Periods, Exclamation Marks, and Question marks Punctuation

Period in a sentence It is used to mark the end of a declarative sentence or an imperative sentence. The two men faced each other in silence. Wait here.

Periods in Vertical Lists The following metals were excluded from the regulation: Molybdenum Mercury Manganese Magnesium After careful investigation, the committee was convinced that 1.the organization’s lawyer, Watson, had consulted no one before making the decision; 2.the chair, Francis, had never spoken to Watson; 3.Francis was as surprised as anyone by what happened. Note: Start each sentence with a small letter. Omit periods after items in a vertical list unless one or more of the items are complete sentences

Periods with Quotations American Style The period falls within the closing quotes “There is no reason to inform the president.” Emerson replied nervously, “The president doesn’t wish to be informed about such things.” British Style It is usually placed outside the quoted material. Only if the period belongs to the quoted material, it is placed within. The first line of Le Beau’s warning to Orlando has long been regarded as reading “ Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you”. This is in a literary text; the quotation does not end with a period.

Period with Headings Omit the period after centered headings, sideheads set on separate lines, column heads in tables, legends, datelines, and signatures.

Exclamation Point Like the period, the exclamation point should be placed inside the quotation marks, parentheses, or brackets when it is part of the quoted matter.

Examples The woman cried, “Those men are beating that child!” Her husband replied—calmly—”It is no concern of mine”! Mrs. Cooper( I could have died!) repeated the whole story. Joe’s angry reply, “I do not know the man!” took us all by surprise. “ I offered to drive him to her flat,you know, but he became abusive and said, ‘To hell with you, Drake!’ ” “ Look here, Wellington, the duchess had no right to say, ‘We’re not at home’!”

Question Marks Used to mark a query Who will represent the poor? A question mark should be used at the end of a directly interrogative element that is part of a sentence How can the two women be reconciled? Was the question on everyone’s mind. What for? he wondered.

Courteous Requests A courteous request should be terminated with a period. Will you please rush the manuscript to the publisher.

Indirect Questions A question stated indirectly is not an interrogative and does not take a question mark: Before going through with it, ask yourself whether it is worth the risk.