Punctuation marks

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?

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.

Period (.)

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:

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 (,)

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.

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:

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 ([ ])

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.

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.”

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.

Summarising it all
Now that you’ve learned more about what are the 14 punctuation marks and you’re able to use
them, you’ll be a much stronger overall writer. If you’re a student who needs some extra help with
grammar or punctuation, you can always find help through your school.

At University of the People, our student support advisors can offer you help with your writing skills
among a number of other things.