14 Punctuation Marks and Their Uses and Examples! While there are only fourteen punctuation marks in English Grammar, they each serve a very important purpose. In order to write correctly, it is essential to use these marks in the correct way and in the correct places. For example, the period is used to mark the end of a sentence, while the comma is used to indicate a pause or break. The semicolon is used to join two closely related independent clauses, while the colon is used to introduce a list or specify a ratio. Each of these punctuation marks has a specific use and understanding when and how to use them is essential for proper writing. While some of these marks may seem confusing at first, with a little practice it will become second nature to use them correctly.
14 Punctuation Marks and Their Uses And Examples
1- Period (.)
The period (.) is used to mark the end of a sentence.
Examples:
I have a dog.
The sky is blue.
2- Question Mark (?)
The question mark (?) is used to mark the end of a question.
Examples:
Do you have a dog?
What is your name?
3- Exclamation Point (!)
The exclamation point (!) is used to show strong emotion or make a statement.
Examples:
No, I don’t have a dog!
Watch out for the car!
4- Comma (,)
The comma (,) is used to separate ideas or items in a list.
Examples:
I have a cat, a dog, and a rabbit.
5- Semicolon (;)
The semicolon (;) is used to join two closely related ideas or items in a list.
Examples:
I have a cat; I have a dog; and I have a rabbit.
6- Colon (:)
The colon (:) is used to introduce a list or quote someone directly.
Examples:
I have three pets: a cat, a dog, and a rabbit.
7- Dash ( – )
The dash (–) is used to separate phrases and add emphasis.
Examples:
I have two dogs – a golden retriever and a labrador retriever.
8- Parentheses (())
The parentheses (()) are used in parenthetical remarks.
Examples:
I have two dogs – a golden retriever and a labrador retriever (my favorite dog).
9- Hyphen (-)
The hyphen (-) is used to divide words, whether they are spelled as one word or two words.
Examples:
The word “golden” is spelled as one word.
The word “labrador” is usually spelled as two words.
10- Apostrophe (’)
The apostrophe (’) is used to show possession.
Examples:
This is my dog’s bone.
That is your cat’s litter box.
11- Ellipsis (…)
The ellipsis (…) is used to show a pause or trailing off of thought.
Examples:
I was going to the store… but then I remembered that I didn’t have any money.
12- Quotation Marks (“ ”)
The quotation marks (“ ”) are used to set apart direct quotes.
Examples:
He said, “I am going to the store.”
Note: We use quotation marks to set apart direct quotes.
13- Brackets [ ]
The brackets ([ ]) are used in parenthetical remarks.
Examples:
I have two dogs – a golden retriever and a labrador retriever (my favorite dog).
Note: We use brackets in parenthetical remarks.
Note: We use brackets in parenthetical remarks.
14- Braces ({ })
The braces ({ }) are used in parenthetical remarks.
Examples:
I have two dogs – a golden retriever and a labrador retriever {my favorite dog}.
Note: We use braces in parenthetical remarks.
