Introduction to Punctuation

Introduction to Punctuation: Uttering words from our mouths is not communication. It is only a facet of it. Communication is an art, and only a few people are truly able to grasp its beauty. It includes signs we might indirectly convey, i.e. body language. Many people consider it to be a more powerful medium of communication. Where we stop, the words we focus on, our expressions, they all contribute to body language.

However, you cannot use body language when you write. And yet, many people manage to convey their feelings beautifully through this medium. In written form, proper Punctuation plays the part of body language and helps empower our emotions. The play of words, the pauses, the exclamations, and the introspection what constitutes this.

Here, we’ll familiarise ourselves with the various types of punctuation marks that are used in the English language. They all serve a different purpose, and their correct use can enhance the meaning of a sentence. Not only do they give your words more substance, but they also give it the kind of depth that can only be conveyed verbally. We’ll take a short tour of all these punctuation marks and their use in the written form of communication. We’ll break them down for you to understand and leave no room for doubt.

Introduction to Punctuation: Seven Types

Comma

The most common and overlooked punctuation mark. Their usage can change the whole look and the meaning of a sentence. Proper usage can help you convey your message accurately, while improper use will leave the reader confused. As an example, look at the statement below:

• Let’s drink Higoro

• Let’s drink, Higoro

While the former means someone wants to drink Higoro, the latter is the right one, and we can see that Higoro gets an invitation for drinks.

Exclamation Mark

Exclamation Mark is used to convey strong emotions or feelings. That can be joy, anger, sadness, and many more. As an example, look at the statements below:

• Come down right now!

• The sky is so beautiful!

• Believe me!

Full Stop

Full Stop is a simple dot that is used to end sentences. It is used when you have completed one statement and want to move on to another. Check out these examples:

• I do not like John at all.

• Your room is very well kept.

• I’ll go to the market and get something to eat.

Apostrophe

Its usage can be tricky, but it is used when you want to give ownership of an object to the subject. As an example, check out these statements:

• That is Yomue’s test paper.

• What are you doing with Shiina’s car?

Here we can see that ownership of the object is given to the subject, and the apostrophe is used.

Capital Letters

Whenever you start a sentence, you need to start it with capital letters. However, there are some exceptional cases like titles, months, celestial objects, and many others, where you have to use Capital letters even in the middle of the sentence. Check out these examples:

• Are you ready for Christmas?

• I’ll be going to London soon.

Question Marks

As the name suggests, Question Mark is used when we mean to ask questions. Whether you seek an answer or an elaboration, a question mark is used. As an example, check out these sentences:

• Will you be leaving tomorrow?

• Will you be alright?

Quotation Marks

Quotation Marks are used to represent the words in the original form someone has said them. It is also used to convey that a particular line belongs to someone else. Let us check out a few examples:

• “You shall not pass.”, the old man thundered.

• Yuki asked him, “What exactly are you doing?”

Conclusion

Punctuations are an essential and vital part of written communication, and introduction to Punctuation helps you to understand their correct usage in the sentence. To grasp the knowledge of Punctuation, re-read the content you write and try to check whether you are using Punctuation in the right way or not because this is the most common mistake we all made sometimes. You will be surprised to see the results. It is a fun experiment that everyone must try.