punctuation

[ puhngk-choo-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the practice or system of using certain conventional marks or characters in writing or printing in order to separate elements and make the meaning clear, as in ending a sentence or separating clauses.
2. the act of punctuating.
3. punctuation marks.
4. Biology. the sudden or accelerated extinction of some species and emergence of others, occurring only in isolated periods, as set forth in the theory of punctuated equilibrium.

punctuation

/ ˌpʌŋktjʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the use of symbols not belonging to the alphabet of a writing system to indicate aspects of the intonation and meaning not otherwise conveyed in the written language
2. the symbols used for this purpose
3. the act or an instance of punctuating

Other Words From

• punctu·ation·al punctu·ative adjective
• nonpunc·tu·ation noun
• repunc·tu·ation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctuation¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Medieval Latin pūnctuātiōn- (stem of pūnctuātiō ) “a marking, pointing”; punctuate, -ion

Example Sentences

Directed by Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios, who adapted Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play “The Kitchen,” the film is a blast of furious energy that also knows when to let up, with a few moments of gentle lyricism as punctuation.

From Los Angeles Times

For four years now, he and the Dodgers have heard about how their 2020 championship, in a pandemic-shortened season, necessitated an asterisk, or some other form of punctuation.

From Los Angeles Times

"They didn't have the correct punctuation on the "e" so it sounded more like "Bront" not "Bronte"," she said.

From BBC

The impulse to exaggerate — and vent his frustration in run-on sentences with odd punctuation and random capitalization — is a sure sign Trump is in a swivet.

From Los Angeles Times

Whether you agree with the choice of punctuation in “Clue: Live on Stage!” depends to a large extent on what you think of Jonathan Lynn’s 1985 movie.

From Los Angeles Times