While casual writing, like texting your travel partner, doesn’t require English punctuation marks, more formal types of writing, like work emails, do. From making statements to asking questions, punctuation marks organize your writing and make it easy for others to understand what you’re trying to say. Use sentence examples and tips for when and how to use English punctuation when writing for both social and professional communication.
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List of the 12 common English punctuation marks
When you start your English writing practice, you’ll use many types of sentences to express ideas in different ways. Most of the things you read and write will include these English punctuation marks. And they’re also similar to the punctuation used in other languages.
| English Punctuation Mark | Name | Pronunciation |
| . | period | PEE-ree-id |
| ? | question mark | KWES-chun mark |
| ! | exclamation mark | ecks-clah-MAY-shun mark |
| , | comma | KAH-mah |
| ‘ | apostrophe | uh-PAW-stroh-fee |
| ” “ | quotation marks | kwo-TAY-shun marks |
| ( ) | parentheses | pah-REN-tha-seez |
| : | colon | KOH-lin |
| ; | semicolon | SEH-mai-koh-lin |
| – | hyphen | HY-fen |
| — | em dash | EM dash |
| … | ellipsis | eh-LIP-sihs |
English punctuation marks that end a sentence
Sentence-ending punctuation marks indicate that a thought is complete, and they show the writer’s mood, which also tells what type of sentence it is.
Period .
A period (.) is the most common way to end a sentence in English. It can end a sentence that makes a statement (a declarative sentence) or a sentence that makes a command or request (an imperative sentence).
- I love to drink coffee.
- Please pour me a cup of coffee.
Note that periods can also be used in abbreviations in English, like p.m., to show that each letter stands for a full word. In some other languages, like French, you might also see a period used in numbers. But in English, we’d use a comma for that.
Question mark ?
A question mark (?) lets readers know that a sentence is a question. It can be a general way to ask for information, or it can be a polite request. Sometimes, a question will start with a question word, like who or what, but when it doesn’t, the question mark at the end can help you read it as a question.
- What time do you want to get dinner?
- Do you know when the next train arrives?
- Can you show me where it is?
- They broke the sign?
Exclamation mark !
An exclamation mark (!), sometimes called an exclamation point, signals that a sentence is showing strong feelings. These feelings can be excitement, anger, fear, or anything else in an exclamatory sentence. It can also show a strong demand.
- These tickets are too expensive!
- Call the police!
English punctuation marks for connecting, adding, or changing details
Other common punctuation marks can help you make connections, add details, or change your English sentence structure. Learning to use each of these properly can even be a challenge for native English speakers, so don’t be discouraged when you make mistakes.
Comma ,
A comma (,) is a common punctuation mark that shows a pause in a sentence. It can also separate parts of your sentence into lists, making your writing in English easier to read.
- We went to the restaurant, and then we went to the movies.
- I ordered a soda, a sandwich, and a piece of cake.
Apostrophe ‘
An apostrophe (‘) has several functions in English writing. It comes from the Greek word apostrophos, which means “turning away,” and refers to removing letters in contractions in English (such as don’t, where the apostrophe stands in for the missing “o” in do not). Apostrophes also show possession for singular and plural nouns.
- We can‘t go to the party tonight.
- Is this Bethany‘s sweater?
Quotation marks ” “
Quotation marks (” “) separate part of the sentence from the rest. There are always two quotation marks, one at the beginning and one at the end. You can use quotation marks to show that part of the sentence is a direct quote or dialogue, or to show that the words are the title of short pieces of writing (including songs and poems).
- “Do you speak French?“ asked Gervais.
- The band played “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Ending punctuation should almost always go inside the quotation marks.
Parentheses ()
Parentheses [ () ] go around words or phrases that are related to the sentence, but aren’t necessary for understanding. Like quotation marks, parentheses always appear in pairs. If the words in the parentheses form a full sentence, the ending punctuation mark goes inside the parentheses. However, the rest of the sentence should still have its own ending punctuation mark.
- Miguel traveled to the United States of America (USA).
