The information below provides an overview of the most commonly used punctuation marks in English, with two key points which you should remember in each case.


. Full stop: Marks the end of a sentence


1. When typing, a space should be left after a full stop. 2. Can sometimes be used after people’s initials (e.g., T.S. Eliot), in abbreviations (e.g., Mon. Tues.) and in abbreviations (e.g., U.S.S.R.).


? Question mark: Shows that a sentence is a question


1. Should only be used for direct, rather than indirect questions. 2. They should never be used more than once in a sentence. (The following are both wrong: Don’t you like tea??? and ¿Don’t you like tea?)


! Exclamation mark: Says a sentence is surprising or interesting


1. Not very common in formal English (e.g., essays/business letters). 2. Never use more than one in a sentence unless the text is very informal (e.g., email to friend). , Comma: Divides a sentence into smaller units


1. A comma in writing is similar to a pause in speaking. Commas are commonly used to separate items in a list.


2. Commas separate clauses, not sentences. ; Semicolon: Shows that two parts of a sentence are closely related


1. Often followed by a linking device which shows the close relationship between the sentences (e.g., however, therefore, in other words).


2. Semicolons are more like a full stop than a comma. : Colon: Shows that two parts of a sentence are connected


1. Colons show relationships such as explanations, reasons and definitions. 2. Colons also commonly indicate lists or series. ’ Apostrophe: Indicates possession or missing letters


1. Adding ’s is the normal way of indicating possession in English. Only add an apostrophe if there is possession, not just if the word ends in -s (e.g., a plural form).


2. Can’t, isn’t, etc., are found in informal English. In formal English, use full forms (e.g., cannot, is not).


- Hyphen: Joins two words or syllables together


1. The purpose of hyphens is to clarify meaning and avoid confusion. 2. They are most commonly used to form compound nouns and adjectives (e.g., Secretary- General, world-famous). They also form the numbers between 21 (twenty-one) and 99 (ninety-nine).


/ Slash: Presents a choice of alternatives


1. Generally there is no space before or after the slash (e.g., Dear Sir/Madam). 2. Used in well-known abbreviations (e.g., Tell me your bank a/c [= account] number; I’ll send it c/o [= care of] Jim).


. . . Ellipsis: Denotes missing information


1. The major use is in quotations, to indicate where less relevant detail has been cut. 2. Can be used at the end of a sentence to imply ‘there is more’. ‘ ’ or “ ” Quotation marks: Signify the exact words that somebody has said or written


1. The choice between double (“ ”) and single (‘ ’) quotation marks is generally a matter of preference or style.


2. Quotation marks can also be used around the title or name of something. ( ) or [ ] or { } Brackets: Provide extra, non-essential information


1. Often used for definitions, particularly with abbreviations. 2. Used when the number of something is not known – e.g., Can I have your phone number(s)?


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