From KneeQuickie
Marks such as <. , ?> that define sentence and clause in writing.
Separators
|
| Name
| Usage
|
| .
| Full stop
| Represents the end of a sentence.
|
| ,
| Comma
| Represents the transfer between two clauses; separates items in a list; represents a pause in speech.
|
| ?
| Question mark
| Marks an interrogative statement.
|
| !
| Exclamation point
| Marks an exclamatory or imperative statement.
|
| :
| Colon
| Marks the transition of a complete statement to an associated list or examples.
|
| ;
| Semicolon
| Joins two associated, but independent, statements; separates complex phrases in a list.
|
| “ ”
| Quotation marks
| Sets off a direct quotation.
|
Parenthetical marks
|
| Name
| Usage
|
| ( )
| Parentheses
| A set of brackets marking a parenthetical statement.
|
| [ ]
| Brackets
| Represents parenthesis, but distinguishable from parentheses.
|
| { }
| Braces
| Represents something that applies to several examples, or as a further distinction in brackets.
|
In linguistics
|
| Name
| Usage
|
| [ ]
| Phonetic
| Represents a phonetic transcription.
|
| / /
| Phonemic
| Represents a phonemic transcription.
|
| | |
| Underlying representation
| Represents something that applies to several examples, or as a further distinction in brackets.
|
Dashes, hyphens, tics
|
| Name
| Usage
|
| ‐
| Hyphen
| Used to join two words together to make a compound.
|
| –
| En-dash
| Used to mark a numeric range; used to represent relations and connections; sometimes used in America for an em-dash.
|
| —
| Em-dash
| Used before and after a parenthesis; used like a semicolon. In French, introduces direct speech. In Russian, replaces the en-dash.
|
| '
| Apostrophe
| Represents different things per language: A contraction in English or French; a glottal stop in Hawaiian.
|
| /
| Slash
| Represents an "or" choice; represents a directory on the internet; two slashes represent phonemic representations in linguistics.
|
Ancient Greek
|
| Name
| Usage
|
| .
| ἡ τελεία στιγμή
| Ends a complete thought; same as the Latin period.
|
| ·
| ἡ μέση στιγμή
| Middle dot; represents a long pause; also used to introduce direct quotation.
|
| ,
| τὸ κόμμα
| Comma; a short pause for breath, though the thought is not yet completed.
|
| ;
| ἡ ἐρωτήματος στιγμή
| Question mark; same as the Latin semicolon
|
