Punctuation Marks: The Complete List, Meanings & Rules (With Examples)

Symbols that are used by the writers in their write up to clarify meaning, show pauses and set tone in written language are Punctuation marks. And there are 14 important and commonly taught punctuation marks that are very crucial for every writer to learn and remember. The list of marks that needs to be remembered by each and everyone are: period, comma, question mark, exclamation point, colon, semicolon, apostrophe, quotation marks, parentheses, brackets, braces, hyphen, dash, and ellipsis. 

Keep reading this guide to get understanding of each of them, about important rules and also get a free bonus list of rare punctuation marks that you might have never seen and heard about. Use clear examples and easy tables here for fluent writing rules; whether you're a student editing the quality of your essay or a writer wanting to enhance the quality of your writing.

What Are Punctuation Marks? (Quick Definition)

Those who are wondering what are punctuation marks need not to worry as they are the necessary symbols used by writers in their text to separate different ideas, provide meaning, and pace or tone of their content. In spoken conversation such things are identified by the audience from the voice, pauses and body language of the speaker. 

Sentence becomes meaning less and confusing when these symbols are not used properly by the writer. Here is a example to make things easier for you “Come let’s eat, Grandma” and “Come let’s eat Grandma”. The only difference in both of them is of comma. But the meaning changes completely one asks the Grandma to come and eat and the other feels like horror sentence.

This single comma tells that one is inviting the other and the second one tells unfortunately what’s on the menu today. The above example shows that clear meaning and importance of such marks as they help to tell readers the intention of the writer. 

The Complete List of Punctuation Marks (At-a-Glance Table)

Before we talk about the categories it is important for one to know about the different types of punctuation symbols, their use and examples to make the things easier and clearer for you. 

Your writing can be clear and your intended message can be delivered by keeping in mind the above mentioned symbols. Use them effectively to deliver your message to your audience.

Punctuation Marks by Category

When you follow the rules and sort punctuation by function, they'll be much easier to remember than if you had a list. We have categorized all the marks below into five categories of practical use; marks ending sentences, marks that can be used within a sentence, marks that enclose additional information, marks that are used at the word level and omission and other punctuation symbols used in place.

Sentence-Ending Punctuation

A full sentence is closed in English writing by using these three symbols in the content.

• Period (.): Declarative or imperative sentences are ended by using them. Example: Close the window.
• Question Mark (?): It is used to end a direct question. Example: Have you closed the window?
• Exclamation Point (!): Sentence that showcases strong emotions, surprise and urgent things are ended with this symbol. Example: Close the window now!

Ideas can be expressed clearly and proper communication can be establishd by you by having the correct knowledge of these sentence ending punctuation symbols. 

Punctuation Within a Sentence

Ideas are clearly organized, clauses are separated properly and pacing inside a single sentence is controlled using these symbols. 

• Comma (,): List of items, clauses and introductory phrases are separated using this mark. Example: We will go on a walk, after dinner.
• Semicolon (;): Without the help of conjunction two closely related independent clauses are connected using semicolon. Example: She arrived late; it was raining outside.
• Colon (:): This symbol is used to provide introduction for list and explanation. Example: Make sure to bring: pen, paper and ID card. 

By learning these marks, one can easily edit sentences to build clear and orderly sentences that are easy to read and flow with ideas.

Enclosing Punctuation

There are pairs of these marks and they take "wrap around" marks around additional or quoted material.

• Quotation Marks (" "): Exact quoted words said by someone or a direct speech are enclosed using this.
• Parentheses ( ): Information that is not so important in reference to the main sentence is written in these marks.
• Brackets [ ]: In someone else’s quote a clarifying word is added using this.
• Braces { }: In technical, maths and coding contents such symbol is used for group related items.

Your message reaches to your audience without confusing them by using these marks correctly in your own write up.

Word-Level Punctuation

These symbols are used at the level of words of individual and not on whole clauses.

• Apostrophe ('): Possession (Maria's car) or forms (it's) is shown and formed using this mark. 
• Hyphen (-): Compound words or parts of words are joined together using this. Example: self-esteem, twenty-one.

Your writing improves, accuracy is achieved and your meaning of the sentence is refined by using these punctuation symbols correctly in your writing.

Omission & Alternative Punctuation

They indicate missing parts or are stylistic variants of more familiar punctuation.

