PUNCTUATION MARKS

PunctuationMarks

There are 14 Punctuation Marks in English.

The 14 Punctuation Marks

8. Hyphen

1. Period

9. Brackets

2. Question Mark

10. Braces

3. Exclamation Point

11. Parenthesis

4. Comma

12. Apostrophe

5. Colon

13. Quotation mark

6. Semicolon

14. Ellipsis

7. Dash

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.

Period.

This one is probably the most straightforward. Also referred to as a full stop, the period denotes the end of a sentence.

The sun sets behind the mountains. Did you see the colors in the sky? Wow, it's breathtaking! The orange and pink hues paint the horizon. What a beautiful sight! We should come here more often.

Question Mark (?) .

A question mark also ends a sentence, however it ends a sentence that is a direct question.

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.

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, and phrases, or even alter the structure of a sentence.

I have many hobbies, such as hiking, painting, and playing the guitar; each one brings me joy. Yesterday, I went for a hike in the mountains, where I saw breathtaking views of the valley below. The colors were vibrant: deep greens, rich browns, and vibrant yellows. As I reached the summit, I paused for a moment; the beauty of nature never fails to amaze me.

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.

Semicolon (;)

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.

Info

Dash (-)

Two types of dashes 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. Em dash: this dash is longer, and is sometimes used instead of other punctuation marks, like commas, colons, or parentheses. The company was operational from 1990-2000.

I stumbled upon a long-forgotten treasure, a dusty old chest hidden beneath a pile of rubble. With trembling hands, I cautiously opened the lid, revealing a trove of ancient artifacts—golden coins, precious jewels, and intricate sculptures. Suddenly, a faint sound —a low, rumbling growl—echoed from the darkness. Heart pounding, I slammed the lid and dashed away, vowing to return another day.

Hyphen (-)

Not to be confused with a dash, a hyphen is used in compound words when two or more words are connected. Step-by-step Mother-in-law

Info

Brackets ([ ])

Braces ({ })

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.

It’s unlikely you’ll need to use braces very often unless you’re writing a mathematical or technical text.

Parentheses (( ))

I have several tasks to complete today (including [but not limited to] grocery shopping and laundry). However, the weather forecast predicts heavy rain. I'll need to bring an umbrella [just in case]. Despite the gloomy forecast, I remain optimistic (hoping for a break in the clouds). With a positive attitude and a few extra layers, I'll tackle whatever challenges come my way!

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.

Info

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

As I walked through the old Ed's cemetery, I noticed a weathered tombstone with the inscription "Here lies Emily Rose... beloved daughter, sister, friend..." The words were faded, but the sentiment remained. Suddenly, a voice whispered, "Do you believe in ghosts?" Startled, I turned around to see a figure shrouded in mist. "Some say spirits linger in places like this..." it continued. With a shiver, I hurried away, leaving the graveyard behind, but the encounter lingered in my mind...

Quotation Marks (“)

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

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

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Let the communication flow!

With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to wow your audience. You can also highlight a particular sentence or piece of information so that it sticks in your audience’s minds, or even embed external content to surprise them: Whatever you like! Do you need more reasons to create dynamic content? No problem! 90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.

Got an idea?

Let the communication flow!

With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to wow your audience. You can also highlight a particular sentence or piece of information so that it sticks in your audience’s minds, or even embed external content to surprise them: Whatever you like! Do you need more reasons to create dynamic content? No problem! 90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.