Punctuation Marks

Are you looking for what punctuation marks in English grammar and how to use them?

Punctuation in English grammar tells us how to write English correctly without confusing our readers. Punctuation is the set of rules and symbols that tell the readers about expressions, exclamations, questions, or declarations. It also provides flexibility to the readers to stop, pause for a while, or emphasize ont the context to better understand. 

In this guide, you will learn what are punctuation marks in English grammar, why do we use them, types of punctuation, and examples of sentences using punctuation marks.

What is Punctuation in English Grammar?

Punctuation is defined as a set of symbols used to separate and clarify the meaning of sentences and written elements. In other words, punctuation tells readers of your writing where to use, what words are quotations and which are califications, where word have been omitted, and more. 

What are Punctuation Marks?

Punctuation marks are symbols used in writing to separate sentences and clarify their meanings so that readers don’t get confused while understanding the meanings of your sentences. Some examples of common punctuation marks include the period, comma, and question mark. 

Why punctuation is important?

• Clarity
• Correctness
• Understanding 
• Conciseness

Common Punctuation Marks

There are different punctuation marks used in English language. Some of them are most commonly used in writing like periods, comma, question mark, and more. Some are rarely used. First we will talk about the the most commonly used punctuation marks in English writing. 

1. Period

The period is the most common punctuation mark in English. It is usually placed at the end of a sentence telling the reader it is completed. In simple meaning, it is placed at the end of a complete sentence. 

Examples:

• I like to read.
• She is learning English.

2. Comma (,)

Comma is also commonly used in English writing and its main purpose to separate the parts of a sentence and tell the reader to take a pause. The comma is mostly used to talk about items in the lists, to separate clauses, and after introductory words. 

Examples:

• I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
• When it rains, I stay inside.
• Yes, I understand.

3. Question Mark (?)

The question mark is a punctuation mark that is placed at the end of a question sentence and tells the reader that this is a question sentence which means that something is being asked or inquired in the sentence.

Examples:

• What is your name?
• Do you like chocolate?

4. Exclamation Mark (!)

An exclamation mark is used to show excitement or surprise in the sentence.

For example:

• Wow! That’s amazing!
• Watch out!

5. Colon (:) and Semicolon (;)

Colon and semicolon are two puncutation marks that help us to connect things and ideas in our sentences.

Colon is used to introduce a list or explanation in the sentence. 

For example

• She bought the following: apples, oranges, and bananas.

On the other hand, a semicolon is used to connect two related sentences.

For example:

• I love chocolate; it’s my favorite treat.

6. Quotation Marks (” “)

Quotation marks are used to show direct speech or a quote. 

Examples:

• She said, “I’m learning English.”
• “Can we go now?” he asked.

7. Apostrophes (‘)

The apostrophe is a punctuation mark that shows ownership or possession of something in the sentence. It is also used in contraction. 

Examples:

• This is Sara’s book.
• It’s raining. 

8. Parentheses () and Brackets []

Parentheses are used to add extra information in the sentence. For example;

• He went to Paris (his favorite city).

Whereas, brackets are used to add more clarification in the sentence. For instance;

• The report states that “[the results] were conclusive.”

9. Hyphen (-) and Dash (-)

The hyphen and dash look similar but the dash is longer than the hyphen. Hyphen is used to connect words such as;

• Well-known author

On the other hand, the dash is used to provide more information in the sentence. here is an example of the use of a dash in a sentence.

• I couldn’t believe it – it was amazing! 

10. Ellipses (…)

Ellipses look like a set of three periods together. 

An ellipsis is used to show that information has been omitted from a quote, usually to shorten it. 

In fiction and poetry, they’re also used to build suspense, show a speaker’s voice is trailing off or faltering, or represent incomplete thoughts. This evolved into ellipses’s use in casual conversation, like text messages and social media posts, where they’re frequently used to indicate pauses… or voices or thoughts fading away.

Less Commonly Used Punctuation Marks

Apart from the above listed punctuation makrs, there are some punctuation marks that less commonly used in English writing. These less commonly used punctuation marks are;

• Interrobang
• Brackets

Types of Punctuation

Punctuation marks are grouped according to what they do. 

1. Terminal Points

Terminal points are punctuation marks that end sentences. These marks are:

• Periods
• Question marks
• Exclamation points 
• Itnerrobangs

2. Pausing Points

Pausing points are punctuation marks that tell the reader to pause. These include:

• Commas 
• Colons
• Semicolons
• Em dashes
• Ellipses

3. Identifying Quotation

And then there are the punctuation marks that identify quotations. This group includes quotation marks. 

Why is Punctuation Important?

Punctuation is important because it directs your writing’s flow. If your writing is a roadway, the punctuation marks are the traffic signs. They show the reader where to pause, where to come to a complete stop, and how to interpret the phrases they come across.

Different pieces of punctuation can radically change your witing’s message. Take a look at this example, which you might have seen before:

• Let’s eat Gramma.
• Let’s eat, Grandma.

See how much of a difference a comma makes?

Conclusion

Punctuation plays an important role in our writing. It helps us to convey our thoughts and ideas more effectively and provide more clarity in our writing. The punctuation marks plays different role when use them in writing and help readers to better understand the meanings of our sentences. 

Learning the correct use of punctuation is highly important to improve your writing skills. 

I hope this article helped you learn what punctuation marks are and how to use them correctly in English writing.

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