Exclamation mark

PERIODS

Periodization

For the sake of convenience, the history of English literature is divided into periods.

1. A period is used at the end of a complete sentence:

This rule is mighty easy. I hope they are all this easy.

2. Periods (decimal points) are used with money and percentages:

$12.56 24.6%

3. Periods are used after initials:

My algebra teacher's name is Mr. G. Brown.

4. Periods are used in some abbreviations:

When to use periods with abbreviations can be confusing. This is an area of grammar that is changing. Unless you're really sure about an abbreviation, it's best to check it in a dictionary.

• Most uppercase and lowercase abbreviations still use a period (but 2 var possible):

Months: Jan., Feb., Oct.

Days: Mon., Tues., Wed.

Titles: Gov., Sen., Rep., M.D., Ph.D.

Addresses: Ave., St., Rd.

Measurements: lb., min., in.

Countries: U.S., U.K.

Others: lat. (latitude), long, (longitude), misc. (miscellaneous), etc. (et cetera), e.g. (Latin abbreviation meaning "for example"), i.e. (Latin abbreviation meaning "in other words"), B.C. (before Christ), Inc. (incorporated)

• periods are usually not used:

When all the letters are capital letters:

Agencies, companies, and organizations: CIA, NFL, FBI, NATO

Computer terms: RAM, CD/ROM

Tests: PSAT, IQ

Radio and television stations: BBC, ESPN

Medical terms: AIDS, PMS

Directions: NE, SW, NNW

Some other common abbreviations that don't use periods:UFO (unidentified flying object), mph (miles per hour), rpm (revolutions per minute), m (meter), kg (kilogram), mg (milligram), Ca (calcium), Hg (mercury).

There is an increasing tendency to write abbreviations without full stops, particularly those that include the final letter of the word, such as Dr and Mr, and abbreviations of countries and organizations, such as USA, UN and EC.

Do you add a period, question mark, or exclamation mark if the sentence ends with an abbreviation that takes periods? Periods - no. Question marks and exclamation marks - yes.

wrong:

Ryan woke up at 7 a.m..

Did you wake up at 7 a.m?

Your snoring woke me up at 2 A.M!

right:

Ryan woke up at 7 a.m.

Did you wake up at 7 a.m.?

Your snoring woke me up at 2 a.m.!

5. Three full stops, sometimes called 'an ellipsis' or 'omission marks', indicate that something has been left out:

She lay in her cabin, weeping, weeping...

1. Exclamation mark is used, in place of a full stop, to indicate emphasis or strong emotion:

Wow! This is the easiest rule in the whole book! (delight)

I can't believe it's you! (surprise)

Oh, no! This can't be happening! (distress)

Bang! Crash! Boom! (loud noises)

Don’t go one step farther! (strong command)

Sentences that are questions in form but exclamations in meaning can take an exclamation mark:

How could you do that?

How could you do that!

In formal writing, never use double exclamation points! In fact, don't use many exclamation points at all. Face it, not every sentence you write is exciting enough to deserve an exclamation point.

2. It draws attention to something the writer finds surprising:

Although he said he enjoyed (!) being ill,

he was clearly depressed that morning.

QUESTION MARK

1. A question mark is used to indicate a direct question:

This rule is not so hard, is it?

Sentences that are questions in form but requests or statements in meaning should not take a question mark:

Can you pass me the butter, please.

Indirect questions don't take question marks:

Is today Monday? (This is a straight-forward question.)

I asked whether today is Monday. (This is a statement about a question.)

I wonder whether the abominable snowman is real. (right)

Is the abominable snowman real? I wonder. (also possible)

If you have a question mark in the middle of a sentence, don't capitalize the word after the question mark:

What in the World is a Homophone? is a very popular children's book.

(The question mark is part of the book's title.)

2. It is used to indicate uncertainty or doubt:

The author of this book lived from 1810 (?) to 1895.

(This means you're not sure that the date 1810 is correct; perhaps no one knows for sure when this particular author was born.)

QUOTATION MARKS OR INVERTED COMMAS

There are two types of quotation marks: single ‘…’ and double “…”. Both are correct, but British English tends to favour single quotation marks, American English, double.

1. Quotation marks enclose direct speech:

'Do come in,' he said.

She asked him timidly, 'Will you be coming, too?'

'Why not?' said Florence.

2. Quotation marks enclose a word or phrase that the writer wishes to highlight:

They spoke a very archaic kind of English, full of 'thee's and 'thou's.

The table was what we in Scotland call 'shoogly'.

3. Both single and double quotation marks are needed when a quoted passage itself contains a quoted material:

'Next week we shall examine the "stream of consciousness" technique

in greater detail,' announced the tutor.

The titles of the Bible books are not used with the quotation marks like ordinary books are.

“Emma” by Jane Austen

the Book of Genesis (книга Бытия)

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