PUNCTUATION MARKS

I/ The Different Punctuation Marks and Their Function

Punctuation has a way of adding emphasis and cadence to our written sentences.
Still, many people, from native English speakers to people learning English as a
foreign language, aren’t always sure when and where to use punctuation marks.

If you find punctuation confusing, rest assured you’re not the only one. Plenty
of people, even native English speakers, have trouble when it comes to using
the right punctuation marks. The good news is that the 14 different punctuation
marks aren’t as confusing as you’d think when you break them all down. If you
want to master your writing, whether it’s for an essay or even a bestselling
novel, it’s important to understand how to use each punctuation mark.

So, what are the 14 punctuation marks and how should you use them? Let’s
dive into it.

What are Punctuation Marks in English?

There are 14 punctuation marks that are used in the English language. They are:
the period, question mark, exclamation point, comma, colon, semicolon, dash,
hyphen, brackets, braces, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark, and ellipsis.

If you want to make your writing easier to read and generally look more
professional, you should know what each one is and how to use them.

We can break down the punctuation marks into five categories, as follows:

 Sentence endings: period, question mark, exclamation point

 Comma, colon, and semicolon
 Dash and hyphen
 Brackets, braces, and parentheses
 Apostrophe, quotation marks, and ellipsis

Each category serves its own purpose within a sentence or a text. While there
are some differences between American and British punctuation styles, here
we’ll focus on the main examples instead of breaking down the slight
differences. Let’s take a closer look at each punctuation mark and its usages.

Period (.)

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This one is probably the most straightforward. Also referred to as a full stop, the
period denotes the end of a sentence. A full sentence is considered as one that is
complete and declarative.

Here’s an example of a period at the end of a sentence:

 The dog ran under the fence.

Periods are also used in abbreviations, such as in names or titles.

Here are examples of how to use a period in abbreviations:

 Dr. Smith read his patient’s chart.

 Mr. H. Potter opened his front door.

Question Mark (?)

A question mark also ends a sentence, however it ends a sentence that is a direct
question. Typically, sentences that are questions begin with what, how, when,
where, why, or who.

Here’s how to use a question mark in a sentence:

 How do you like your eggs?

 Why didn’t you like the movie last night?

Generally, a question mark also denotes a shift in tone in a sentence if it’s being
read out loud, so this is something to take note of.

Exclamation Point (!)

An exclamation point or exclamation mark is also used at the end of a sentence

when that sentence expresses an intense emotion. The expression can be a
variety of things, from excitement, disgust, anger, joy, or anything else.
Exclamation points are meant to add emphasis to a sentence.

Here’s how to use one in a sentence:

 “Look out behind you!” she yelled.

 I’m so excited to go to the park tomorrow!

Comma (,)

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Commas are used to insert a pause into a sentence. The purpose of the pause can
be for different reasons, such as to separate ideas, phrases, or even alter the
structure of a sentence.
Commas have a few different uses. Commas are used for a direct address, such
as:

 Joe, it was nice to see you again.

They’re also used to separate two complete sentences:

 He went to the library, and then he went out for lunch.

Commas can also be used to list items in a sentence:

 She went shopping and bought shoes, a dress, two shirts, and a pair
of pants.

Commas are one of the most misused punctuation points, and its misuse often
results in a comma splice. A comma splice is when you join two independent
clauses with a comma instead of a conjunction. For example:

 It’s almost time for dinner, I’m not hungry.

 Instead of using a comma, the sentence should read:
 It’s almost time for dinner and I’m not hungry.

Oxford commas are often debated within academics and the English language,
and using one often comes down to preference. An Oxford comma is when a
final comma is placed on the last item of a list. For example:

 He likes to eat fruits, cake, vegetables, and pasta.

Colon (:)

A colon has three primary uses. One way to use it is when introducing
something, such as a quote, an example, a series, or an explanation.

She took four classes last semester: history, biology, arts, and economics.

A colon can also be used to link two independent clauses if the second clause
clarifies or completes the first one. For example:

 They didn’t have time to waste: it was already late.

 Finally, a colon can also emphasize a subject in a sentence:

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  I only hate one vegetable: brussel sprouts.

Semicolon (;)

Similar to a colon, a semicolon links two independent clauses. However, in this

case, the clauses are more closely related than when you would use a colon. For
example:

I have a meeting tomorrow morning; I can’t go out tonight.

Both clauses are independent enough to be their own sentences, but instead of
using a period, it’s possible to use a semicolon to show both clauses are
connected.

Another less common use for semicolons is within a list that uses commas.
Have a look:

 Last summer we traveled to London, England; Paris, France; Rome,

Italy; and Athens, Greece.

Dash (-)

There are two types of dashes that vary in size and use.

En dash: Typically shorter in length, the en dash is used to denote a range, such
as between numbers or dates. For example:

 The company was operational from 1990-2000.

 He took the Chicago-New York train last night.
Em dash: this dash is longer, and is sometimes used instead of other punctuation
marks, like commas, colons, or parentheses. Here’s an example:
 Her answer was clear — Yes!

