Apparently English seems to be a very simple and easy to learn language when compared to some extremely difficult one like French and Chinese. But when it comes to English grammar, it is not as easy as it is said to be. There are numerous components of English grammar which must be considered at every step and which actually form the language. One such component is punctuation.
The punctuation comprises of 14 different marks that are used at very specific places in a sentence of English language and they add more meaning and clarity to that sentence. These marks are known as punctuation marks and they include:
1. Period
A period indicates the end of a sentence and is denoted by a full stop. It also accompanies abbreviations and is used at their end.
2. Comma
A comma separates ideas or elements of the same nature in a single sentence. It is also used after closing or salutation in letters etc.
3. Colon
A colon is used before giving examples and quotations or between independent clauses.
4. Semi colon
The use of semicolon in English language punctuation is for the connection of two independent clauses.
5. Exclamation point
To add emphasis in a sentence or show emotion, the exclamation point is used after a specific word or sentence.
A question mark at the end of a sentence indicates its inquiring nature and asks a direct question from the reader.
7. Dash
A dash is used to separate words into statements
8. Hyphen
When two or more compound words are joined together to form a compound word, a hyphen is used.
9. Brackets
Square notations used for explanations or meaning clarifications are called brackets.
10. Braces
When two lines of text are supposed to be connected together, braces are employed.
11. Apostrophe
To indicate omission of a letter from a word or to indicate possession of one thing to another, an apostrophe is used in a sentence.
12. Quotation mark
Quotation marks are inverted commas used to indicate the repeated words used in a sentence.
13. Ellipses
The three commas used in sentences that represent the omission of some words or letters from the sentence.
14. Parenthesis
Curved notations that indicate that the information given is further explanation of the previous facts are called parenthesis.
All these fourteen punctuation marks are responsible for the formation of a sentence and without them it is extremely difficult for the reader to understand the meaning of what is written.
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