SHS 1 ENG Lesson Note 35
Welcome to English for SHS 1
Form One Notes
Lesson 35
Punctuation
Topic: End Punctuation Marks
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- say the importance of punctuation marks.
- say the uses of each of the end punctuation marks.
- use the period, the question mark, and the exclamation point appropriately in writing.
- observe the end punctuation marks when reading.
What is punctuation?
The word punctuation comes from Latin and it primarily refers to the practice of putting points among words. Some of the points are the full stop (.), the question mark (?), the exclamation mark (!), the comma (,), and the semicolon (;). So, punctuation splits words up into groups to show how the words are to be understood. The various punctuation marks constitute one set of tools for writing. The practice of putting points among word is an art. And the art of punctuation lies in putting the points in the correct places. When you have adequate knowledge of the use of punctuation marks, your mechanical errors will surely reduce.
The purpose of punctuation
The purpose of using punctuation marks is to show the reader how sentences and parts of sentences are to be understood. In oral communication, you usually do not have difficulty in making yourself understood and in understanding other speakers. This is because the spoken form of language has many resources for clarifying meaning. Some of these resources are stress, pitch, pause , facial expression, and gestures. Did you know that facial expression and gestures, for example, convey meaning? These resources are such that you use them almost subconsciously and automatically every day. I mean, sometimes you use these resources without noticing the meaning they convey.
Written language, however, does not have so many ways for conveying meaning. But one of the ways by which written language establishes clear meaning is through a system of devices grouped under the general heading punctuation. This system of devices approximates the resources of the spoken language. To understand how punctuation approximates the spoken language, pay particular attention to this and the next lesson on punctuation. Though the devices of punctuation are not as accurate as the resources of speech, you must master them if you want to express yourself clearly in writing.
So, the purpose of punctuation is to show the reader how sentences and parts of sentences are related. As mentioned earlier, in conversation, speakers have many resources for showing such relations. For example, a change in facial expression or in the pitch of voice can convey certain massages. But in writing, the resources are less numerous and the writer must use them with accuracy if the reader is not to be confused.
What happens when we do not punctuate what we write ?
When you do not include punctuation marks in your writing, your reader (perhaps your examiner) would be presented with a continuous stream of words and the process of reading what you have written would be slow, laborious and very dull. In addition, you would not be able to show your reader how you wanted your words to be understood.
The main categories of punctuation marks used in English
Types of punctuation
There are two main types of punctuation marks. These are terminal punctuation and internal punctuation.
Terminal punctuation
Terminal punctuation marks are those that bring an entity such as a sentence or an abbreviation to an end. There are three terminal punctuation marks used in English.
- The period (.)
- The question mark (?)
- The exclamation point (!)
Have you noticed that the period (.), the question mark (?), and the exclamation (!) point all have one thing in common: they are used to end a sentence? Because of this common function that they have, these three punctuation marks are sometimes called end punctuation. So, the three terminal punctuation marks are also known as end punctuation marks.
The punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence depends on the purpose of the sentence.A sentence can be declarative, interrogative, imperative or exclamatory. Each of these four sentence patterns has its own end punctuation mark associated with it, as you will see later in this lesson.
The Period (.)
The period is described as the mark of abruption and disjunction. It is used at the end of all sentences that are not questions or exclamations. It is also put at the end of all separate group of words even though they are not sentences. The following are the major uses of the period.
Uses of the Period
- Use a period at the end of a declarative sentence. A declarative sentences is also called a statement. A declarative sentence presents information. For example:
- Accra is becoming a big village.
- Akua got all the answers correct.
iii. Teye bought a new textbook yesterday.
- Ghana was declared a republican nation in 1960.
- Use a period to end a mild imperative sentence. A mild imperative sentence makes a request, or provides instruction. For example:
- Please pass the salt. ii. Please follow me.
iii. Please close the door as you leave.
- Turn left at the traffic light and walk straight into the shop.
- Use a period at the end of an indirect question. An indirect question tells the reader what was ask in an earlier question. For example:
- Ama inquired if I was ill.
- She asked whether I had money.
iii. She also asked whether I had eaten.
- But I wonder whether you care about me
- Use a period at the end of a simple request that is expressed in a form of a question for the sake of curtsey. For example:
- Will you join me in my car.
- Could you please pass the salt.
iii. Would you tell the doctor that I am waiting.
