Punctuation is the use of certain established marks (punctuation marks) or symbols within a piece of written text to separate and join units of language into a cohesive text. Discover everything you need to know about the importance of punctuation, full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks in English grammar.
Punctuation is the use of certain established marks (punctuation marks) or symbols within a piece of written text. Punctuation prevents a piece of text from being just a string of words by breaking up the string of words into meaningful units and by making the text more fluent. Basically, punctuation marks can be seen as symbols which are used to separate and join units of language into a cohesive text.
Modern writers tend to punctuate much more lightly than their older counterparts did. This goes hand in hand with the modern tendency to use less formal language and a plainer style. However, the importance of punctuation, even in these less formal modern times, should not be underestimated. Appropriate punctuation creates order in what might otherwise be a piece of linguistic confusion.
The important punctuation marks are the full stop, question mark, exclamation mark, comma, brackets, dash, semicolon, colon, hyphen, quotation marks, apostrophe, asterisk, three-dot ellipsis and the oblique.
What is a Full Stop?
The full stop, also called period, is a punctuation mark consisting of a small dot (.). It is one of the most important punctuation marks and the most emphatic, because its main function is to mark the end of a sentence and so separate one sentence from another. Only sentences that are either questions or exclamations (see Questions and Exclamations) do not end in a full stop. Instead, they end respectively in a question mark or an exclamation mark. The following are examples of sentences ending in a full stop: The children behaved very well.
They are getting married next week.
We are moving house soon.
The car broke down.
You can choose the restaurant.
I went by bus.
NB: The stop
The full stop is also used to mark the end of a group of words which is not actually a sentence, but which is complete in itself, as in the following underlined words.
‘When do we leave?’
‘Tomorrow morning.’
How Do Full Stops Work with Abbreviations?
The full stop and abbreviations
The full stop has another function. It is used with certain types of abbreviation, although the modern tendency, particularly in British English, is to use full stops with abbreviations far less than was formerly the case. For example, abbreviations involving initial capital letters are generally written without full stops, especially in British English, as TUC, BBC, USA. In such cases full stops should definitely not be used if one or some of the initial letters do not belong to a full word, as TV. TV is the abbreviation for television and the letter V is simply the initial letter of the second syllable of the word, not that of a new word.
There are usually no full stops in abbreviations involving the first and last letters of a word (contractions), as Dr, Rd, St, but whether they are used or not can be a matter of taste. The important thing is to be consistent in whether you use full stops or not in such cases. Abbreviations involving the first few letters of a word are the most likely to have full stops, as in Feb. for February and Sept. for September.
How to Use Full Stops in Email and Website Addresses
The full stop in email and website addresses
The full stop is also used in email addresses such as sample.name@sampleaddress.co.uk
and in website addresses such as www.sample-url.com
In these cases the inclusion of the full stops and their correct placing are necessary to send the email successfully or access the website.
What is a Question Mark?
The question mark (?) is sometimes also known as the query and it is used to mark the end of a sentence which asks a question (see 1). The following sentences are all questions ending in a question mark: Where are we? Is that the right time?
Who is that?
Why did they leave so early?
Does he always behave so badly?
Would you pass me the salt, please?
Can I help you?
Whose coat is this?
NB: Writing questions
It is not recommended to use more than one question mark at the end of a sentence.
When writing college essays or literary interpretations it may be tempting to interperse your writing with questions, as in: ‘So what do we learn from Wordsworth’s view of nature?’
This is too informal for a such a composition. It is better to write: ‘What we learn from Wordsworth’s view of nature is ...’
What is an Exclamation Mark?
The exclamation mark (!) is used to mark the end of an exclamation or sometimes a directive (see 1). The following sentences are all exclamations or directives ending in an exclamation mark: Run! Save me!
What a beautiful day!
How marvellous!
Well done!
You must be joking!
Ouch!
Let me go!
It is common for people to overuse exclamation marks in emails, because the communication is often informal and because we are often trying to convey points of view and emotions that we would not normally be doing in a formal piece of writing.
Key Takeaways
- Punctuation marks separate and join units of language to create cohesive, fluent text.
- The full stop marks the end of a sentence, functions in abbreviations, and is essential in email and website addresses.
- Question marks conclude sentences that ask a direct question and should be used sparingly in formal writing.
- Exclamation marks indicate exclamations or directives but should never be overused.
Quick Practice
- Write a sentence ending in a full stop about your daily routine. Leave your answer in the comments!
- Write a polite question using a question mark. Leave your answer in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main importance of punctuation?
The importance of punctuation lies in its ability to bring order and clarity to text, preventing it from turning into a confusing string of words and ensuring the writing remains fluent and cohesive.
Why are punctuation marks like full stops necessary in digital addresses?
Full stops act as necessary structural separators in email and website addresses, allowing systems to successfully send emails or access online web pages.
How should punctuation be approached in modern formal writing?
Modern writers generally use lighter punctuation and plainer styles, avoiding overly informal structures like excessive exclamation marks or rhetorical questions in academic essays.