Punctuation

Punctuation is the use of specific marks placed within written text to separate sentences, clauses, and phrases. These marks do not represent sounds; rather, they indicate the structure of the sentence and guide the reader.

Punctuation systems vary by language and script. The Latin script used for Somali employs marks such as the period, comma, question mark, and exclamation mark. The Arabic and Chinese scripts have their own conventions, such as the Arabic comma (،), which differs in orientation.

The most common marks

The period (.) marks the end of a declarative sentence. The comma (,) separates parts of a sentence or items in a list. The question mark (?) indicates a question, while the exclamation mark (!) expresses a command or strong feeling. The colon (:) introduces an explanation or list, and the semicolon (;) connects two sentences that are related in meaning.

Other marks

Written texts also use quotation marks (" "), parentheses ( ), hyphens (-), and ellipsis (…) to show that speech is interrupted or a portion is omitted. Newer marks such as email symbols and emoticons have expanded usage during the digital era.

History

Early Greek and Latin writings generally lacked clear word separation or punctuation. A system of marks to aid the reader developed later, particularly among scribes in monasteries. After the invention of the printing press, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, attempts were made to standardize conventions, which led to the system in use today.