- Use a period after each initial in a proper noun and after most abbreviations. For example:
J. J. Rawlings J.H.S. | J. A. Kuffour B.E.C.E. | J. D. Mahama S.H.S. | |
B.A. | B.Ed. | B.Sc. | |
M.A. Ph.D. | M.Ed. Ed.D. | M.Sc. LL.D. | M.Phil. D.Phil. |
It is important to observe the basic difference between initials and abbreviations. Initials in names occur with spaces between letters but abbreviations occur without spaces between letters.
Also observe that abbreviations occurring after proper names are usually separated from the name by a comma. For example:
Pearl Amanatey, Ph.D
Finally, remember that if the abbreviation occurs at the end of a sentence, you do not use a second period. For example:
Yaa Serwaa arrived at the office at 6:30 a.m.
- Use the period as a decimal point. For example:
- Ama’s temperature was 37.5 degrees Celsius. ii. 96.5 percent of the class obtained grade „A‟. iii. The book costs GH¢4.50 only.
- Use three periods to indicate ellipses. You may often wish to cite a quotation – but not all of it. In such cases you must indicate what has been deleted by using points of ellipses – a series of three dots. For example:
John Donne once said, “Any man’s death diminishes me, … and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
You will learn more about ellipses in our lesson on internal punctuation.
The Question Mark (?)
The main use to which the question mark is put is to show that the words which precede it are in a form of a question. Usually, The order of words itself in an interrogative sentence will often show when a question is being asked. However, it is important to note that, sometimes, the mere placing of a question mark after words automatically transforms a statement into a question.
Uses of the question mark
- Use a question mark at the end of a direct question. A direct question is known as an interrogative sentence. An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark (?). For example:
- Is Amain the room?
- Are the boysready to learn?
iii. How soon will you finish this work ?
- Use a question mark after elliptical questions in a series. For example:
- Have you seen Dede? Or Musah? Or Araba?
- What did you do with your books? Your papers? Your pen?
iii. Was it approved by the house captain? The housemaster? The senior housemaster?
- Use a question mark, enclosed in parenthesis, to express uncertainty or doubt. For example:
- Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in 1340(?). ii. William Kidd lived between 1645(?) and 1701.
Alternatively, the question mark (?) may be place immediately before the year you are uncertain about. For example:
- Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in (?)1340.
- William Kidd lived between (?)1645 and 1701.
The question mark shows that you have searched for a particular fact and that the authorities are uncertain about it. Another way by which you can indicate the uncertainty of dates is to use the abbreviation c. For example:
- Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in c.1340. ii. William Kidd lived between c.1645 and 1701.
The abbreviation c. stands for the Latin word circa which means about. This abbreviation cannot be used to express doubt about anything other than a date. It cannot be used, for example, to express doubt about a person’s place of birth.
The Exclamation Mark (!)
An exclamation mark is placed after any word or group of words which is exclamatory so that the reader may appreciate the force with which it will be spoken aloud. The exclamation mark is also called exclamation point. An exclamatory sentence expresses a strong emotion. For example:
- What a beautiful job you’ve done!
- What a nice view!
iii. Snake!
Uses of the exclamation mark
- Use an exclamation mark after an interjection.
- Oh! What a beautiful day!
- Ahaa! I have got it!
iii. Wow! I like it. iv. Dear me!
- Use an exclamation mark to end a strong imperative sentence. A strong imperative sentence gives an order. For example:
- Get out of the way!
- Stop right there!
iii. Hurry up!
Note that whether an exclamation mark or a period is used after an imperative sentence depends upon the intensity of emotion the writer wishes to convey. A period follows a mild imperative; an exclamation mark follows a strong imperative.
Summary
- The word punctuation refers to the practice of putting points among words.
- The purpose of using punctuation marks is to show your reader how you want your words to be understood.
- When you do not include punctuation marks in your writing, your reader (perhaps your examiner) would be presented with a continuous stream of words and the process of reading what you have written would be slow, laborious, and very dull.
- There are two main types of punctuation marks: terminal punctuation and internal punctuation.
- Terminal punctuation is punctuation that brings an entity such as a sentence to an end. There are three terminal punctuation marks used in English. These are the period (.), the question mark (?), and the exclamation point (!)
CONTENT CONSULTANTS
Author
John Tetteh Agor, Ph.D.
Peer Reviewers
Modestus Fosu, Ph.D.
Prosper Kwesi Agordjor,
M.Phil. William Foli Garr, (Rev.) M.Phil.