Using End Marks

What are end marks?

Periods

Sentences

Abbreviations

Question marks

Exclamation points

Review A

Review B

What are end marks?

When you speak, you can make your meaning clear by

• your tone of voice

When you write, you use end marks and other punctuation to help the reader understand your meaning.

• the pauses in your speech

• your gestures and facial expressions

What are end marks?

End marks—periods, question marks, and exclamation points—show where one sentence ends and the next begins.

I’ll call you later tonight I have to studyWill I call you later tonight?

I’ll call you later tonight. I have to study.

Or do I have to study tonight?

I’ll call you later. Tonight I have to study.

What are end marks?

End marks also help indicate the purpose of a sentence.

I raked up all the leaves today.Did you rake up all the leaves?I finally raked up all the leaves!Hurry up and rake those leaves!Please rake the leaves today.

Statement

Question

Request

Exclamation

Command

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Periods

The period is the most common end mark.

Periods are used to end

Periods are also used after most abbreviations.

• statements

• requests and mild commands

PeriodsSentences

We are on the same team.

A statement ends with a period.

Statements are declarative sentences.

The referee hasn’t flipped the coin yet.

PeriodsSentences

A request or a mild command ends with a period.

Please prepare the salad.Slice the peppers and carrots.

Request

Command

Requests and commands are imperative sentences.

PeriodsAbbreviations

Personal names (initials)

J. K. Rowling

S. E. Hinton

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

Titles used with names

Mrs. Garcia

Dr. Helen Giles

Jim Rhodes, Jr.

PeriodsAbbreviations

Organizations and companies

Leo’s Cleaning, Inc.

Student Volunteer Assn.

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

NOTE: Abbreviations for government agencies and other widely used abbreviations are written without periods. Each letter is capitalized.

UFO (Unidentified Flying Object)

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

PeriodsAbbreviations

Items in addresses

216 N. Oak St.

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

State names

P.O. Box 3114

Mass. N.Y. N.Dak.

PeriodsAbbreviations

Times of day

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

7:30 A.M.8:15 P.M.

PeriodsAbbreviations

Units of measurement

Abbreviations for units of measurement are usually written without periods.

Use a period with the abbreviation for inch (in.) to prevent confusing it with the word in.

kilogram

foot

kg mile mi

ft ounce oz

inch in.

Periods

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Add periods where needed in the following sentences.

1. Cory brought her camera on the field trip

2. Please pass me the potatoes

3. We sent the entry form to PO Box 312

4. Mrs Ruiz was not in her office today

5. The board needs to be six ft and four in long.

On Your Own

Question marks

Have you heard my new song?

Questions are also called interrogative sentences.

Where should I meet you?

Did you see the art exhibit?

A question ends with a question mark.

Exclamation points

Exclamations are also called exclamatory sentences.

An exclamation ends with an exclamation point.

What a fun ride that was!

Those puppies are so cute!

Exclamation points

A strong command ends with an exclamation point.

Commands and requests are imperative sentences.

Pick up that litter now!

Look out for that car!

Question marks and exclamation points

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Add question marks or exclamation points, as appropriate, to the following sentences.

1. How many players are on each team

2. Watch out

3. What a beautiful bunch of flowers that is

4. Where would you like to go this evening

5. The roof is caving in Get out now

On Your Own

Review A

[End of Section]

In the following sentences, add correct end marks as needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.

1. The book is about Dr Martin Luther King, Jr

2. Which way do I turn to get to the skate park

3. I read one of my own poems in class

4. Mitch’s father was born in Japan.

5. Look out for that falling rock

Review B

[End of Section]

Add end marks as needed in the following sentences.

1.What an exciting game that was

2.Please make your bed every morning

3.Most of the city streets are now covered with ice

4.Wake up right now

5.Has Mr Tyrell P Brown agreed to speak at the ceremony

6.The baby weighs eight lbs and is 20 in long

The End