The period is a punctuation mark which is represented by a point (.)
27
votes
2answers
2k views
When should end punctuation go inside quotes?
I have been/am being taught that end punctuation should always go inside quotes. For example, you are supposed to write:
Marvin thought it was "awful."
The problem is I do not see how does this ...
43
votes
4answers
23k views
When “etc.” is at the end of a phrase, do you place a period after it?
Example:
It's all about apples, oranges, bananas, etc.
VS.
It's all about apples, oranges, bananas, etc..
15
votes
3answers
2k views
Punctuation around abbreviations
I always stumble when using abbreviations in a sentence, as they inherently contain a period in them. How do I use a comma or a semicolon after an abbreviation? How about a period?
E.g. (This is an ...
144
votes
15answers
10k views
How many spaces should come after a period/full stop?
In the past — or at least, when I was in elementary school — periods/full stops were followed by two spaces. Lately, it's become more and more common to see just one space. In the modern ...
5
votes
1answer
915 views
Punctuation of direct speech, edge cases
I recently learned that I have developed a consistent, but entirely wrong approach to punctuating direct speech in fiction. I am in the unenviable position of trying to relearn.
Previously I wrote ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
In which cases is a comma/period placed inside or outside of parentheses?
Are there cases where a period is placed inside parentheses? In which cases the period (or a comma) should be placed inside the parentheses?
15
votes
2answers
6k views
Should you use a comma/period after “Thanks”/“Regards” in email signatures?
Normal practice is to end emails with a Thanks or Regards. My question is should there be a comma or a period or nothing after Thanks/Regards?
Thanks,
John Doe
Or
Thanks.
John ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Where to put the periods when using a parenthetical sentence?
I have two complete sentences; the second is in parentheses, essentially a comment on the first. Where do I place the periods? I would use this:
They played opera. (I covered my ears.)
Is this ...
6
votes
1answer
909 views
Periods for bullet point items
In a 'bulleted' list should items that happen to be complete sentences end with a period?
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How to indicate possession when using abbreviation “Dr.”
I often run into a case where I need to say I have a doctor's appointment, but how would I properly punctuate it if I wanted to use the abbreviation Dr. instead of the word doctor? Dr.'s appointment ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Punctuation with “The question is…” '.', '?' or ' “… ?” ' [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Position of question mark when sentence doesn't end with question
Take this statement for example:
That's not the question. The question is what was Colonel ...
17
votes
5answers
43k views
Should I write “PhD” or “Ph.D.”?
Question pretty self-explanatory. Should the abbreviation of the Latin term philosophiae doctor be written as PhD (no periods) or Ph.D. (with periods)?
6
votes
2answers
7k views
Use of capitals and full stops in bullet points [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Capitalization for a bullet list
Let's say I have a bullet point list e.g:
Point 1.
Point 2.
Point 3.
Notice I have put a capital letter for the starting letter of ...
3
votes
0answers
73 views
If a question ends in the abbreviation of et cetera, do you still add the period before the question mark? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When “etc.” is at the end of a phrase, do you place a period after it?
Example:
How do I pay for the bananas, oranges, etc.?
or
How do I pay for the bananas, ...
9
votes
6answers
4k views
Is there a term for the period between midnight and sunrise?
The period between sunset and noon is called "morning", between noon and sunset is "afternoon". Is there a term for the period between midnight and sunrise?
Edit/Clarification:
Wikipedia defines ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Should there be a period after an equation?
This isn't a pure English question, but it is about writing style: Sometimes entities that aren't words end up being in sentences.
I know that when mathematical expressions are inline as follows:
...
4
votes
4answers
542 views
What to do if a sentence ends with “Yahoo!”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to handle a name that includes an exclamation point (or other punctuation)?
Just like the title of this question.
I was reading an article about CAPTCHAs on ...
5
votes
1answer
595 views
A colon after “following”
When I reference to the next sentence or sentences using the term following, is the preferred way to use a colon or a full stop?
An example:
Consider the sentence 'I wash the clothes'. Replacing ...
4
votes
4answers
666 views
How do I manage periods for abbreviations with parentheses, right before a period?
"In the case of medical diagnostics, there is a cost associated with each medical procedure that provides additional information (blood test, x-ray, etc.)."
Should that end with "etc.).", "etc)." ...
0
votes
1answer
140 views
AVC or A.V.C or A.V.C [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it OK to drop the periods in abbreviations?
Okay, so in School I was always tought that when we want to abbreviate, we must use a full stop "." inbetween each letter, ...
6
votes
2answers
463 views
When a phrase ends with a period, do you put … or .. after it?
I was just reading this question: When "etc." is at the end of a phrase, do you place a period after it?
And it brought to mind something similar. If a phrase ends with a . (such as e.g. or ...
6
votes
2answers
303 views
Is there any general rule of thumb that can be followed for where and when to add commas and full stops?
I always mess up with my writing by adding commas and full stops (periods) in the wrong places. Is there any rule of thumb or some other way that I can follow to avoid this problem?
1
vote
2answers
799 views
How to punctuate a quoted rhetorical interrogative sentence that ends a declarative sentence?
Below is the sentence I am writing. I am not sure whether I should just end it with an interrogation mark within the quotes, with a period within the quotes, no in-quote punctuation except ...
