What is a Punctuation Mark?

Purpose:
Punctuation is defined as a set of -The period can mark the end of a sentence
symbols used to separate and clarify the or sentence fragment
meaning of sentences and written Initials and abbreviations:
elements. It allows us to organize our
thoughts and make it easier to review and Periods are generally used when there are
share our ideas. two letters in the initial, such as
The U.S.
1. Period
-used for several purposes, most often to MATHEMATICS: IN MATHEMATICS, THE
mark the end of a declarative sentence. PERIOD IS CALLED A DECIMAL
They indicate that a point has been made POINT. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE NUMBER
and that we're now ready to move on to the 101.25
next sentence.
Abbreviations that end in lowercase letters:
-The period is called a full stop in British Some examples are Gov., Jr., and et al.
English. As with other punctuation marks
that end sentences, the period should be 2. Question Mark
placed directly behind the last letter of the -A question mark is a punctuation symbol
last word of the sentence. (?) used at the end of a sentence to indicate
that it is a question. It's a fundamental part
ex: Terry Pratchett's latest book is not yet of written language that signals inquiries.
out in paperback.
I asked her whether she could tell -Used to express doubt, or uncertainty
me the way to Brighton. about something

History: -A feeling of confusion or a fear of the

-The period originated with Greek unknown
punctuation in the third century
B.C. Uses:
DIRECT QUESTIONING
According to Maria Teresa Cox and Riya -Direct questioning is a method of inquiry
Pundir "A low dot '.' indicated a short breath where you ask someone a question
after a short phrase, a mid-dot '‧' meant a straightforwardly to gather specific
longer breath after a longer passage, and a information or prompt a response. It's clear,
high dot '˙' marked a full stop at the end of a concise, and typically seeks a precise
completed thought." answer.
-Which in some cases is not very polite.
Eventually, with the popularization of block EXAMPLE: WHO ARE YOU? WHERE ARE
books—books printed from woodcuts in YOU GOING?
Europe around 1300—engravers
disregarded the high and middle dots and IN A SERIES QUESTIONING
retained only the low dot, signifying -A series of questioning involves asking
the end of a sentence. multiple questions in succession, often to
delve deeper into a topic or to explore EXAMPLE: I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE
different aspects of it. ABOUT THIS, BUT DO YOU KNOW IF THE
-Often asked one after another in order to STORE IS OPEN TODAY?"
generate information.
EXAMPLE: WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 3. Comma
THE WEEKEND? ARE YOU GOING OUT Uses
OF TOWN? IF SO, WHERE ARE YOU a. SEPARRATING ELEMENTS IN A
HEADED? DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC LIST:
ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR YOUR TRIP?" When you have three or more items
in a series, you use commas to
TAG QUESTIONING separate them.
-Tag questioning, also known as tag For example: "I bought apples,
questions, involves adding a question tag to oranges, and bananas."
the end of a statement to seek confirmation,
agreement, or emphasis. These tags often b. CONNECTING INDEPENDENT
take the opposite form of the statement and CLAUSES:
are used to engage the listener in If you have two independent clauses
conversation. (i.e., they could stand as separate
EXAMPLE: STATEMENT: "YOU ENJOYED sentences), you can connect them
THE MOVIE." TAG QUESTION: "YOU with a comma and a coordinating
ENJOYED THE MOVIE, DIDN'T YOU?" conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, so).
INDIRECT QUESTIONING For example: I wanted to go to the
-Indirect questioning is when you ask a park, but it was raining.
question in a roundabout or subtle way,
often to be polite or tactful. Instead of c. SETTING OF INTRODUCTORY
directly asking something, you might phrase ELEMENTS:
it differently to achieve the same information You use a comma after introductory
without being too direct. words, phrases, or clauses.
-It can be useful in situations where direct For example: In my opinion, the
questions might be too confrontational or movie was a masterpiece.
sensitive.
EXAMPLE: d. SEPARATING NONESSENTIAL
DIRECT: WHAT IS YOUR NAME? ELEMENTS:
INDIRECT: MAY I KNOW YOUR NAME? If a word, phrase, or clause is not
essential to the meaning of the
UNCERTAINTY QUESTIONING sentence, it should be set off with
-Uncertainty questioning involves asking commas.
questions when you're uncertain about the For example: The Eiffel Tower, a
information you're seeking. famous landmark in Paris, attracts
-Lack of sureness millions of tourists every year.
 e. IN DIRECT ADDRESS: -In written communication, the exclamation
You use commas to set off a mark is used to show sudden feelings such
person's name when you are as excitement.
addressing them directly
For example: Thank you, John, for -used at the end of a strong command.
helping me. -Example: Leave me alone!

f. TO SET OFF QUOTATIONS: -used at the end of an interjection.

