Punctuation marks and their uses
British English calls the dot at the end of a sentence a full stop; American English calls it a period.
| Mark | Name | Main use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| . | Full stop | Ends a statement or command | The class starts at six. |
| , | Comma | Separates list items, clauses and extra information | We bought bread, milk and eggs. |
| ? | Question mark | Ends a direct question | Where do you live? |
| ! | Exclamation mark | Shows strong feeling | That's brilliant! |
| : | Colon | Introduces a list, explanation or quotation | You need one thing: patience. |
| ; | Semicolon | Joins related independent clauses | It was late; we went home. |
| ' | Apostrophe | Shows possession or missing letters | Ravi's bag; it's cold. |
| ' ' or " " | Quotation marks | Show direct speech or a quotation | She said, 'I'm ready.' |
| - | Hyphen | Joins words into one unit | a well-known writer |
| – | Dash | Marks a break or adds a comment | The answer – if there is one – is unclear. |
Colons and dashes
Use a colon after a complete clause, to introduce what follows: "The city has two problems: traffic and noise." Don't put one straight after a verb: write "The problems are traffic and noise."
British writers usually use a spaced en dash ( – ) for a break in a sentence; American writers often use an unspaced em dash (—). In exam writing, a comma or a pair of brackets usually works just as well.
Quotation marks in British English
British publishers often use single quotation marks, with double marks for a quotation inside a quotation: 'He said "wait" and left.' Many British writers use double marks instead. Both are acceptable if you are consistent.
In British style, a full stop or comma usually goes inside the quotation marks only if it belongs to the quoted words. American style puts them inside almost always.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Where are you from.
Right: Where are you from?
A direct question ends with a question mark.
Wrong: I asked him where he was going?
Right: I asked him where he was going.
An indirect question is a statement, so it ends with a full stop.
Wrong: The main reasons are: cost and time.
Right: The main reasons are cost and time.
Don't put a colon straight after a verb. A colon follows a complete clause.
Wrong: This is a well known fact!!
Right: This is a well-known fact.
Hyphenate a compound adjective before a noun, and avoid exclamation marks in formal writing.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
Punctuation is part of grammatical accuracy in IELTS Writing and in PTE written tasks. The errors that cost most are comma splices, missing question marks and wrong apostrophes. In PTE Summarize Written Text, your answer must be one sentence ending in a single full stop, so a semicolon or a second full stop changes how it is scored. Avoid exclamation marks in Task 2 essays, but they are fine in an informal IELTS General Training letter.
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. Add punctuation: "Do you know the answer"
Do you know the answer?
It is a direct question.
2. Choose: "You need three things (: / ;) a passport, a ticket and a visa."
:
A colon introduces a list after a complete clause.
3. Hyphen or not? "a part time job"
a part-time job
Part-time is a compound adjective before a noun.
4. Correct this: "She asked if I was hungry?"
She asked if I was hungry.
Reported questions end with a full stop.
5. Which mark joins two related sentences without a joining word?
A semicolon.
A semicolon can link two independent clauses.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a colon and a semicolon?+
A colon introduces something: a list, an explanation or an example. A semicolon joins two clauses that could each be a sentence. A colon says "here it is"; a semicolon says "and closely related".
What is the difference between a hyphen and a dash?+
A hyphen is short and joins words (well-known, twenty-one). A dash is longer and separates parts of a sentence, much like brackets or commas.
Should I use single or double quotation marks?+
Either, in British English. Single marks are common in British books and newspapers; double marks are standard in American English. Pick one style and keep it.
How many spaces go after a full stop?+
One. Two spaces was a typewriter habit and is no longer standard.
Keep going
More grammar lessons
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