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punctuation mark

punctuation mark

1 1.3
A symbol like a period or comma that separates sentences and shows meaning
  • noun
  • /ˌpʌŋk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən mɑrk/
translation icon : signo de puntuación
  • Are there weaknesses in spelling, sentence structure, use of punctuation marks, and/or grammar?
  • correct punctuation mark
  • sequence and punctuation marks

There's no punctuation mark at the end of your story.

Examples

  • There's no punctuation mark at the end of your story.

  • OK, which punctuation mark ends an imperative sentence?

  • Only those punctuation marks that were correctly applied were counted.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The sentences are also a little choppy; combine a few with some punctuation marks to make the piece flow more.

    Blog text (30)
  • Simple sentences need only one ending punctuation mark (e.g., "He ran.").

    Academic text (2002)
  • Correct punctuation marks and words in complete sentences are also promising metrics and require replication.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In her essay, she used a punctuation mark as a crucial tool to separate different ideas.

  • Understanding the role of each punctuation mark is essential for clear writing.

  • The question mark is a common punctuation mark that indicates a question is being asked.

Synonyms

delimiter
vspunctuation mark
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A character or symbol that separates items in text and data files

is specific to written text separating sentences and clarifying meaning

Surface Forms

Morphology

punctuation + mark

The meaning is directly and transparently derivable from the constituents: 'punctuation' (marks that clarify meaning in writing) combined with 'mark' (a symbol) simply names a type of symbol used in writing. This is a straightforward, compositional phrase common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

The noun punctuation mark comes from the idea of a small mark or point put in writing to show where to 'stop' or 'pause' when reading. That's why a punctuation mark like a period, comma, or question mark shows the ends of sentences and where to pause.