End Punctuation: Period, Question Mark, Exclamation Point
When we read, we know a sentence ends when we see specific marks. Typically, these marks are periods, exclamation points, or question marks. While these may seem simple,
End Punctuation
Now that we have reviewed the important role of punctuation in English, let's examine options for ending sentences.
Only three types of punctuation are used at the end of English sentences:
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periods
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question marks
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exclamation points
The Period (aka Full Stop)
Periods indicate a neutral sentence and are, as such, the most common ending punctuation mark. They've been at the end of every sentence on this page so far.
A period goes at the end of a complete sentence that makes a statement or a mild command. Most sentences end in a period. For example:
Heavy rain caused delays on I-5. (statement)
Take a different route to avoid traffic congestion. (mild command)
Periods are also used one other way: after an abbreviation. For example:
Jan. (for January)
Tues. (for Tuesday)
Mr. (for Mister)
Pres. (for President)
abbr. (for abbreviation)
Ch. (for chapter)
Ave. (for Avenue)
ft. (for feet, the unit of measurement)
Note: An abbreviation is a shortening of a word, like "ft." for "feet". An acronym is a new word created from the initials of a longer phrase, like "AIDS" for "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome". Texting shorthand, such as "OMG" and "LOL", are acronyms, not abbreviations. Acronyms do not need periods. Abbreviations do.
The Question Mark
The second most common end punctuation is a question mark. It is used after direct questions but not after indirect questions. A direct question is asking for an answer. An indirect question is not. For example:
Has online enrollment begun? (direct question)
I wonder if online enrollment has begun. (indirect question)
Indirect questions do not have question marks at their ends. They can be used in many of the same ways as declarative ones, but they often emphasize knowledge or lack of knowledge:
I can't guess how Tamika managed it.
I wonder whether I looked that bad.
Cecil asked where the reports were.
Notice the different word order for direct and indirect questions: for direct questions, the verb usually comes before the subject, while for indirect questions, the verb appears second.
Some questions are used principally as polite requests. For example:
Would you pass the salt?
The Exclamation Point
An exclamation point is used after an expression that conveys strong emotions or loud sounds. For example:
I need a break from this job!
Ouch! That hurts!
The exclamation mark is sometimes used in conjunction with the question mark. This can be in protest or astonishment ("Out of all places, here?!").
Informally, exclamation marks may be repeated for additional emphasis ("That's great!!!"), but this practice is generally considered only acceptable in casual or informal writing, such as text messages or online communication with friends and family. Exclamations are used in college or business writing.
Let's watch some explanations and examples of using ending sentence punctuation marks:
The key to end punctuation is to remember to use it! Because many people text or send messages these days, they often forget to use punctuation in more formal situations, like school or the workplace, where it matters.
After learning how to use punctuation marks to end a sentence in English correctly, let's take a look at a few common internal punctuation marks and the role they play within a sentence.
Sources: Gay Monteverde, https://pressbooks.nscc.ca/123write/chapter/5-1-end-punctuation/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Kristin Shelby, https://open.ocolearnok.org/woscenglishcomp/chapter/outcome-punctuation/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Mark O'Meara, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXOkYC_MCQ
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.