punctuation
[puhngk-choo-ey-shuh n]
- 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.
- the act of punctuating.
- punctuation marks.
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Origin of punctuation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for punctuation
Contemporary Examples
Completed in 1953 and composed with standard line breaks and punctuation, the book was completely ignored upon submission.
“And to see great fashion,” he added half-heartedly, in monotone and with no punctuation.
You might say that this is part of my side of the story… Please excuse my handwriting, punctuation, and spelling.
It was more like punctuation, a real life comma that emphasizes the constant pressures of our daily schedule.
The rise to infamy of the “SarcMark”® is unparalleled in the history of punctuation.
Historical Examples
Changes in spelling, use of capitals, punctuation and type are not recorded.
Maid MarianThomas Love Peacock
It was a species of punctuation, and implied that Mr. Morgan had finished his remark.
The Slave Of The LampHenry Seton Merriman
Otherwise, spelling and punctuation are presented as in the original text.
Washington's Masonic CorrespondenceJulius F. Sachse
Other than noted corrections, spelling and punctuation is presented as in the original.
The Phantom WorldAugustin Calmet
That it was the best piece of punctuation I have seen for some time.
punctuation
- 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
- the symbols used for this purpose
- the act or an instance of punctuating
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for punctuation
n.
1530s, "pointing of the psalms," from Medieval Latin punctuationem (nominative punctuatio) "a marking with points," noun of action from past participle stem of punctuare "to mark with points or dots," from Latin punctus "a prick" (see point (n.)). Meaning "system of inserting pauses in written matter" is recorded from 1660s.
[P]unctuation is cold notation; it is not frustrated speech; it is typographic code. [Robert Bringhurst, "The Elements of Typographic Style," 2004]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper