Types of Punctuation – Terminal Points and Comma – Beginner

There are 15 unique punctuation marks that are used in everyday written English. We’ve categorized them together according to the similarity of their function. We’ll briefly look at each one along with some examples, but you can continue on to their individual sections to learn more about the various ways they are used.

Terminal points
Terminal points are those that mark the end of a complete sentence. These include periods, exclamation points, and question marks.

Periods (Full Stops)
Periods ( . ), also known as full stops (especially in British English), mark the end of sentences that are not questions or exclamations. For example:
“I need to buy new glasses.”
“She didn’t really like the play.”
“Reports are indicating increased activity in the region.”
“If I were able to live anywhere in the world, I would move to Beijing.”
“Please don’t be angry with him for what he said.”

Periods are also used to mark abbreviations, and they function as a decimal point in non-whole numbers. For instance:
“Let’s find an A.T.M. [automated teller machine] so I can withdraw some cash.”
“Your appt. [appointment] has been rescheduled for next Tuesday.”
“At current market value, the dollar is worth 0.89901 euros.”

Commas
Commas ( , ) are primarily used to join two or more elements in a sentence—such as clauses, introductory elements, or items in a list—or to set parenthetical information apart from the rest of the sentence. For example:
“We can go to the movies tonight, or we can just stay home.”
“We have always wanted to buy a boat, sell everything, and set sail.”
“Either Tom, Bill, Jen, or Michelle will lead the seminar.”
“In a way, they are both right.”
“When I was traveling in Croatia, I met a lot of interesting people.”
“The office, an old colonial building, badly needed repairs.”
“The mirror, which was a gift from my grandmother, was broken during the storm.”
“Find me something to dig with, such as a shovel or spade, so I can plant these flowers.”

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