PUNCTUATION MARKS IN ENGLISH
1. Full Stop
Full stops are used:-
to mark the end of a sentence that is a complete statement:
All their meals arrived at the same time.
to mark the end of a group of words that don’t form a conventional sentence, so as to
emphasize a statement:
It's never acceptable to arrive late. Not under any circumstances.
in some abbreviations, for example etc., Jan., or a.m.:
Please return the form by Monday 8 Dec. at the latest.
The shop has groceries, toiletries, etc. and is open all day.
in website and email addresses:
2. Comma
A comma marks a slight break between different parts of a sentence. There are four common
occasions on which commas are necessary; follow the links for more information.
Using commas in lists (e.g. The flag was red, white, and blue.)
Using commas in direct speech (e.g. 'That's not fair,' she said.)
Using commas to separate clauses (e.g. As we had already arrived, we were reluctant to
wait.)
Using commas to mark off parts of a sentence (Her best friend, Eliza, sang for a living)
3. Semicolon
The semicolon is most commonly used to mark a break that is stronger than a comma but not
as final as a full stop. It’s used between two main clauses that balance each other and are too
closely linked to be made into separate sentences. For example:
The film was a critical success; its lead actors were particularly praised.
4. Colon
There are three main uses of the colon:
between two main clauses in cases where the second clause explains or follows from the first:
We have a motto: live life to the full.
to introduce a list:
The cost of the room included the following: breakfast, dinner, and Wi-Fi.
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before a quotation, and sometimes before direct speech:
The headline read: ‘Local Woman Saves Geese’.
5. Apostrophe
There are two main cases where apostrophes are used:
Using apostrophes to show possession
Malcolm's cat was extremely friendly.
We took a day trip to the Gibsons' house.
Using apostrophes to show omission
I'm afraid the pie isn't suitable for vegetarians.
We didn't think about the consequences of our actions.
6. Hyphen
Hyphens are used to link words and parts of words. There are three main cases where you
should use them:
in compound words
My mother-in-law is visiting soon.
to join prefixes to other words
The novel is clearly intended to be a post-Marxist work.
to show word breaks
He collects eighteenth- and nineteenth-century vases.
7. Dash
There are two main occasions on which a dash can be used, usually in informal writing:
to mark off information that is not essential to an understanding of the rest of the sentence
Many birds—do you like birds?—can be seen outside the window.
to show other kinds of break in a sentence where a comma, semicolon, or colon would be
traditionally used
Tommy can't wait for Christmas—he's very excited.
8. Brackets
There are two main types of brackets. Round brackets are mainly used to separate off
information that isn’t essential to the meaning of the rest of the sentence: He asked
Sarah (his great-aunt) for a loan. Square brackets are mainly used to enclose words added
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by someone other than the original writer or speaker, typically in order to clarify the
situation:
The witness said: 'Gary [Thompson] was not usually late for work.'
9. Inverted commas
Inverted commas are mainly used in the following cases:
to mark the beginning and end of direct speech:
'There wasn't,' he said, 'any need for you to say that.'
to mark off a word or phrase that’s being discussed, or that’s being directly quoted from
somewhere else:
They called it the 'land of milk and honey'.
(also known as scare quotes) to draw attention to an unusual, ironic, or arguably inaccurate
use:
The 'food' she put on our plates was inedible.
10. Exclamation mark
The main uses of the exclamation mark (most commonly used in informal writing) are to end
sentences that express:
an exclamation:
Ow! That hurts!
direct speech that represents something shouted or spoken very loudly:
'Run as fast as you can!' he shouted.
something that amuses the writer:
They thought I was dressed as a smuggler!
An exclamation mark can also be used in brackets after a statement to show that the writer
finds it funny or ironic:
He thought it would be amusing (!) to throw a plastic mouse at me.
11. Question mark
A question mark is used to indicate the end of a question:
What time are you going to the fair?
A question mark can also be used in brackets to show that the writer is unconvinced by a
statement:
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The bus timetable purports to be accurate (?).
12. Bullet points
Bullet points are used to draw attention to important information within a document so that a
reader can identify the key issues and facts quickly. For example:-
The document contains information on:-
Manuals
Softwares
Devices
Hardwares
13. Capitals
It is used in the beginning of a sentence; for proper-nouns and nouns with a specific usage
and for the first person pronoun “I” that could occur in any part of the sentence
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