Punctuation

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Punctuation provides the missing link between the spoken and the written word: the nuances of speech like timing, pronunciation, added emphasis, highlights, lowlights, questions, exclamations, and quotes. Punctuation helps makes the intended meaning clear by showing readers the relationship between the elements of a written work.

Punctuation helps delineate clauses, sentences, paragraphs, thoughts, bye-lines, quotes, questions and statements. Imagine a written text without punctuation; how difficult it would be. Everything would sound like the toneless computerised voice of an automated phone response routing system.

However, misplaced punctuation can be worse, as it can possibly change the meaning of the text, or at least make it ambiguous—the exact opposite to the purpose and function of punctuation to make the meaning clearer and easier to interpret and understand. Too much or too little punctuation can also cause misunderstanding.

Full stop

Also called the point, period or dot, the full stop (.) is primarily recognised as the punctuation mark that defines the end of a sentence. It should be followed by a single space, and any following sentence usually starts with a capital letter.

Full stop marks are also used as separators: in numbers and currency as the decimal point (for example, $17.50); in numbering headings, subsections and paragraphs in documents (Clause 7.3.2.1); in expressions of time (10.31 am); and in web and email addresses (www.lotechsolutions.com).

The full stop is not used when the sentence is a statement or question ending with an exclamation or question mark respectively, as the stop is included within those marks instead.

Full stops are usually not required or used in: titles, headings; page headers or footers; titles of literature (containing a full stop) when displayed in text mentioning the title; lists that comprise abbreviated, incomplete or part sentences; index entries; symbols for units of measurement; ellipses; and in captions that are incomplete sentences (unless followed by a complete sentence as part of the caption, in which case a full stop is used at the end of every sentence in the caption).

Comma

Semicolon

Colon

Apostrophe

Brackets

Dashes

Hyphenation

Question mark

The question mark (?), or interrogation point, is primarily used to signal a question, and is placed at the end of the query. If this position is at the end of the sentence, the full stop is omitted and the question mark is used to signify the end of the sentence in place of the full stop.

A question mark can also be used to convey doubt or express an unknown. For example: (1958???).

Do not use question marks with: indirect questions; polite requests that seek no verbal response; and with isolated interrogative words in a sentence.

Exclamation mark

The exclamation mark (!), or exclamation point, is used to signal an exclamation, and is placed at the end of the exclamation statement. If this position is at the end of a sentence, the full stop is omitted and the exclamation mark is used to signify the end of the sentence in place of the full stop.

An exclamation mark is used to exclaim emotions such as surprise (for example: "Boo!") , joy ("Hooray!"), disbelief ("I don't believe it!"), dismay ("Oh my!"), indignation ("Never!"), disgust ("Yuk!"), exasperation ("Oh no!"), and protest ("I object!"); and to convey greetings ("Welcome!"), wishes ("Happy Birthday!"), and orders in a commanding like manner ("The House will come to order!"). An exclamation mark is the same as metaphorically making the statements using body language such as with your hands on your hips, arms crossed, arms open, hand out, or whilst stamping your foot!

Quotation marks

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