Choosing Correct End Punctuation
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Terminal punctuation identifies the end of a sentence, and
most commonly includes periods, question marks, and
exclamation points.
KEY POINTS
Terminal punctuation, also referred to as end marks or stops, refers to the
punctuation marks used to identify the end of a portion of text. Most
commonly these include periods, question marks, and exclamation points.
A period (also known as a full stop in British English) is the punctuation
mark placed to indicate the end of sentences.
The question mark replaces the full stop (period) at the end of
an interrogativesentence.
The exclamation mark is used to indicate strong feelings, high volume
(shouting), an exclamation (such as "Wow! ", "Boo! "), an imperative ("Stop!
"), or astonishment.
In "aesthetic" or "typesetters" punctuation, full stops are included
insidequotation marks even if they are not part of the quoted sentence. In
"logical punctuation", sentence structure stays true to the punctuation used
by the original source.
TERMS
indirect questions
: questions that can be used in many of the same ways as declarative clauses,
but emphasize knowledge or lack of knowledge of one element of a fact; also
known as interrogative content clauses.
interrogative
Asking or denoting a question; pertaining to inquiry; questioning
EXAMPLES
Here's an example of the proper capitalization of a geographic feature: Of all
the Great Lakes, Lake Superior is the biggest.
That's just the way it is.
Rule: Periods end sentences that make statements. If used in conjunction
withquotation marks, the period should be located inside the quotation mark.
EXAMPLE OF QUESTION MARK USE
Is that the way it is?
Rule: Question marks end direct questions, but do not end indirect questions.
They are placed inside quotation marks when they punctuate the quotation,
but they are places outside quotation marks when they punctuate the whole
sentence.
EXAMPLE OF EXCLAMATION POINT USE
And that's just the way it is!
Rule: Exclamation points end a sentence that expresses emphatic feelings,
but should be used sparingly in academic writing. Exclamation points are
placed inside quotation marks when they punctuate the quotation, but they
are placed outside quotation marks when they punctuate the whole
sentence.
EXAMPLE OF ELLIPSIS USE
I guess that's just the way it is
Rule: An ellipsis can also be used to indicate an unfinished thought or, at the
end of a sentence, a trailing off into silence. In academic writing, an ellipsis
is a series of three periods that usually indicates an intentional omission of a
word, sentence or whole section from an original text being quoted.
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Punctuation marks are symbols that indicate the structure and organization of
written language, as well as intonation and pauses to be observed when
reading aloud. Terminal punctuation, also referred to as end marks or stops,
refers to the punctuation marks used to identify the end of a portion of text.
Most commonly these include periods, question marks, and exclamation
points.
A period (also known as a full stop in British English) is the punctuation mark
placed to indicate the end of sentences. The question mark (? ; also known as
an interrogation point, interrogation mark, or question point) is a punctuation
mark that replaces the full stop (period) at the end of an interrogative
sentence. The question mark is not used for indirect questions. The question
mark character is also often used in place of missing or unknown data.
The exclamation mark or exclamation point is a punctuation mark usually
used after an interjection or exclamation to indicate strong feelings or high
volume (shouting), and often marks the end of a sentence. A sentence ending
in an exclamation mark may be an exclamation (such as "Wow! ", "Boo! "), or
an imperative ("Stop! "), or may indicate astonishment: "They were the
footprints of a gigantic duck! " Exclamation marks are occasionally placed
mid-sentence with a function similar to a comma, for dramatic effect, although
this usage is obsolescent: "On the walk, oh! there was a frightful noise. "
Informally, exclamation marks may be repeated for
additional emphasis ("That's great!!! "), but this practice is generally
considered unacceptable in formal prose. The exclamation mark is sometimes
used in conjunction with the question mark. This can be in protest or
astonishment ("Out of all places, the squatter-camp?! "); again, this is
informal. Overly frequent use of the exclamation mark is generally considered
poor writing, for it distracts the reader and devalues the mark's significance .
Cut out all those exclamation points.
The famous author F. Scott Fitzgerald was not a fan of exclamation points; in his words:"Cut out all those
exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own jokes. "
The traditional convention in American English and in Canada is "aesthetic"
punctuation, or "typesetters' quotation", where full stops are included inside
quotation marks even if they are not part of the quoted sentence.
The style used in the UK, and to a lesser extent in the U.S., is "logical
punctuation", which stays true to the punctuation used by the original source,
placing commas and full stops inside or outside quotation marks depending
on where they were placed in the material that is being quoted.
"Carefree" means "free from care or anxiety. " (aesthetic or typesetters' style)
"Carefree" means "free from care or anxiety". (logical style used here because
the full stop was not part of the original quotation)
