Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 5 down vote favorite
1

I often encounter US people saying something like this:

Something something something, period.

What does that mean?

share|improve this question
4  
In Britain they say "full stop" and not "period". With the same meaning, as explained in the answers. – GEdgar Jun 1 '12 at 18:15
@GEdgar, Really? That's interesting... I never knew that. – JLG Jun 1 '12 at 18:26
@GEdgar: Many Brits now say "End of" in this context (i.e. - "End of story", "No further discussion"). – FumbleFingers Jun 1 '12 at 21:15
@GEdgar, I knew the period was called a full stop, but I don't think I've ever heard (or read) a sentence like (to borrow from Clark Kent), "Phones should only be used for communication, full stop." Is that what you meant? British people say that? (I wish I could find a video of that, but couldn't seem to.) – JLG Jun 2 '12 at 0:34
I guess Black-Adder is considered British? So maybe there is a video of this scene somewhere: suslik.org/Humour/FilmOrTV/BlackAdder/ba2-6.html – GEdgar Jun 2 '12 at 0:43
show 4 more comments

closed as general reference by RegDwighт♦ Jun 4 '12 at 13:15

This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Period at the end of the sentence means, the things said in the sentence are definite and no change is allowed.

For example, "I want the document without any errors, period" meaning that there should not be any errors in the document.

share|improve this answer
up vote 8 down vote

A period is what the full stop is called in American English. Saying period at the end of a sentence is a way of expressing the finality of what is being said. For example,

A: But phones are good for taking pictures.

B: No, I don't think so. Phones should only be used for communication, period.

share|improve this answer
Moreover, your final word period there can be rewritten as full stop without any change in meaning whatsoever. – tchrist Jun 2 '12 at 0:58
@tchrist: Except possibly confusing some American listeners. "Full stop" tends to sound more like something from an old-timey telegram. "NO I DONT THINK SO STOP TELEGRAPHS SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR COMMUNICATION FULL STOP SIGNED NATE ELDREDGE" – Nate Eldredge Jun 2 '12 at 3:47
@NateEldredge Are we really that confusable these days? – tchrist Jun 4 '12 at 10:37
@tchrist & Nate, some of us are. :) I'd have at least given you the crooked head look for "full stop". – TecBrat Sep 5 '12 at 3:27
up vote 3 down vote

In your example, period is used as an interjection. As the Wiktionary explains:

Interjection
1) (chiefly North America) And nothing else; and nothing less; used for emphasis.

When I say "eat your dinner," it means "eat your dinner," period!

You usually use it to end a sentence/statement/command which you don't want to discuss/negotiate further.

share|improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.