There are fourteen punctuation marks used regularly in the English language. Punctuation marks are visual cues in our language that accomplish four primary things in writing:
- clarify text by breaking up sentences and paragraphs in a digestible manner;
- give rhythm and variety to text to make it more enjoyable to read;
- assist in combining complex thoughts that make logical links; and
- assist the reader in understanding tone, humor, irony, and emphasis.
Learn the rules of the fourteen punctuation marks–and then integrate all fourteen into your writing regularly–and you’ll see worlds of improvements and possibilities in your writing and communication.
Apostrophes
Apostrophes are tools we use in English primarily to show possession. But there are a few other reasons why we use them as well. Check below to see the seven different ways we use apostrophes.
Brackets
Brackets are used to modify direct quotes for clarity or minor adjustments in grammar. Brackets also let authors insert commentary in the middle of someone’s quote and they allow writers to place parenthetical references inside of another parenthetical reference.
Colons
Colons have several uses in English, often separating content or introducing information. We also use colons to designate time, show rations, and depict dialogue in plays and scripts.
Commas
Commas are the most complex punctuation mark, used at least fourteen different ways. Commas help create rhythm and clarity in writing, giving writers the ability to separate ideas and diversify sentence structures.
Ellipses
Ellipses are handy devices that tell readers that text is missing. This is helpful as a writer if you’re quoting someone but need to omit some of the words to condense the text while ethically letting your readers know that parts have been left out. Ellipses also allow writers to effectively show someone trailing off in speech or being cut off, something that happens in normal conversation, but is otherwise difficult to show in writing.
Em Dashes
Em dashes allow for sophisticated and creative approaches to writing, giving the writer unique abilities to add emphasis, clarify information, and interrupt thoughts right in the middle of a sentence! While correct use of em dashes can add variety and intrigue to writing, overuse em dashes can sound informal and can also be distracting for readers. Use em dashes for strategic rhetorical effect but use them sparingly.
En Dashes
En dashes are probably the least known and most misunderstood punctuation mark. They are longer than a hyphen yet shorter than an em dash and they really only serve one purpose: to indicate a period of time. While their use may seem subtle, using them correctly can show an acute awareness of how visual use of punctuation affects how people read information.
Exclamation Marks
Exclamation marks (also known as exclamation “points” in American English) help clarify emotion or emphasis. While their interpretation is nuanced, exclamation marks help declare a dramatic declaration that feels more emphatic than a sentence ending in a simple period. In order to really make the emotion work, it’s best to limit exclamation marks to a maximum of one or two per document.
Hyphens
Hyphens are incredibly helpful for clarifying meaning. Notice, for example, the difference in meaning between these two phrases: “hot water bottle” and “hot-water bottle.” In the first phrase, there is a bottle that is physically hot to the touch. In the second phrase, it’s a bottle that holds hot water. How can a reader know the difference? With the hyphen! Use hyphens to create compound adjectives, write two-digit numbers, attached prefixes, and connect words and numbers in other ways. If you want to be a good communicator, you must know how the hyphen works!
Parentheses
Parentheses are valuable writing tools; they allow writers to insert added detail within a sentence, clarify a writer’s thinking, or include citations to avoid plagiarism. It’s important to know how to use parentheses—especially for citation purposes!—but you won’t want to overuse parentheses for the purposes of inserting added detail. Be strategic about when and why you include them.
Periods
Periods (also known as “full stops” or “full points”) are probably the most recognizable and widely used punctuation mark. Their primary and most common purpose is to end a sentence. But periods can (and should!) be used for a variety of other purposes as well, including creating acronyms and abbreviations.
Question Marks
Question marks are easily recognized has the icon that turns a statement into a question. You may be interested to know, however, that while question marks typically fall at the end of a sentence, they can sometimes be used mid-setence.
Quotation Marks
Quotation marks are most commonly used to signify direct quotes. However, they also have a unique quality in that they can communicate sarcasm or snarkiness. They can also draw attention to words being described as words and they distinguish a short media piece from its larger container. Good writers need to be very proficient in the use of quotation marks; used incorrectly they can cause confusion or even plagiarism.
Semicolons
Semicolons are often seen as a strange and mysterious punctuation mark; they’re part period and part comma. So why use them? They’re useful to break up the stylistic approach to sentence structure, allowing writers to combine two related thoughts, often removing a word or two in the process. They’re also important for clarity purposes when too many commas start being used—the semicolon can create more obvious visual separation between complex list items or items that use commas between them (like cities and states).