

Abbreviations for specific time periods often use periods, including abbreviated months ( Jan.ĭespite the individual cases, there are a few uniform rules you can follow to make things easier: In some cases when a person doesn’t want to disclose part of their name, a period can be used to show an initial. In some style guides, you would abbreviate academic degrees using periods such as B.A. In American English, periods are also used to abbreviate formal titles: Mr./Mrs. For example, the abbreviation for “doctor” is “Dr.” in American English and “Dr” without a period in British English. The use of periods in abbreviations and initials varies from case to case, country to country, and even style guide to style guide. Kendal asked, “What time is it?” Abbreviations and initials However, if the question is stated directly, use a question mark instead of a period. Because these are technically declarative sentences and not interrogative sentences (questions), they use a period instead of a question mark. Indirect questions are declarative sentences that talk about a question indirectly, such as describing a person asking a question. Maybe Binsa didn’t ask her sister before borrowing the dress! Indirect questions It suggests that the speaker is outraged, excited, or otherwise alarmed about what’s going on. There’s nothing right or wrong about the statement it’s just communicating a simple, if not boring, fact.īinsa wore her sister’s gown to the party!īecause of the exclamation mark, this sentence is now an exclamation-there’s a new layer of meaning. Consider the example:īinsa wore her sister’s gown to the party.īecause a period is used, this sentence is a basic declaration. Exclamation marks represent excitement, urgency, or yelling in written English. If, however, you want to add emotion or extra emphasis to a statement or command, you would use an exclamation mark instead of a period. If spoken out loud, the speaker would use a neutral or calm voice, without excessive emotion. These sentences are typically simple statements, communicating information without urgency. Periods come at the end of declarative and imperative sentences. Below, we explain precisely when to use periods in your writing. Like all punctuation marks, periods should only be used under the right circumstances. Three periods together make a new punctuation mark called an ellipsis, which can indicate that some words or entire sentences have been omitted (we explain more about ellipses below). Periods are also sometimes used for initials when only the first letter of a word or name is present, such as in H. In particular, periods are often used in abbreviations, especially Latin abbreviations like etc. The secondary purpose of a period is to indicate that some information has been removed, such as letters in a word. Specifically, you only use a period to end declarative sentences (statements) or imperative sentences (commands).

You can’t put a period at the end of every sentence, however. Periods are one of three punctuation marks for the end of a sentence, along with question marks and exclamation points.

The primary function of a period is to signal the end of a sentence.
REMOVE PERIOD AFTER TWO SPACES IA WRITER FULL
When it comes to English grammar, a period or full stop has two main purposes: ending a sentence and indicating an omission. Periods are one of the most common punctuation marks in English, with one study finding they make up around half of all punctuation marks used.

It also has unique uses in mathematics and computing, as the “dot” in “dot com.” The main use of a period is to express the end of certain sentences, but it can also be used to show shortened words or removed information. The pause indicated by a period is a significant one, more pronounced than the pause from other punctuation marks like a comma or semicolon. In spoken English, a speaker will briefly stop talking in between sentences-the period represents that momentary break in written English. It appears at the bottom of a written line and directly follows the preceding character without a space. A period, also known as a “full stop” in British English, is a punctuation mark that looks like a tiny circle or dot.
