Punctuation

the symbol & used in writing to signify the word 'and'

The company's logo features an elegant ampersand between the names of the founders.

the symbol ' used in writing to show possession or omission of letters or numbers

The apostrophe in "can't" indicates the omission of the letter "o."

the symbol * used in writing or printing to show that there is more information about something in the footnote or as an indication of importance or omission

the symbol (\), used in some computer commands

to provide support or reinforcement to strengthen something and ensure it remains steady or firm

The engineers had to brace the bridge to prevent it from collapsing during the storm.

each of the two symbols [ ] used to indicate that the enclosed numbers or words should be considered separately

In mathematical expressions, brackets [ ] are used to group terms or indicate priority in operations.

a symbol (•) or short statement used to list or highlight individual items in text

The presentation used bullet points to summarize key ideas.

(anatomy) the main part of the large intestine, between the caecum to the rectum, where water is removed from solid waste

The colon, also known as the large intestine, is the final portion of the digestive tract responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes from undigested food matter.

the mark , used to separate items in a list or indicate a pause in a sentence

Remember to place a comma after each item in a list to ensure clarity.

to run or move quickly and suddenly, often with great force or urgency

The rabbit frequently dashes across the meadow, avoiding predators with its swift movements.

the symbol〃used under a word in a list to show that it is repeated and to avoid writing it down again

a small, round mark or spot

She put a red dot on the map to mark the location of her house.

a small line used to connect words or parts of words

In compound words like 'mother-in-law' and 'self-esteem,' a hyphen is used to connect the different parts of the word.

to leave a sign, line, etc. on something

Please use a pencil to mark the location where the measurements should be taken.

a span of time, often with a clear beginning and end

We lived in the city for a short period.

either of the symbols ( ) used in writing to enclose extra information that is given or to group a symbolic unit in logic or mathematics

In mathematics, a parenthesis is used to group numbers or operations together, as in (3 + 5) × 2.

the most important thing that is said or done which highlights the purpose of something

The professor made a crucial point about the importance of environmental conservation.

the symbol £ used in writing or printing to represent the British unit of currency

any mark such as a period, comma, brackets, etc., used in writing to divide phrases and sentences and to make them clearly understood

the mark ? used at the end of a sentence to show that it is a question

She added a question mark at the end of her email to clarify that she was seeking an answer.

either of the symbols " " or ' ' used before and after a word or words to indicate the beginning and the end of a title or quoted remark, or to mark a jargon

She used quotation marks to enclose the title of the article.

to say the exact sentence or group of words someone else used in a movie, book, etc.

During his presentation, he quoted a famous line from "The Godfather": "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

the punctuation mark ; used to separate the items in a list or to indicate a pause between two main clauses in a compound sentence

To connect closely related independent clauses, you can use a semicolon; it's a great way to show the relationship between the two sentences.

to violently cut with a quick move using a knife, etc.

The assailant slashed at the victim with a sharp knife, leaving deep wounds on their arm.

the practice of dividing a word at the end of a line to ensure proper alignment in written text

a punctuation symbol used to indicate additional information or a footnote reference in written text

a typographical symbol (∙) used primarily in mathematics and technical notation to represent a binary operation such as multiplication

In the formula, the bullet operator ∙ indicates multiplication between the two vectors.

a typographical symbol used to indicate a specific section or division within a document, often used in legal or academic contexts to reference a particular part or topic

a single typographical symbol, either the opening or closing angle quotation mark (« or ») used in various languages to indicate quotations or enclose text with a special meaning

the symbol @, that is used in email addresses and other forms of electronic communication

a small, V-shaped symbol often used in mathematics and computer programming to indicate exponentiation, bitwise XOR operations, or to mark insertions or corrections in text

a punctuation mark that consists of a small dot used to separate or clarify elements within a sentence, such as in decimal numbers, abbreviations, or to indicate word boundaries in some languages

(grammar) the act of omitting a word or words from a sentence, when the meaning is complete and the omission is understood from the context

The author used an ellipsis to suggest a pause or unfinished thought in the dialogue.

a sign formed by keyboard characters to show the tone of a message or its sender's facial expression, used on social media or in text messages

She added a smiley emoticon at the end of her message to indicate friendliness.

a punctuation mark that combines the question mark and exclamation mark, used to express a mixture of surprise and inquiry, or to convey a rhetorical question with emphasis

a punctuation mark that is slightly longer than a hyphen (-) and is used to indicate a range or connection between two elements, such as dates, times, or numbers, it is also used to show contrast or connection between words or phrases

a punctuation mark that is longer than both a hyphen (-) and an en dash (–)

a punctuation mark used to set off nonessential or supplementary information within a sentence, indicating a slight pause or separation of the parenthetical element from the rest of the sentence

a comma used before the conjunction, usually "and" or "or", in a list of three or more items, providing clarity and avoiding ambiguity

a punctuation mark consisting of two parallel horizontal lines used to enclose quoted or cited material

a punctuation mark consisting of a curved or slanted line used to enclose quoted or cited material within a larger quotation or to indicate a word or phrase as being ironic, unconventional, or used in a specialized sense

a short weapon with a pointed blade

The assassin concealed a dagger in his cloak as he approached the target.

the mark ! used after a sentence to indicate excitement, surprise, etc.

In his email, he used an exclamation point to convey urgency.

a typographical symbol that resembles a backward-facing "P" (¶)