Punctuation Department · Today with The Mayor

End Marks

1 Learn Start here

2 Assess Take the quiz

3 Practice Try it out

★ Certified Earn your badge

▶ Play Optional

End Marks

Tap an officer to meet them, then work through each one.

Officer Period, the most common mark

In a sentence

I like movies about koala bears .

Use a period to end a statement

A statement shares a fact, an opinion, or an account of something that happened, and it closes with a period.

In a sentence

Soccer is my favorite sport .

Jackie doesn't like to eat fish .

Use a period to end a mild command

A command is like an order or an instruction. When it is said calmly, a period ends it.

In a sentence

Please close the container .

Take a seat .

Use a period to end a request

A request is a polite way to ask. It is not a question, so it ends with a period instead of a question mark.

In a sentence

Please don't give that ball to Herman .

Periods in abbreviations

An abbreviation is the short form of a longer word, like a title or a set of initials. A period signals the abbreviation.

In a sentence

Mr . and Mrs . Johnson attended .

Now you try

A statement can be a fact, an opinion, or just what happened. You could try one about your day, your pet, or pizza. Any statement works.

Detective Question Mark, the one who asks

Use a question mark to end a question

A question asks something and expects an answer. The question mark is the clue that the sentence is asking, not telling.

In a sentence

What is the name of your favorite pet ?

Turn a statement into a question

The same words can tell or ask. Change the period to a question mark and a statement becomes a question.

In a sentence

You finished your homework .

You finished your homework ?

Now you try

A question asks something and expects an answer. You could try asking about a friend, a mystery, or what is for lunch. Any real question works.

Sergeant Exclamation Mark, used with purpose

Use an exclamation mark for strong feeling

An exclamation mark ends a sentence that carries strong feeling, like excitement, surprise, or alarm. Use it when a calm period would not carry the force.

In a sentence

Eureka !

That's not your backpack !

Use an exclamation mark after a strong interjection

An interjection is a word that shows strong or mild emotion, like Hey, Ouch, or Wow. When the emotion is strong, an exclamation mark closes it.

In a sentence

Hey, that is my bike !

Ouch, that really hurt !

Turn a statement or command into an exclamation

A statement or a command can turn into an exclamation. Trade the period for an exclamation mark and the same words carry real force.

In a sentence

Hand me those jelly beans !

Now you try

An exclamation shows strong feeling, used with purpose. You could try a cheer, a warning, or a happy surprise. One mark is plenty.

Same words, three meanings

In a sentence

You're leaving .

You're leaving ?

You're leaving !

Now you try

Keep all the words exactly the same and let only the end mark change. You could tell it with a period, ask it with a question mark, then exclaim it with an exclamation mark. Same words, three meanings.