English · Culture & Society

punctuation

/ˌpʌŋk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən/

[/ˌpʌŋk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən/]

marks that organise writing

Intermediatenoun

Definition

Punctuation is the set of marks, such as commas and full stops, used to make writing clear. Correct punctuation helps readers understand sentences.

Example

Check your punctuation before handing in the essay.

Check your punctuation before handing in the essay.

Etymology

From Latin 'punctus' meaning a point.

How & Where It’s Used

A core part of writing accuracy and assessment.

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