DEFINITION
1. An end mark concludes a sentence, indicates the sentence’s purpose, and represents a longer pause. End marks include the period, question mark, and exclamation point. Which end mark you use depends on the sentence’s purpose.
PERIODS
2. Use a period to mark the end of a declarative sentence (a statement).
EXAMPLE: The Hocking Hills is a part of the Allegheny Plateau in southern Ohio.
3. Use a period to mark the end of an imperative sentence (instruction or recommendation).
EXAMPLE: Wear plenty of layers since it will be cold this weekend.
4. Use a period after some abbreviations. If an abbreviation ends a declarative or imperative sentence, use only one period; however, do use a question mark or an exclamation if the sentence requires it.
EXAMPLES: Mr. Jr. a.m. vs. etc. mph MVP
We are leaving for Hocking Hills on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
We are leaving precisely at 4:00 p.m.!
5. Use a period after an indirect quotation.
EXAMPLES:
I asked whether any cabins are available to rent this weekend.
I wondered how long will it take to drive to the cabin.
EXAMPLE: The Hocking Hills is a part of the Allegheny Plateau in southern Ohio.
3. Use a period to mark the end of an imperative sentence (instruction or recommendation).
EXAMPLE: Wear plenty of layers since it will be cold this weekend.
4. Use a period after some abbreviations. If an abbreviation ends a declarative or imperative sentence, use only one period; however, do use a question mark or an exclamation if the sentence requires it.
EXAMPLES: Mr. Jr. a.m. vs. etc. mph MVP
We are leaving for Hocking Hills on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
We are leaving precisely at 4:00 p.m.!
5. Use a period after an indirect quotation.
EXAMPLES:
I asked whether any cabins are available to rent this weekend.
I wondered how long will it take to drive to the cabin.
QUESTION MARKS
6. Use a question mark to end a direct question.
EXAMPLES: When are we going zip lining?
7. If a quotation is a question, place the question mark inside the quotation marks.
If a quotation is not a question but the entire sentence is a question, place the question mark outside the quotation marks.
EXAMPLES:
Chris asked, “How long is the trail?”
Did you say, “The Grandma Gatewood Trail is six miles long”?
Is the trail really “six miles long”?
8. Sometimes we may phrase a request in question form. Technically, you should use a question mark, but you can use a period in informal writing.
EXAMPLES:
Would you please pull up directions on your phone. [INFORMAL]
Would you please pull up the directions on your phone? [FORMAL]
9. In a series of questions, use a question mark after each question in the series even if the questions are fragments. Do not capitalize the subsequent questions in the series.
EXAMPLE: Will we be going hiking? rock climbing? horseback riding? zip lining?
10. If you raise a question, not attributed to anyone, into the middle of a sentence, you can forego quotation marks but set off the question by putting a comma in front of it and ending the question with a question mark. Note that the first word of the question is not capitalized, nor is the phrase appearing right after the question.
EXAMPLE:
When the question, when are we leaving? arose, I was in the other room and didn’t hear you.
11. To indicate that you are uncertain about something, use a question mark inside parentheses.
EXAMPLE: I think driving there will take 3 hours (?), but you might want to check online to be sure.
EXAMPLES: When are we going zip lining?
7. If a quotation is a question, place the question mark inside the quotation marks.
If a quotation is not a question but the entire sentence is a question, place the question mark outside the quotation marks.
EXAMPLES:
Chris asked, “How long is the trail?”
Did you say, “The Grandma Gatewood Trail is six miles long”?
Is the trail really “six miles long”?
8. Sometimes we may phrase a request in question form. Technically, you should use a question mark, but you can use a period in informal writing.
EXAMPLES:
Would you please pull up directions on your phone. [INFORMAL]
Would you please pull up the directions on your phone? [FORMAL]
9. In a series of questions, use a question mark after each question in the series even if the questions are fragments. Do not capitalize the subsequent questions in the series.
EXAMPLE: Will we be going hiking? rock climbing? horseback riding? zip lining?
10. If you raise a question, not attributed to anyone, into the middle of a sentence, you can forego quotation marks but set off the question by putting a comma in front of it and ending the question with a question mark. Note that the first word of the question is not capitalized, nor is the phrase appearing right after the question.
EXAMPLE:
When the question, when are we leaving? arose, I was in the other room and didn’t hear you.
11. To indicate that you are uncertain about something, use a question mark inside parentheses.
EXAMPLE: I think driving there will take 3 hours (?), but you might want to check online to be sure.
EXCLAMATION POINT
12. Use an exclamation point after a strong interjection. Use a comma for a more mild interjection.
EXAMPLES:
Wow! That’s exciting.
Oh, that’s nice.
13. Use an exclamation point to end an exclamatory sentence (emotional expression).
EXAMPLES: What an incredible sight!
14. Use a comma or an exclamation point to end an imperative sentence (request or command). A mild request or comment takes a period while a strong command takes an exclamation point.
EXAMPLES: Please hold my water bottle. Run!
15. If a quotation is an exclamation, place the exclamation point inside the quotation marks. If a quotation is not an exclamation but the entire sentence is an exclamation, place the exclamation point outside the quotation marks.
EXAMPLES:
He yelled, “Watch out for that snake!”
“Watch out for that snake!” he yelled.
How quickly she said, “Let’s go”!
16. You might see writers use more than one end mark in a row to express emotions. Using multiple end marks is fine in informal writing, but avoid using those in formal writing situations.
EXAMPLES:
Going to Ash Cave was amazing!!! [INFORMAL]
How much did you pay for that cabin?!? [INFORMAL]
Going to Ash Cave was amazing.
EXAMPLES:
Wow! That’s exciting.
Oh, that’s nice.
13. Use an exclamation point to end an exclamatory sentence (emotional expression).
EXAMPLES: What an incredible sight!
14. Use a comma or an exclamation point to end an imperative sentence (request or command). A mild request or comment takes a period while a strong command takes an exclamation point.
EXAMPLES: Please hold my water bottle. Run!
15. If a quotation is an exclamation, place the exclamation point inside the quotation marks. If a quotation is not an exclamation but the entire sentence is an exclamation, place the exclamation point outside the quotation marks.
EXAMPLES:
He yelled, “Watch out for that snake!”
“Watch out for that snake!” he yelled.
How quickly she said, “Let’s go”!
16. You might see writers use more than one end mark in a row to express emotions. Using multiple end marks is fine in informal writing, but avoid using those in formal writing situations.
EXAMPLES:
Going to Ash Cave was amazing!!! [INFORMAL]
How much did you pay for that cabin?!? [INFORMAL]
Going to Ash Cave was amazing.