Punctuation is the foundation of all languages. It won’t be easy to understand language, whether written or spoken, without adequate punctuation marks. The most widely used punctuation marks include commas, semi-colons, question marks, and full stops. A full stop ( . ), sometimes known as a “period,” indicates the end of a declarative or imperative sentence. It means a longer pause than a comma and is also used to imply that there is nothing else to say on a topic, such as ‘I enjoy playing football.’ Through repetition, can easily remember the locations where a full stop is utilized.
In English, the comma is one of the most often used punctuation markers. It’s used to denote a brief stop when the speaker wants to take a breather in the middle of a statement. The comma is essential in the formation of a sentence, especially one that is long and complex. The sign for a comma is ‘,’
A complete halt
A sentence is only complete if the last letter of the previous word is followed by a full stop (.) to indicate the conclusion of the sentence. The letter ‘.’ stands for a complete halt, commonly known as a ‘period.’ A full stop implies a lengthier pause than a comma and indicates that anything has come to an end.
The period is a “full stop” in British English, which elegantly describes its primary purpose: to help complete a statement. The period ends a sentence, whereas most other punctuation marks in formal English denote a halt in a sentence or add emphasis.
In the following examples, the full stop is used:
A full stop (.) is used to indicate the end of a sentence that is a complete statement. It denotes the end of one thinking before the commencement of a new one.
1. When a sentence comes to a close
The most common use of a full stop is to indicate the end of a complete sentence. It denotes a long pause before the start of a new or fresh sentence.
For instance,
- My name is Ajay, and I work as a physician.
- She went to the supermarket. She purchased a large quantity of fruits and vegetables.
2. Following initials
After a person’s initials, full stops appear, such as U.S. (United States), U.K. (United Kingdom), W.B. William Butler Yeats (William Butler Yeats), for example.
3. Following abbreviations
To indicate abbreviations, full stops or periods are commonly used. For example, ‘Prof.’ stands for the professor, ‘a.m.’ stands for antemeridian, ‘p.m.’ stands for post meridian, and so on. After the initial letter of each abbreviated word, full stops can be used, for example, B.B.C. (British Broadcasting Corporation). It can also be used after a set of letters from a word, such as St. (street), Mr. (man), etc. (Mister).
4. After the commands
The end of a statement that is a command, that is, one that directs someone to do something, is marked with a complete stop. ‘Open the door,’ for example. ‘Take the eraser off the floor.’
5. After a series of indirect inquiries
Full stops are used after indirect question sentences, such as “I wondered why she bunked the class.” ‘He inquired as to why I had missed the concert.’ In some circumstances, Instead of a question mark, a full stop (.) is used.
6. On the internet
In website addresses, full stops or periods are also used, such as ‘www.thewebgenic.com’ and so on. It won’t work if you don’t use a complete stop in the appropriate locations in a website address.
A full stop is used to indicate the finish of a thought. Without full stops, one sentence will run into the next, making it difficult for the reader to distinguish between two or more sentences. This would likewise cause the reader or speaker to be perplexed.As a result, full stops are a crucial punctuation symbol, without which language would be incomplete and impossible to understand.
Using a Comma
The comma is one of the most commonly misunderstood punctuation marks, owing to its numerous technical applications: a comma is used to separate subordinate clauses from the main sentence clause. The following are the three primary functions of the comma in academic writing:
1. Adverbial or Introductory Phrases are Separated from the Main Clause
This is a frequent technique in academic writing, where transitional and adverbial phrases are used to develop an argument. The following are a few instances of pretty famous examples:
- Nonetheless, the.
- As a result, researchers argue.
- As a result of this, participants.
- Following this, the.
2. Keeping Dependent Clauses and Main Clauses Separate
This is frequent in academic writing because particular concepts often demand more complexity or explanation. The objective of such commas is to clearly show the reader the difference between the vital information in the main clause and the non-essential information that gives supplementary information.
A comma is required before and after the subordinate clause if it is in the midst of the sentence. As an illustration:
- As previously stated, this issue is at the heart of our efforts.
- The book was discovered in an attic, Smith stated.
3. Distinguishing a List of Items
This is the most well-known use of the comma; nevertheless, there is some debate about the oxford comma, sometimes known as the serial comma. The Oxford comma is required in American English, although it is only required in British English when clarity is required in a given list of items. Thus, although it may merely be a question of style, employing the Oxford/Serial comma improves clarity in a given list. Consider the following scenario:
- China, Brazil, India, and Russia have all recently joined the organisation.
- The app is available for PCs, smartphones, tablets, and iPods to download.
- The mice had a higher fertility, a better appetite, and were more active.
Final Words
A comma and a full stop (.) are essential parts of a sentence. Without these, the statement is incomplete. If candidates wish to utilise the language correctly, they need to know how to use it.
