Punctuation – Definition and How to Use with Examples – “भाषा प्रवीणता परीक्षा विशेष”
Introduction
Punctuation in English grammar refers to the use of symbols or marks in writing to clarify meaning and indicate pauses, stops, or other grammatical structures. Punctuation is crucial for conveying the intended meaning of a sentence and making the written language clear and readable. In English grammar, there are multiple punctuation marks that are used in order to make your writing look sensible and easy to understand. A punctuation mark is defined as “a sign or mark used in writing to divide sentences and phrases”, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. Let us take a look at the various punctuation marks in English grammar.Here are some of the most common punctuation marks used in English:
- Period/Full stop
- Comma
- Colon
- Semicolon
- Apostrophe
- Quotation marks
- Hyphen
- Dash
- Parentheses
- Slash
- Exclamation mark
- Question mark
- Ellipsis
Using Punctuation in Sentences – Examples
Using punctuation is vital to make your writing look professional, logical and well-founded. Using no punctuation at all will not make sense; overuse of punctuation can make your writing look distorted and vague.
Have a look at the following table to understand each punctuation mark and to see how they can be used in sentences.
|
Punctuation mark |
Symbol |
Usecase |
Sentence example |
|
Full stop / Period |
. |
End declarative sentences and indicate abbreviations. |
I am a student. |
|
Comma |
, |
Separate items in a list, join independent clauses, and set off introductory phrases or clauses. |
Ashlin, my sister’s daughter, came home today. |
|
Colon |
: |
Indicate a direct question at the end of a sentence. |
You have two options: Take a bus or hire a cab. |
|
Semicolon |
; |
Indicate strong emotion or emphasis at the end of a sentence. |
I did not like the dish; however, I ate it since I did not want to waste it. |
|
Apostrophe |
’ |
Introduce a list or an explanation. |
Ritu’s brother is moving to Sydney. |
|
Quotation marks |
“ ” |
Join independent clauses in a compound sentence or separate items in a list when the items contain commas. |
My mom said, “Make sure you get home before 7 p.m.” |
|
Hyphen |
– |
Indicate direct speech or enclose the title of a short work. |
We have a black–eyed white bunny. |
|
Dash |
— |
Indicate possession or show the omission of letters in a contraction. |
My mom’s friends — Sheela, Immaculate, and Agnes — visited her today. |
|
Parentheses |
() |
Enclose additional information or asides. |
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (popularly known as ‘Mother Teresa’) was born on August 26, 1910. |
|
Slash |
/ |
Join words, separate syllables, or connect compound words. |
You can use a noun/pronoun to start a sentence. |
|
Exclamation mark |
! |
Indicate a break in thought or set off additional information. |
Wow! That is great news. |
|
Question mark |
? |
Indicate the omission of words in a quotation or a pause in speech. |
What would you like to have for dinner? |
|
Ellipsis |
… |
|
We wrote in the comments section, “We were here. This is the … again.” |
