Punctuation: End Marks

Last week we covered the importance of understanding and using correct punctuation. Today we will begin discussing the most frequently used punctuation marks. Although these marks are frequently used, our teachers at Nomen Global still see some confusion among students of all levels. Here is a brief rundown of the three end punctuation marks: the period (.), the question mark(?), and the exclamation mark(!).

Period
The period is used after a sentence that is simply making a statement.
        I read four books this month.
        Jason forgot his homework.
        Annie bought a new car.

Question Mark
The question mark is used after a sentence that asks a question. This mark is most often seen in direct quotations.
        He asked, "May I leave class early?"

However, after an indirect quotation, a period is used.
        He asked if he could leave class early.

Exclamation Mark
The exclamation mark is used after a sentence that is expressed with strong emotions.
        I burned my finger!
        Look! James is winning the race!
        You lied!

Another Note
The end punctuation marks always come at the end of a sentence. We know that combinations of independent and dependent clauses create a complete sentence. The final punctuation mark will always come immediately following the last word in the sentence.
        I ate a banana for breakfast.
        Did you go the party?
        This apple pie is delicious!

*NOT*
        I ate a banana for breakfast  .
        Did you go the party  ?
        This apple pie is delicious  !



For additional practice on terminal punctuation, click here.

To learn more about punctuation and how to use it, visit us at Nomen Global.