Using End Marks
What are end marks?
Periods
Sentences
Abbreviations
Question marks
Exclamation points
Review A
Review B
What are end marks?
How difficult is this paragraph to read?
have
Have you
you ever
ever thought
thought you
you were
were dreaming
dreaming but but woke
woke
up to find that the dream was really happening?one One
morning
morning last
last week
week,IIdreamed
dreamedthat thatIIwas
wasswimming
swimming.
when
WhenIIfinally
finallywoke
wokeupupI, realized
I realizedthat
thata apipe
pipehad
had
burst water was pouring through the ceiling what a
burst; water was pouring through the ceiling. What a
mess it made
mess it made!
You can figure it out, of course. But without
punctuation and capital letters, it’s not as easy to
read.
What are end marks?
End marks—periods, question marks, and
exclamation points—are punctuation marks that
tell the reader where a sentence ends. Where
you place end marks can change the meaning of
a sentence.
I’ll be up late tomorrow I have a big test
I’ll be up late tomorrow. I have a big test.
I’ll be up late. Tomorrow I have a big test.
What are end marks?
End marks also indicate the purpose of a
sentence.
Statement I finished my paper last night.
Question Did you finish your paper last
night?
Exclamation I finally finished that paper!
Command Hurry up and finish that paper!
Request Please finish the paper today.
What are end marks?
When you speak, you can make your meaning
clear by
• the tone and pitch of your
voice
• the pauses in your speech
• your gestures and expressions
When you write, however, you use end marks
and other punctuation to help the reader
understand your meaning.
[End of Section]
Periods
The period is the most common end mark.
Periods are used to end
• statements
• indirect questions
• requests and mild commands
Also, we use a period after most abbreviations.
Periods
Sentences
A statement ends with a period.
My sister has a new car.
I didn’t enjoy the movie.
Statements are also called declarative sentences.
Periods
Sentences
An indirect question ends with a period.
An indirect question does not use a speaker’s
exact words. An indirect question is a type of
statement.
I wondered what plant
Indirect question
grows that fast.
What plant grows that
Direct question
fast?
Periods
Sentences
A request or a mild command ends with a
period.
Request Please bring me a glass of water.
Command Put it on the table in the kitchen.
Requests and commands
are imperative sentences.
Periods
Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a shortened version of a word
or word group.
Periods are used in abbreviations of
• personal names
• titles
• geographical terms
• time
• units of measurement
Periods
Abbreviations
Personal names
Some people are known by their initials.
J. K. Rowling W.E.B. DuBois
Two initials: Put a Three initials: No
space between the spaces between the
initials. initials.
Abbreviate a person’s name only if the person is
known by that abbreviation.
President
President
John
J. F.F.Kennedy
Kennedy
Periods
Abbreviations
Titles
Abbreviate social titles Dr. Sara Michaels
before the full name or
before the last name alone. Mr. Alonzo
Abbreviate civil and military titles if used before
the full name (or initials and last name). Spell
out if used before the last name only.
Sen. John Smith Senator Smith
Prof. E. Q. Jones Professor Jones
Periods
Abbreviations
Titles
Abbreviate titles and academic degrees that follow
proper names.
Marcus Williams, Jr.
Sara Michaels, M.D.
E. Q. Jones, Ph.D.
Periods
Abbreviations
Geographical terms
When you abbreviate a state, capitalize both
letters, and do not use periods. Abbreviate names
of states and political units only in tables, notes,
and bibliographies. Spell them out in text.
Galveston, TX Orlando, FL
Malibu, CA Cape Cod, MA
They live in Galveston, Texas, near the beach.
Periods
Abbreviations
Geographical terms
You may abbreviate addresses in letters and on
envelopes. Spell out every word of an address
in text.
Envelope 41 W. Maple St.
Text We live at 41 West Maple Street.
Periods
Abbreviations
Time
Abbreviate common era designations.
Anno domini, Latin for “in the year
A.D. 1492 = of our Lord”
or
Common Era (sometimes used in
1200 C.E. = place of A.D.)
1200 B.C. = Before Christ
or
1200 B.C.E. = Before Common Era (sometimes
used in place of B.C.)
Periods
Abbreviations
Time
You may abbreviate names of
months and days in tables, notes,
and bibliographies.
Note Thurs., Mar. 21
In text, spell out the names of
months and days.
Text The meeting took place
on Thursday, March 21.
Periods
Abbreviations
Time
Abbreviate the designations for the
two halves of the day measured by
clock time.
8:30 A.M. 6:00 P.M.
ante meridiem, Latin phrase
A.M. = meaning “before noon”
post meridiem, Latin phrase
P.M. = meaning “after noon”
Periods
Abbreviations
Units of measurement
Abbreviations for units of measurement are usually
written without periods.
millimeter mm pound lb
yard yd teaspoon tsp
Use a period with the abbreviation for inch (in.)
to prevent confusing it with the word in.
inch in.
Periods
On Your Own
Add periods where needed in the following sentences.
1. Dr Falcon will be in his office this morning
2. I wonder who left that jacket here
3. Does that movie end by 9:45 PM?
4. Franklin D Roosevelt was the president at that time
5. All of my friends enjoy hiking
[End of Section]
Question marks
A direct question ends with a question mark.
Are you almost ready to leave?
Why don’t you ask her?
How did you do that problem?
Questions are also called interrogative sentences.
Question marks
Sometimes a direct question has the same word
order as a statement.
Statement You’re not ready to leave yet.
Question You’re not ready to leave yet?
This form of question is common in speaking (and
in written dialogue). In formal writing, you should
avoid writing questions in this way.
Exclamation points
An exclamation ends with an exclamation point.
We won the championship!
That bug is huge!
Exclamations are also called exclamatory
sentences.
Exclamation points
A strong command ends with an exclamation
point.
Sit down right now!
Watch out!
Commands and requests are imperative
sentences.
Exclamation points
An interjection is often followed by an
exclamation point.
Ouch! That rose has sharp thorns!
Sometimes, an interjection is followed
by a comma rather than an exclamation
point.
Oh, I really don’t know.
Question marks and exclamation points
On Your Own
Add question marks or exclamation points, as appropriate,
to the following sentences.
1. Would you please play this game with me
2. That’s the silliest idea I’ve ever heard
3. He’s not still driving that car, is he
4. I nearly ran over that dog Yikes
5. Answer me right now
[End of Section]
Review A
In the following sentences, add or replace end marks as
needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
1. I read an article about snakes?
2. Can you tell me the way to the park!
3. She asked whether the student was named Phil.
4. The author of the book was born in Wisconsin
5. Wow. What a great shot that was
[End of Section]
Review B
Add end marks as needed in the following sentences.
1. How exciting your trip must have been
2. Please turn out the light when you leave the room
3. Mr Watson, what is the best way to hard-boil an egg
4. The students were listening closely to the guest
speaker, Elizabeth B Brown, MD
5. Everyone wondered why he always arrived late
[End of Section]
The End
