Punctuation Marks: List of Important Punctuation Marks in English Grammar

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Punctuation marks are symbols that are used to aid the clarity and comprehension of written language. In this lesson, you will learn a list of important punctuation marks and their meaning.

List of Punctuation Marks

• Full stop (UK)/ period (US)
• Comma
• Semicolon
• Colon
• Question mark
• Exclamation mark (UK)/ exclamation point (US)
• Apostrophe
• Dash
• Round brackets (UK)/ parentheses (US)
• Square Brackets
• Quotation Marks
• Ellipsis marks (UK)/ ellipsis Points (US)
• Slash
• Hyphen
• Brace (UK)/ curly brackets (US)
• At sign
• Ampersand
• Asterisk

Punctuation Marks and their Names

• Name: full stop (UK)/ period (US)
• For example: The teacher motioned the boy to study.

• Name: comma
• For example:  No dream is too big, and no dreamer is too small.

• Name: semicolon
• For example:  The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.

• Name: colon
• For example:  The City is termite territory: thousands of heads-down workers serving an unacknowledged queen, a fear motor buried deep in the heart of the place.

• Name: question mark
• For example: Are you ok?

• Name: exclamation mark (UK)/ exclamation point (US)
• For example: Look at this!

• Name: Apostrophe
• For example: This is my son‘s ball.

• Name: Dash (em dash, en dash)
• For example: Please call my supervisor — John Wick — on Friday.

• Name: Round Brackets (UK)/ Parentheses (US)
• For example: There are several books on the subject (see page 120).

• Name: Square Brackets
• For example: Dante testified that it was the last time he saw them [the missing coins].

• Name: Quotation Marks
• For example: “Go out!“ She said to me.

• Name: Ellipsis Marks (UK)/ Ellipsis Points (US)
• For example:  Then the numbers 1, 11, 2,…, where the ellipsis are filled by a sequence of 1’s as needed, solves the puzzle.

• Name: Slash
• For example: Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers separated by a slash, like 120/80.

• Name: At sign
• For example: 30 dictionaries @ £29.99 each.

• Name: Ampersand
• For example: My friend & I go to school together.

• Name: Hyphen
• For example: It would be nice to think this tip–off enabled him to avoid this fate but I fear his life was lost along with those missing hyphens.’

• Name: Brace (UK)/ Curly Brackets (US)
• For example: a = { 5, 20, 25, 45, 70 }

Functions of Punctuation Marks

Indicating Pause or Break

We use commas (,), semicolons (;), colons (:), em dashes (—), and ellipses (…) to indicate pauses or breaks in sentences. Commas are for shorter pauses, semicolons for linking independent clauses, colons for introducing lists or explanations, em dashes for adding emphasis or breaking away from the main sentence, and ellipses for implying trailing off or omitted text.

• Comma (,): Signals a brief pause, often used between clauses.
• Semicolon (;): Connects closely related independent clauses.
• Colon (:): Introduces a list or elaboration.
• Em dash (—): Denotes a break in thought or a parenthetical remark.
• Ellipsis (…): Shows omission or a trailing off of thought.

Clarifying Meaning

Punctuation enhances readability and clarifies meaning. Apostrophes (‘) demonstrate possession or form contractions, while quotation marks (” “) indicate direct speech or titles of certain works. Parentheses (()) enclose additional information or asides that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

• Apostrophe (‘): Indicates possession (e.g., John’s book) or a contraction (e.g., isn’t).
• Quotation Marks (” “): Enclose direct speech, titles of articles, or specific phrases.

Separating Elements

We use commas, semicolons, and hyphens (-) to separate elements within our sentences. Commas separate items in a list, while hyphens join words to create compound terms and clarify meaning.

• Comma (,): Separates items in a list (e.g., apples, bananas, and cherries).
• Hyphen (-): Joins words or separates syllables (e.g., well-known, co-operate).

Ending Sentences

For ending sentences, we typically employ periods (.), question marks (?), or exclamation marks (!). Periods denote a statement, question marks a query, and exclamation marks an exclamation.

• Period (.): Marks the end of a declarative or imperative sentence.
• Question Mark (?): Indicates a direct question.
• Exclamation Mark (!): Expresses strong emotion or emphasis.

Punctuation Marks | Infographic

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you explain the uses of the main punctuation marks in English with some examples?

Certainly! The main punctuation marks include periods (.), commas (,), question marks (?), exclamation points (!), quotation marks (” “), apostrophes (‘), colons (:), semicolons (;), parentheses (()), dashes (—), hyphens (-), ellipses (…), and brackets ([]). For example, periods signal the end of a sentence, while commas indicate a pause or separate items in a list. Question marks denote a direct question; for instance, “How are you?”

Could you list all punctuation marks typically found in English writing?

In English writing, you will commonly encounter the following punctuation marks: period, comma, exclamation point, question mark, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, parentheses, brackets, braces, apostrophe, quotation marks, and ellipsis.

What’s the difference between commas and periods, and when should each be used?

Commas and periods serve different purposes. A comma creates a brief pause within a sentence, separating elements such as clauses or items in a list, e.g., “We bought apples, oranges, and bananas.” A period indicates the end of a full statement, e.g., “We finished our homework.”

How can I find a resource that helps me practice punctuation through worksheets?

You can find practice worksheets for punctuation on educational websites or through language learning platforms. They often offer exercises with immediate feedback to help you improve your punctuation skills effectively.