Practice
Punctuation marks: types and examples
Compare these two messages: Let's eat, Sam. Let's eat Sam. One comma changes the meaning completely. Punctuation helps readers see where an idea begins, pauses, ends, or belongs.
Choose common punctuation marks that show a sentence ending, a pause, a question, possession, or quoted words, and explain the meaning each mark adds.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
punctuation marks /ˌpʌŋktʃuˈeɪʃən mɑrks/
The short answer
Use a period to finish a statement, a question mark to finish a direct question, and an exclamation mark for a strong reaction. Commas separate parts of a sentence. Apostrophes show possession or missing letters. Quotation marks show a person's exact words.
Mina asked, "Are we meeting at six?"
Why it works: The comma introduces Mina's exact words, the quotation marks contain them, and the question mark shows that the quoted words form a question.
5 more examples
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The workshop starts at nine.
The period closes a complete statement.
Not this:Does the workshop start at nine
?What changes: A question mark changes the statement into a direct question. -
After the meeting, we sent the notes to the team.
The comma separates the opening time phrase from the main sentence.
Not this:We sent the notes
after the meeting. What changes: The phrase comes later, so a comma is not needed here. -
Could you check the address?
The question mark shows that the writer expects an answer.
Not this:Please check the address
.What changes: This is a request, not a direct question, so it ends with a period. -
The manager's office is on the second floor.
The apostrophe shows that the office belongs to one manager.
Not this:The
managersare in a meeting. What changes: No apostrophe is needed when the word only means more than one manager. -
Ravi said, "I will send the file tonight."
Quotation marks contain Ravi's exact words.
Not this:Ravi said
that he would sendthe file that night. What changes: This reports the idea, so quotation marks are not needed.
Read the full guide
Read the sentence aloud first. Where does the complete thought stop? Is someone speaking? Are two ideas being separated? The answer usually tells you which punctuation mark you need.
End a complete thought
A complete statement normally ends with a period. A direct question ends with a question mark. Use an exclamation mark only when the writer wants to show a strong feeling, warning, or command. In most work and study writing, periods and question marks do the job clearly.
The train leaves at 7:15.
What time does the train leave? This asks for information, so it needs a question mark.
Which ending mark fits a direct question about a train schedule?
Use a question mark because the writer expects an answer.
Use commas to show the structure
A comma can separate an opening phrase from the main sentence, items in a simple list, or extra information that is not essential to the main point. It gives the reader a useful boundary. Do not place a comma between a subject and its verb just because the subject is long.
Before lunch, I finished the budget notes.
I finished the budget notes before lunch. The same phrase comes after the main clause, so the comma is not needed.
Where does the comma go: After the call we reviewed the plan?
Write After the call, we reviewed the plan. The comma separates the opening phrase.
Separate complete sentences carefully
Two complete sentences need a clear connection. You can use a period. You can also use a comma with a joining word such as and or but. A semicolon can connect two closely related complete sentences, but it is less common in short, everyday writing.
The room was full, so we waited outside.
The room was full. We waited outside. Two short sentences are also clear.
Is this correct: The room was full, we waited outside?
No. Use a period, add a joining word after the comma, or use a semicolon if the two ideas are closely connected.
Use apostrophes for a clear job
An apostrophe can show possession or a contraction. Add apostrophe s to show that one person or thing owns something: the student's notebook. In a contraction, the apostrophe replaces missing letters: don't means do not. It does not make an ordinary plural noun.
The students' projects are on the table.
Students means more than one student. Students' shows that the projects belong to those students.
Which word shows ownership by one teacher: teachers or teacher's?
Use teacher's when one teacher owns or has the thing named next.
Show exact words and useful details
Use quotation marks when you write a person's exact spoken or written words. A colon can introduce a list or an explanation after a complete clause. Parentheses add extra detail, but a plain sentence is often easier to read when the detail is important.
The notice said, "Please keep this door closed."
The notice asked people to keep the door closed. This reports the message instead of quoting it.
Do quotation marks show a speaker's exact words or a summary of those words?
They show exact words. A summary usually does not need quotation marks.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose punctuation by its job. End a statement with a period and a direct question with a question mark. Use commas to organize parts of a sentence, apostrophes for possession or contractions, and quotation marks for exact words. Read the sentence once more to check that each mark helps the reader.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Punctuation marks: types and examples"
What are the most common punctuation marks in English?
Common marks include periods, commas, question marks, exclamation marks, apostrophes, quotation marks, colons, semicolons, parentheses, and hyphens. You do not need to use all of them often. Start with the mark that helps a reader understand the sentence's ending, structure, or meaning.
The workshop starts at nine.
When should I use a comma in a sentence?
Use a comma to separate items in a list, to set off an opening phrase, or before a joining word when it connects two complete sentences. Do not add a comma only because you pause while speaking. Check whether the comma shows a real boundary in the sentence.
Does the workshop start at nine?
What is the difference between an apostrophe and a comma?
A comma separates parts of a sentence. An apostrophe shows possession or missing letters in a contraction. For example, the comma in After lunch, we left separates an opening phrase. The apostrophe in Dana's bag shows that the bag belongs to Dana.
After the meeting, we sent the notes to the team.
Can a comma join two complete sentences?
A comma alone should not join two complete sentences. Use a period, a semicolon, or a comma followed by a joining word such as and, but, or so. This prevents a comma splice and makes the relationship between the ideas easier to understand.
We sent the notes after the meeting.
Where does the question mark go with quotation marks?
Put the question mark inside the quotation marks when the quoted words are a question: She asked, "Are you ready?" Put it outside when the whole sentence is a question about a quotation: Did he write "see you soon" in the message?
Could you check the address?