Full stop: 4 very important uses and punctuation rules

A full stop refers to one of the punctuation marks that is commonly used in the English language.  It is a mark (.) that we use at the end of a sentence, or to show that the letters before it are an abbreviation.  It is also called ‘a period’ in American English. In other words, a period synonym is a full stop.

In this article, we will look at the full stop and comma uses and other punctuation rules.

Use of full stop / When to use a full stop/Functions of a full stop

• In writing, a period punctuation is used to separate complete sentences or complete ideas so they do not run into each other. The sentences are usually declarative statements, imperative statements, or indirect questions.

Examples:

1. I love writing about my daily routines. I practice writing every day.
2. I would like some orange juice.
3. We go to university by car.
4. I am an engineer.
5. Stop wasting your time.
6. Ask questions to get more information.
7. I wonder why he made the same mistake again.
8. We asked him why he was sad.

Sentences 1-4 are declarative statements. Sentences 5-6 are imperative statements. Sentences 7-8 are indirect questions

• The period used in writing some numbers is called a point or a decimal point.

Examples:

1. According to statista.com, 58.3% of the Internet users in 2019 were digital gamers.
2. The price of some products increased by 20.7% during the lockdown.
3. I got 80.5 out of a hundred (80.5/100) in the last test.

• In American English, a period is used after titles such as:

Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.

Examples:

1. Mr. Wilson works as a professor.
2. Dr. Taylor is very famous.
3. Mrs. Harris is visiting us tomorrow.

• We use a period after some abbreviations

1. etc. = and so on and so forth
2. i.e. = in other words
3. et al. = and other people
4. e.g. = for example

If an abbreviation consists of the first part of a word, then it should end with a full stop:

August → Aug.

Adjective → Adj.

• A full stop is used in email addresses and websites

1. [email protected]
2. www.en.wikipedia.org
3. www.academic.oup.com

Other punctuation marks

• Comma rules

• Comma meaning/what is a comma/when is a comma used?

A comma is a mark (,) which we use to separate parts of a sentence or to separate the items in a list. It has other various uses.

• Comma usage and comma examples

1. We use commas in a list or in a series consisting of three or more words (series comma)

• I can speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, and a little Korean.

2. We use a comma after the linking words that end a paragraph

• in conclusion, …
• In brief, …
• To sum up, …
• In short, …
• Finally, …
• Lastly, …
• Thus, …
• Indeed, …
• Therefore, …

3. We use a comma after a dependent clause

• If you work harder, you will pass your exams.
• When I have a problem, I usually share it with my parents.

4. We use a comma before but if it introduces an independent clause.

• They studied harder, but they did not pass the Maths exam.
• It was raining hard, but we went to work.

 

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