Commas are used to set off direct -An interjection is a word or phrase used to
quotations. express a feeling or to request or demand
For example: She said, I’ll be there something.
soon. Examples:
Yippee!
g. SEPARATING DATES AND Hey!
ADDRESSES: Wow!
Commas are used to separate parts Ouch!
of dates and addresses.
For example: I was born on July 22, Origin
2001, in Malolos, Bulacan. -The punctus exclamativus ( or punctus
admirativus) first appeared in the latter half
h. TO INDICATE PAUSE: of the 14th century to mark the end of an
commas can be used to create exclamation.
pauses and enhance the clarity of a The 1590s, from Latin exclamat- ,
sentence. past-participle stem of exclamare "to call
For example: The dog, a golden out" (see exclaim) + -ory.
retriever, was wagging its tail. -The Italian poet Iacopo Alpoleio da
Urbisaglia claimed to have invented it.
4. Exclamation Point The influential Italian humanist
Coluccio Salutati revied the exclamativus
-An exclamation mark/point is a and popularized its use in the 15th century.
grammatical sign used to express strong
feelings in a written text. “YOUR EMOTIONS ARE THE SLAVES TO
YOUR THOUGHTS, AND YOU ARE THE
-It is one of the most misused punctuation SLAVES TO YOUR EMOTIONS”
marks in the English language. -ELIZABETH GILBERT

-It can be used in the middle of a sentence

or at the end of a sentence.

Purpose
-to demonstrate shock, surprise, anger or a
raised voice.
5. Double Quotation Marks a colon should be connected to what came
Uses before it.
Indicating Direct Speech or Dialogue
Emphasizing Words or Phrases Uses:
Titles of Short Works, Technical or Lists
Specialized Terms -Colons are most often used to introduce
lists.
6. Ellipses -Taylor Swift has written a few songs about
Background John Mayer: “Dear John,” “The Story of Us,”
-An ellipsis, or ellipses in the plural form, is and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve.”
a punctuation mark of three dots (. . .) that
shows an omission of words, represents a Nouns or noun phrases
pause, or suggests there’s something left -Colons can be used before a noun or a
unsaid. Known casually as dot, dot, dot, the noun phrase.
ellipsis is a favorite tool of writers because it -The movie had everything I wanted: action
can symbolize silence in text, but it’s also and suspense.
used more practically to show that a direct
quote has been altered. Quotes
-Colons can introduce a quotation.
Uses -He ended with the immortal words of Neil
-An ellipsis is a versatile punctuation mark. Young: “Rock and Roll can never die.”
When used correctly, an ellipsis can elevate
your writing by making it more succinct and Examples
impactful. -A writer may use colons to illustrate their
-example: “The meaning of bravery isn’t point by providing certain examples.
having no fears(…) it’s having a fear but -There is one big reason we don’t talk about
facing it anyways.” Bruno: His premonitions frightened the
-“We are… the Avengers.” family.
“My father… He’s gone
The winner for today’s competition is… Numbers
team A!” -Colons are used to separate units of time
and ratios.
7. Colon -11:11 a.m.
-A colon is a punctuation mark that’s used -2:1
to connect sentences, put emphasis on a
word or phrase, or introduce a quote or Titles and subtitles
explanation. -A colon can be used to separate a movie,
book, or another piece of work’s title from its
The rules for using a colon can change subtitle.
depending on how you use it, and we’ll -Colon-oscopy: The Best Punctuation Puns
explain how in a moment, but the two things
it connects (be that a list or sentences) must When not to use a colon
be closely related. That is, whatever follows A colon should not separate a noun from its
verb, a verb from its object or subject
complement, a preposition from its object, a. Punctuation
or a subject from its predicate. The slash is commonly used in
informal writing to denote a break or
To illustrate, here is one of our sentences separation between items, such as
from above rewritten incorrectly. in date formats (e.g., 3/27/2024),
fractions (e.g., 1/2), and in URLs
The three types of muscle in the body are: (e.g., www.example.com/about-us).
cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.
b. Abbreviations
Putting the colon here separates the verb -It's often used to abbreviate
“are” from its subject complements phrases, such as "and/or" or "w/o"
(“cardiac,” “smooth,” and “skeletal”). (without).