Hyphen (-)

Not to be confused with a dash, a hyphen is used in compound words when two
or more words are connected. Here are some examples of hyphenated words:

 Step-by-step
 Mother-in-law
 Ex-boyfriend

Brackets ([ ])

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Brackets are used to clarify something or for technical terms or explanations. It
can also be used to clarify a subject when quoting another person or text. For
example:

 She [Mrs. Smith] agrees that cats are better than dogs.
 Adam said that “[summer] is my favorite time of year.”

Braces ({ })

It’s unlikely you’ll need to use braces very often unless you’re writing a
mathematical or technical text. However, it’s still good to know so you don’t
accidentally use them instead of brackets or parentheses. Braces are usually
used in operations, for example:

 6{3x+[28+2]}=xy

Parentheses (( ))

Parentheses are used to supply further details or information or as an aside.

Parentheses can often be replaced with commas and the sentence would retain
its same meaning. Here’s an example:

 Kate (who is Matt’s wife) likes to go for walks.

Apostrophe (’)

Apostrophes are meant to show that a letter or letters have been omitted and
also to indicate the possessive or contractions. It can also be used to pluralize
lowercase letters. Here are some examples:

 I’ve been working from home for 6 months and it’s great.
 Rebecca’s dog had surgery yesterday.
 All that’s left to do is dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

Quotation Marks (“)

Quotation marks are used to denote text, speech, or words spoken by someone
else. It is also used to indicate dialogue.

 “I don’t like this,” said Mark.

 She told him that she “prefers not to think about that.”

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  Single quotation marks (‘ ’), not to be confused with apostrophes, are
often used for a quote within a quote.
 Jill told her mother “Jack ran up the hill and he said he was going to
‘fetch a pail of water’ before he fell.”

Ellipsis (…)

An ellipsis is three periods used together to represent an omission of words or

letters. They are often used to jump from one sentence or phrase to another
while omitting unnecessary or obvious words. It’s also used when quoting
someone and unnecessary words are left out.

Here are some examples:

 At midnight, she began to count down: “ten, nine, eight…” and then
the ball dropped.
 When Martin Luther King said “I have a dream…” he was talking
about civil rights and an end to racism.

II/ Differences Between

American and British Punctuation

There are many differences between British and American punctuation,

spelling, and grammar. Neither version is more correct than the other; which
version you should use just depends on who your primary audience is. Here are
some of the most common differences between British and American academic
English.

Punctuation

Single vs. Double Quotation Marks

This is a fun one! British style uses single quotation marks for initial quotations,
and then double quotes when there is a quotation inside the quotation. The
British also put punctuation that is not part of the quotation outside the
quotation marks. Americans do the opposite on both counts.

For example:

British style: ‘I love lyrics that tell stories’, said the songwriter, ‘like in Marc
Cohn’s song where he says that he “put on his blue suede shoes and boarded
the plane.”’

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American style: “I love lyrics that tell stories,” said the songwriter, “like in
Marc Cohn’s song where he says that he ‘put on his blue suede shoes and
boarded the plane.’”

Commas and Periods Within Quotation Marks

British English puts commas and periods (full stops) outside the quotation
marks unless the quotation is also a complete sentence or the punctuation is part
of the quotation.

 The UWSC says that British people write it "this way".

American English puts commas and periods inside the quotation marks.

 The UWSC says that American people write it "this way."

When it comes to other punctuation, both versions write it similarly. Colons and
semicolons go outside quotation marks, and exclamation points and question
marks depend on whether they're part of the quote or the sentence as a whole.

Dates

British English writes dates in DD/MM/YY format.

 10/1/2019 means January 10, 2019.

American English writes dates in MM/DD/YY format.

 10/1/2019 means October 1, 2019.

Abbreviations

British English typically does not put a period after an abbreviation.

 Dr, Mr, Mrs, Ms, and vs are all written without periods after them.

American English puts periods after abbreviations.

 Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., and vs. all have periods after them.

Spelling

 There are certain patterns of words that British and American English
tend to spell differ.

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 There are many differences between British and American punctuation,
spelling, and grammar. Neither version is more correct than the other; which
version you should use just depends on who your primary audience is. Here are
some of the most common differences between British and American academic
English.

British and American English Pattern and Word Examples

British Pattern British Example American Pattern American Example
'-our' colour, flavour '-or' color, flavor
'-ise' or '-yse' organise, analyse '-ize' or '-yze' organize, analyze
'-ence' defence, licence '-ense' defense, license
'-ae-' or '-oe-' foetus,
Encyclopaedia '-e-' fetus, encyclopedia
'-re' centre, theatre '-er' center, theater
'-mme' or '-nne' programme, tonne '-m' or '-n' program, ton

Reference:
1- https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/punctuation-marks/
2- https://www.constant-content.com/content-writing-service/
2016/05/4-key-differences-between-american-and-british-
punctuation/
3- https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/
writing-speaking-resources/british-american-english

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