• Ellipsis (...): Omitted words and unfinished thoughts are shown using this.
• Dash (— or –): Em dash is used marka dramatic break and en dash is used for showing a range.

When you're writing out an essay and need someone else to tell you if you followed all the rules up to that point, you can get an advantage from our professional Essay Writing Help to see where you may have foiled up on writing the rules correctly.

Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside Quotation Marks? (US vs. UK Rules)

This is by far the most bewildering rule in English punctuation for writers; but the solution is actually contingent on the style of English with which you write.

In American spelling, the rule is very straightforward: commas and points [. or :] always go inside the quotation marks, regardless of the letters' order in a sentence. Still wondering does punctuation go inside quotation marks in US rule? Then the answer to this Yes. Periods and commas are always inside and on outside it is colons and semicolons.

In British English, the rule is more sensible than that: Only punctuation mark inside the quotation marks is part of the quotation itself. Otherwise, it stays outside. Having a query does the punctuation go inside the quotation marks in the UK? Then answer to this depends on what is being quoted by you.

Logic of sentence is being followed in both the styles by question marks and exclamation points. The mark goes inside when material quoted is question and it goes outside when the entire sentence is question. So those who are wondering does punctuation go inside or outside quotation marks needs to remember that it is largely dependent on the the factor that what is being asked or exclaimed and not on the country guide followed by you. 

Common Punctuation Mistakes to Avoid

Works of confident writers can also be sometimes not deliver the exact meaning that they want because of the little errors mentioned below made by them. Below are the some common errors along with their fixes that you need to avoid to make your content better and best.

• Comma splices: Making use of only comma to join two full long sentences. You can avoid this by using period, semicolon and conjunction.

• Apostrophe confusion: Mixing up its (possessive) and it's (it is). You can avoid this by saying the full word It is loudly. 

• Overusing exclamation points: Making unnecessary use of ! symbol multiple times in every sentence. Avoid this by using it only where it is required and important.

• Misplaced commas in lists: Creating uncertainty and not remembering Oxford comma. You can overcome this by using comma before and in the sentence where there is list of items.

• Hyphen vs. dash mix-ups: It is one of most common mistakes. Writers use hyphen where it was crucial to use dash and vice versa. Keep in mind that words are joined using hyphen and ideas are separated using dashes.

• Random capitalization after a colon: When a colon does not introduce a new sentence and a word that follows is capitalized. If it is followed by a complete and independent sentence, then capitalise; otherwise, do not.

If you continue to receive the same mistakes circled in red, you may want to get some feedback on your draft – our Do My Assignment service offers writing assistance along with careful proofreading, so your crucial marks are not deducted.

Uncommon & Rare Punctuation Marks You Might Not Know

Apart from the above discussed 14 standard symbols or marks in English there are some more uncommon punctuation marks that are not known by larger audience. These rare punctuation marks are not taught widely but they are visually compelling and are important to be known and remembered by the writers. 
 

These symbols rarely appear in school essays or any other text but having the knowledge of these can help you improve and enhance your writing.

Free Punctuation Marks Chart (Downloadable/Printable Reference)

For easier study or teaching of these rules, consider having this simplified printable rules reference close at hand. Print it, save it or pin it above your desk as a reminder!

Free Punctuation Marks Chart

Quick Symbol Lookup: What Does This Symbol Mean?

There are times when the only thing you want to know about a particular character you've encountered in one of the sentences. There is a one line explanation for every punctuation mark in this lookup table.

This table can be used by you as a handy reference to look at the meaning of some important symbols that you are not aware about. 

Bonus: Common Symbols People Also Search For

Some keyboard characters are not technically a part of the punctuation group but new users of the keyboard will refer to them frequently - typically as they make note of them in an e-mail, or recall them from a username or a coding “tutorial”. If you got misdirected because you heard one of these terms, here they are explained:

Note that these symbols create a better way to communicate and understand, and it is good to know what these symbols (and their variations) mean in different contexts.

Conclusion

You might have thought that Punctuation are small details. But we have clearly seen above that they can completely change the meaning of sentence. Your writing becomes clear and easy to understand when you know about the 14 commonly used and some rarely used punctuation marks. So save this guide and keep the charts and pdf’s handy to enhance your writing and to deliver your intended message to your targeted audience.