When I graduate, I want to go to: Rome, c. Poetry and Prose

Israel, and Egypt. -In poetry, the slash can indicate a
line break or a pause in a verse. In
In this sentence, the colon separates the prose, it's occasionally used to
preposition “to” from its objects (“Rome,” indicate a sudden change in thought
“Israel,” and “Egypt”). To write this sentence or perspective.
correctly, the colon should be removed. Ex: "Between the woods and frozen
lake/ The darkest evening of the
When I graduate, I want to go to Rome, year"
Israel, and Egypt.
d. Programming and Computing
Lastly, colons should not be used after -In programming languages, the
“including,” “especially,” or other similar slash is commonly used as a
phrases. As we explained earlier, a colon delimiter or separator, such as in file
essentially replaces these words, so using paths (e.g., C:/Documents/). It's also
them before one would be redundant. used in regular expressions and in
web development for URLs and
8. Slash directories.
-The slash is the oblique slanting line
punctuation mark. e. Alternative Words or Synonyms
-a mark / used typically to denote "or" (as in -The slash can represent a choice or
and/or), "and or" (as in straggler/deserter), alternative between words or
or "per" (as in feet/second) phrases, such as "he/she" or
-called also diagonal, slant, solidus, virgule "and/or."

f. Mathematics
-In mathematics, the slash can
represent division, as in "5/10”
 g. File Naming Conventions Example: Hello, please pick up your
-It’s often used in file naming pizza toppings {chicken, tomatoes,
conventions to separate parts of a bacon, onion, pepper, olives} and
file name, such as then follow me.
"document1/doc.txt".
c. Angle brackets<>
9. Parenthesis sometimes known as chevrons, as a
-Parenthesis or parentheses is an pair of punctuation marks that take
amplifying or explanatory word, phrase, or the form of <and>
sentence inserted in a passage from which Example: "it was a beautiful day
it is usually set off by punctuation <the sun was shining and the birds
were singing>."
A remark or passage that departs from the
theme of a discourse 10. Single Quotation Marks
-Punctuation allows us to express ourselves
one or both curved marks used in writing to readers in clear and structured ways. It is
and printing to enclose a parenthetical the system by which we organize, pace, and
expression or to group a symbolic unit in a contain written language so it does not
logical or mathematical expression become a chaotic crowd of loose and
random thoughts.
-Examples: She is coming to our house
after work (around six o' clock). Within punctuation, the single quotation
mark has particular functions. It is also a
I am going to visit my grandma (my dad's mark that can attract more questions of
mom) today. usage than other punctuation might.

The concert (scheduled for Friday) was Uses:

postponed due to heavy rain. -Readability
-Highlighting
50 +6 x (11-4) =
Uses of single quotation marks in English
Types: 1. Use single quotation marks for a
a. Square brackets [] quotation or title (article, story, or poem)
Use to indicate that you added within a quotation.
words or comments that weren't in Examples:
the original material A) American English:
Example: He [the police officer] can't The author read a passage from her new
prove that they did it book, "The night was cold and dark. 'I feel
scared,' said Jenny, as they headed into the
b. Curly brackets {} haunted house."
either one of the marks {or} that are
used as a pair around words or " 'The Red Balloon' is my favorite story," my
items are to be considered together. father said.
B) British English:
The author read a passage from her new Capitalize the "A" in her name.
book, 'The night was cold and dark. "I feel B) In British English, we use single
scared", said Jenny, as they headed into the quotation marks for this.
haunted house.' What is the definition of 'quotations'?

' "The Red Balloon" is my favorite story', my Capitalize the 'A' in her name.
father said.
man with balloon Use a space between single quotation
marks and double quotation marks.
2. Use quotation marks to highlight words or In both American English and British
phrases that are not being used for their English, most people use a space between
exact meaning. the double and single quotation marks to
These are also called scare quotes because avoid confusion.
these words and phrases are ironic, or
being used in an unusual way.
American English Example:
Examples: Correct:
A) In American English, we usually use " 'The Red Balloon' is my favorite story," my
double quotation marks for scare quotes. father said.
The kids stayed "completely silent" through
the entire concert. Incorrect:
(= The writer is saying that the kids were not "'The Red Balloon' is my favorite story," my
quiet.) father said.

My brother shared his "wisdom" with me. British English Example:

(= The writer does not think his brother's Correct:
advice is wise.) ' "The Red Balloon" is my favorite story', my
B) In British English, we usually use single father said.
quotation marks for scare quotes.
The kids stayed 'completely silent' through Incorrect:
the entire concert. '"The Red Balloon" is my favorite story', my
father said.
My brother shared his 'wisdom' with me.
brothers talking How to place punctuation marks with
quotation marks
3. We use quotation marks to show that a A) In American English, periods and
letter is being used as a letter or a word is commas are always placed inside quotation
used as a word. marks even if it does not make sense.
Examples: Exclamation points and question marks with
A) In American English, we use double quotation marks follow logic in American
quotation marks for this. English.
newspaperWhat is the definition of The boy said, "My mom told me, 'Do not
"quotations"? forget to eat your vegetables.' "
(The period is placed inside all quotation (The semicolon goes outside of the single
marks.) quotation marks.)

cat" 'The Zoo Animals' is my favorite poem These names start with a '"B": Barbara, Bill,
to read," mom said. Bonnie, and Ben.
(The comma is placed inside the quotation (The colon goes outside of the double
marks.) quotation marks.)