- Meet me at the coffee shop (the one next to the train station).
- We went to the carnival last night. (I didn’t have a good time.)
Colon :
A colon (:) introduces the section that comes next in a sentence. It can come before a list, a quotation, or when writing the time of day.
- I met three new people today: Brian, Zoe, and Maricela.
- Remember what the teacher said: “The test only covers Chapter 1.”
- We agreed to meet at 12:30.
Semicolon ;
A semicolon (;) looks like a colon, but it functions differently. It connects two similar ideas, rather than making them two separate sentences. It can also appear in longer lists that already have commas.
- School was closed yesterday; it was a holiday.
- I’ve been to Madrid, Spain; London, England; and Paris, France.
Hyphen –
A hyphen (-) connects two words in a sentence. It can connect two adjectives to describe another word (compound adjectives), two nouns to create a more specific noun (compound nouns), or it can connect numbers when they’re written out.
- The fast–paced city is a wonderful place to visit.
- This is my father–in–law, Jeff.
- Laura is thirty–three years old.
Em dash —
An em dash (—) looks like a hyphen, but this longer line works differently. It connects parts of a sentence rather than two words. It can also show that someone was interrupted when they were speaking.
- Joe isn’t here—have you checked upstairs?
- “Yes, I saw Joe. He’s right over—”
Ellipsis …
An ellipsis (…) is a symbol made with three periods in a row. You’ll probably see it in literature when someone pauses or stops speaking, or you’ll see it in news articles when some information has been left out.
- “I’d like to order…well, I haven’t decided yet…“
- The man was wearing black sneakers…and blue jeans.
Common punctuation mistakes for English learners
Once you’ve mastered English grammar rules, you can use English punctuation easily to structure and clarify your sentences. Learn more about the most frequent errors that English learners make with English punctuation. Even fluent English speakers make these common punctuation mistakes!
- Comma splices (using commas instead of periods). Instead of connecting two full sentences with a comma, it’s better to write two short sentences and end each one with a period.
- Using apostrophes incorrectly. Learn the proper ways to use apostrophes to prevent misunderstanding. Common apostrophe mistakes include:
- Mixing up It’s (it is) and its (belonging to it)
- Mixing up they’re (they are) and their (belonging to them)
- Putting apostrophes in plural nouns (such as house’s instead of houses)
- Putting ending punctuation marks outside quotation marks. If you’re learning American English, your ending punctuation marks should almost always be inside the quotation marks. (British English puts ending punctuation marks outside quotation marks.)
- Too many exclamation marks. Using too many exclamation marks looks like shouting in English writing. Try to use only one or two exclamation points in each paragraph at the most.
- Using semicolons instead of colons or commas. Semicolons are tricky to use, so try to write your sentence without them unless you really know how they function.
The best way to avoid punctuation mistakes is with lots of English reading practice. You’ll see properly formatted English sentences, along with many additional English vocabulary words and English punctuation.
English punctuation in texting conversations
You don’t need to use perfect punctuation if you’re texting in English. In fact, English texting conversations may feel more formal if you’re using periods and other punctuation marks. If you’re just texting friends, feel free to leave ending punctuation out of your texts.
- Hey where are you
- It was so fun to see you last night
- Do you want to see a movie
- Thank you
If those sentences feel confusing, you can always add English punctuation to clarify what you mean.
- Hey, where are you?
- It was so fun to see you last night.
- Do you want to see a movie?
- Thank you!
Key takeaways about English punctuation
Think about how you use punctuation marks in your native language, and you’ll probably use most of them in similar ways for English. Make note of big differences to help you keep track.
- Using English punctuation helps you add clarity and structure to your sentences.
- Sentences should always have an ending punctuation mark (a period (.), a question mark (?), or an exclamation mark (!).
- Some English punctuation marks, including quotation marks (” “) and parentheses (), should always be used as pairs.
- Commas can separate parts of a sentence and create pauses in a sentence.
- You don’t have to use punctuation marks when you’re texting, but you can if you’d like.
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