phrases in order to clarify their meaning Examples of Punctuation Marks : Comma, question mark, exclamation mark |
| Punctuation Marks |
Examples Help! Punctuation Marks
The chief end of punctuation is to mark the grammatical connection and the dependence of the parts of a composition, but not the actual pauses made in speaking. Very often the points used to denote the delivery of a passage differ from those used when the passage is written. Nevertheless, several of the punctuation marks serve to bring out the rhetorical force of expression.
The principal marks of punctuation are:
- The Comma [ , ]
- The Semicolon [ ; ]
- The Colon [ : ]
- The Period or Full Stop [ . ]
- The Interrogation or Question Mark [ ? ]
- The Exclamation Mark [ ! ]
- The Dash [ — ]
- The Parenthesis [ ( ) ]
- The Quotation Mark [ " " ]
The Comma
The comma is a punctuation mark (,) which is used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentence. Click the following link for information about comma rules.
Comma Rules
The Semicolon
The Semicolon is a punctuation mark (;) which is used to connect independent clauses indicating a closer relationship between the clauses than a period, or full stop, does. Click the following link for information about semicolon rules.
Semicolon
The Colon
The colon is a punctuation mark (:) which is used to direct attention to matter (such as a list, an explanation, a quotation, or amplification) that follows. Click the following link for information about colon rules.
Colon
The Period or Full Stop
The period, or full stop, is a punctuation mark (.) which is used to mark the end of a sentence. Click the following link for information about period rules.
Period
The Interrogation or Question Mark
The interrogation or question mark is a punctuation mark (?) which is used used in at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question. Click the following link for information about question mark rules.
Question Mark
The Exclamation Mark
The exclamation mark is a punctuation mark (!) which is used used especially after an interjection or exclamation to indicate forceful utterance or strong feeling. Click the following link for information about exclamation mark rules.
Exclamation Mark
The Dash
The dash is a punctuation mark (-) which is used used especially to indicate a break in the thought or structure of a sentence. Click the following link for information about dash rules.
The Dash