"Have you read the poem 'The Yellow Examples in British English:
Cat'?" the teacher asked. My teacher stated, 'I love the poem "The
(The question mark goes with the sentence Snow"; however, my favorite poem is
in double quotations, so it goes inside the "Winter Dreams" '.
double quotation marks. It does not go (The semicolon goes outside of the double
inside the single quotation marks with the quotation marks.)
title of the poem.)
B) In British English, punctuation marks These names start with a 'B': Barbara, Bill,
(commas, periods, exclamation points, and Bonnie, and Ben.
question marks) always follow logic. (The colon goes outside of the single
The boy said, 'My mom told me, "Do not quotation marks.)
forget to eat your vegetables'."
(Place the period outside of the single 11. Apostrophe
quotation marks in British English because it -An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used
goes with the quoted sentence.) to form a contraction, to indicate
possession, or to form the non-possessive
' "The Zoo Animals" is my favorite poem to plurals of letters, numbers, and specific
read', mom said. words.
(The comma is placed outside the quotation
marks in British English.) a. Contraction
-A contraction is the act of
'Have you read the poem "The Yellow Cat"?' decreasing the size of something or
the teacher asked. shortening it, or it can be the
(The question mark goes with the sentence process of becoming smaller or
in single quotations, so it goes inside the compressed.
single quotation marks. It does not go inside
the double quotation marks with the title of b. to indicate possession
the poem.) -ex: Klein’s bag
C) In American English and British English,
semicolons and colons always go outside 12. Hyphen
the quotation marks. -Hyphens are versatile punctuation marks
Examples in American English: used for various purposes in writing.
My teacher stated, "I love the poem 'The
Snow'; however, my favorite poem is 'Winter a. Creating Compound Words
Dreams.' " -examples: Mother-in-law
High-speed
 Well-being d. Indicating errors
-Example:
b. Connecting Prefixes My geography textbook says, “The
-examples: Ex-wife largest dessert [sic] on Earth is
Co-worker actually located in Antarctica
Pre-empt
e. Capitalization of letters
c. Joining Numbers & Words -Example:
-examples: Twenty-one Original: "Food and fiber productivity
Four-year-old raised due to the new technologies,
A two-thirds majority mechanization, increased chemical
use, specialization, and government
13. Brackets policies that favored maximizing
-A square brackets are set ofpunctuation production." - ( Abubakar and
marks come in a pairs as [ and ].It mainly Attanda)
used to enclose an additional information,
explanation, comment, clarification, or -Quotes with []: According to
correction that is inserted into quoted Abubakar and Attanda, "[f]ood
material. and fiber productivity raised due to
the new technologies,
Uses: mechanization, increased chemical
a. Adding more information use, specialization, and government
-Example: policies that favored maximizing
According to police, the suspect "hid production."
[in a abandoned house] for two
days before he was caught.” f. Translation
-Example:
b. Explanation Jolo greeted John by saying
-Example: "Bonjour John, Enchante. [Hello
According to the experts, "Home John, Nice to meet you]."
gardening [terrace gardening,
balcony gardening, or backyard 14. Italicization
gardening] keeps you physically fit -Slanted letters that are most often used to
and has several health benefits." emphasize certain words, to indicate that
they are in a foreign language, or to set off
c. Clarification the title of a literacy or artistic work
-Exmple: -come from the Latin word "Italics" (Italian)
The president stated that he “will not This Print Style was named in honor of the
sign the bill they [Republican Italian printer credited as the first to use it.
members of the House] have been
talking about.”
Uses:
a. First Introduction to a New Term
Example: "Communism " is defined
as a form of government
* The word Communism is in Italics
form of writing as it represents a new
term in a sentence wherein, the use
of italics emphasizes the importance
of it.

b. Anchors of Scale
Example: "Rate your experience on
a scale of 1 ( extremely dissatisfied)
to 10 ( extremely satisfied)
* The words "extremely dissatisfied"
and "extremely satisfied" are in the
form of italics to emphasize that a
scale of 1 represents extremely
dissatisfied to 10 for extremely
satisfied

c. Titles of Book and web page/song

Example: "Eleven Rings " by Phil

Jackson

* The title "Eleven Rings" is in the

form of italics to emphasize that, that
is the title of a movie and if you ask if
you can also use the italics form for
the names of an author or writer.
Yes, you can also use it for names.
Like Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson:
in this one Phil Jackson is in a form
of Italicization to emphasize that he
wrote the book "Eleven. Rings".