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Punctuation Marks in English and Examples
Punctuation Marks in English | List, Names & Examples English Punctuation Marks | List, Names & Examples
Learn how to use Punctuation Markscorrectly in English with examples. Learn how to use English punctuation correctly with examples.
The following lesson looks at the most common punctuation marksused in English.
Punctuation Marks List Punctuation Marks List
The Full Stop (.). Period.
The full stops, also called the periods are one of the most commonly used punctuation marks; analysis of texts indicate that approximately half of The full stops, also called the periods are one of the most commonly used punctuation marks; analysis of texts indicate that approximately half of all punctuation marks used are full stops. Use a full stop at the end of a declarative sentence and in abbreviations. Use a full stop at the end of a declarative sentence and in abbreviations. Examples: Examples:
My name?s Beth and I was 18 in July.
Mr. White was talking with Mr. Smith.
The Question Mark (?) The Question Mark (?)
Use a question mark after an interrogative sentence. Examples: Example:
"Have you a pen I can borrow?" she asked. she asked. "Have you a pen I can borrow?"" She asked.
Where are you from?
Quotation Marks/Speech Marks (" ")
Use quotation marks for direct quotations. Examples: Example:
"Good morning, Frank," said Hal.
"I work in Italy," said Jimmy.
The Apostrophe (?) The Apostrophe (')
Use an apostrophe in contractions He is = He?s
I am = I?m
Do not = Don?t
They have = They?ve
It is = It?s
I would = I?
I would = I?d
Let us = Let?s
She has = She?s
Who is = Who?s
Use an apostrophe to indicate possession Examples : Examples:
He joined Charles's army in 1642.
Sally's hair was blond and curly.
We have put together an anthology of children's poetry.
The boy's sister traveled by bus to meet us.
The Comma (,) comma (,)
Add a comma when two separate sentences are combined Example: Example:
We purchased some cheese, and we purchased some fruit. We purchased some cheese, and we purchased some fruit.
Use commas between words in a series. Notice that a comma does not follow the last word in the series Use commas between words in a series. Notice that a comma does not follow the last word in the series Example: Example:
I like reading books, listening to music, watching TV, and studying English.
Use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of the sentence Use a comma to separate the introduction from the rest of the sentence Example: Example:
As the day came to an end, the fire fighters put out the last of the fire.
As the day came to an end, the fire fighters put out the last spark.
Use the comma to set off the words "yes" and "no". Use the comma to set off the words "yes" and "no". example: Example:
No, thank you.
Use a comma to set off a tag question from the rest of the sentence. Example: Example:
She is your sister, isn't she?
Use a comma to indicate direct address. Example: Example:
Is that you, Mary?
Use a comma after an expression. Example: Example:
Most certainly, you can borrow my pencil.
Add a comma when a participle phrase clause is used. Example: Example:
Walking slowly, I could see the beautiful flowers. Walking slowly, I could see the beautiful flowers.
Use a comma to separate parts of the date. Example: Example:
Tuesday, May 2, 2016, was when I graduated.
The Hyphen (-) hyphen(-)
Use a hyphen to join two or more words together into a compound term. Do not separate the words with spaces. Do not separate the words with spaces. Do not separate the words with spaces. Examples: Examples:
My eight-year-old boy loves reading.
I work part-time.
Self-expression Self-expression
Self-confidence Self-confidence
Self-consciousness Self-awareness
Nineteenth-century history Nineteenth-century history
Old- furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman Old furniture salesman furniture salesman Old furniture salesman
Off-the-peg suits Off-the-peg suits
Self-paced learning exercises Self-directed learning exercises
The Dash
The dash is used to separate words into statements.
En dash (?) En dash (?) ( - )
Slightly wider than a hyphen, the en dash is a symbol (?) that is used in writing or printing to separate words into statements. Slightly wider than a hyphen, the en dash is a symbol (?) that is used in writing or printing to indicate a range or connections.
Examples: Examples:
1880 ?1945 1880-1945
Princeton?New York trains Princeton - New York trains
Em dash (?). Dash (-)
Twice as long as the en dash, the em dash can be used in place of a comma, parenthesis, or colon to enhance readability or emphasize the conclusion of a sentence. conclusion of a sentence. Twice as long as the en dash, the em dash can be used in place of a comma, parenthesis, or colon to enhance readability or emphasize the conclusion of a sentence.
Example: Example:
She gave him her answer? No!
The Exclamation Mark (!) Exclamation Mark (!)
Use an exclamation mark to show strong emotion or give a command. Examples: Examples:
Stop!
Yeah!
Sit down!
What a lovely view you have here!
That?s fantastic!
Johnny, don?t touch that!
Help!
Good heavens!
The Colon (:) colon (:)
Use a colon to introduce a list and before a final clause that explains something in the sentence. Examples: Examples:
You have two choices: finish the work today or lose the contract.
That's because we have one goal: for you to consider your website a success.
John has all the ingredients: minced clams, milk, potatoes, and onions.
The Semicolon (;) semicolon (;)
Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses that are not connected with a coordinate conjunction. Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses that are not connected with a coordinate conjunction. Examples: Examples:
My daughter is a teacher; my son is a doctor.
The Council is comprised of ten members: three from Sydney, Australia; four from Auckland, New Zealand; two from Suva, Fiji; and one from Honiara, Solomon Islands. The Council is comprised of ten members: three from Sydney, Australia; four from Auckland, New Zealand; two from Suva, Fiji; and one from Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Richard always slept with the light on; he was afraid of the dark.
The Parentheses/Brackets () parentheses/brackets()
Use parentheses to set off less important details Example: Example:
The two brothers (Richard and Sean) were learning how to play guitar.
The Ellipsis (?) The Ellipsis (?)
Use ellipsis to show that parts of sentences are left out. Examples: Examples:
To be continued?
You'll never believe what I saw?
The Slash (/)
Use slashes to separate parts of internet (web) addresses and file names for some computer programs. Use slashes to separate parts of internet (web) addresses and file names for some computer programs. Example: Example:
/
Use slashes for fractions Example: Example:
1/3 = one-third
Use a slash to separate the day, month, and year in date. Examples: Examples:
w/o = without
n/a or N/A = not applicable or not available n/a or n/a = not applicable or not available
n/a or N/A = not applicable or not available
n/a or N/A = not applicable or not available
R/C = radio control radio control
Use a slash to show the word "per" in measurements. Use a slash to show the word "per" in measurements. Example: Example:
80 miles/hour = 80 miles per hour 80 miles/hour = 80 miles per hour
Use a slash to separate lines of poetry or rhymes in regular text. Use a slash to separate lines of poetry or rhymes in regular text. Example: Example:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, / How I wonder what you are. / Up above the world so high, / Like a diamond in the sky. Like a diamond in the sky. / Twinkle, twinkle, little star, / How I wonder what you are. / Up above the world so high, / Like a diamond in the sky.
Use a slash to show alternatives in a sentence. Example: Example:
Please press your browser's Refresh/Reload button. /Reload button.
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