What Are the 14 Punctuation Marks in English?

What Is Punctuation?

Punctuation is to writing what cartilage is to bones, essential for structure and clarity. In English, there are 14 punctuation marks used to organize ideas, indicate pauses, and convey emotion. If you’re wondering “what is punctuation” or “how many punctuation marks are there in English,” this guide has the answer. We’ll explore the 14 punctuation marks and their uses with real-world examples to help you write clearly and confidently.

To understand how punctuation supports grammar structure, check out The Basics of English Grammar to improve both writing and punctuation.

There are 14 Punctuation Marks in the English Language, which are as follows:

• The Period (.)
• Question Mark (?)
• The Exclamation Point (!)
• The Comma (,)
• Semicolon (;)
• Colon (:)
• Dash (—)
• The Hyphen (-)
• Parentheses ()
• Brackets []
• Braces {}
• The Apostrophe (‘)
• Quotation Marks (“ ”)
• Ellipsis (…)

Let us now discuss these 14 punctuation marks of English in detail.

Period (.)

It is generally used to end a sentence or is part of an abbreviation.

• E.g., “She went home.”
• U.N.O. or UNO (modern style)

Question Mark (?)

Used at the end of direct questions.

• E.g., “Are you coming?”
• Indirect questions don’t need a question mark.

Exclamation Point (!)

Expresses sudden emotions, surprise, or interjections.

• E.g., “Wow!”, “Oh, Sam!”

Comma (,)

Puts a space between objects, clauses, or sentences that come after opening words.

• E.g., “Apples, bananas, and oranges.”

For deeper clarity on comma usage, explore our guide on punctuation and English writing.

Semicolon (;)

Separates closely related independent clauses.

• E.g., “She likes tea; he prefers coffee.”

Colon (:)

Introduces lists, quotes, or explanations.

• E.g., “I need to buy food: vegetables and fruits”

— Dash (—)

Indicates abrupt breaks, interruptions, or additional emphasis.

• E.g., “If my friend were alive—but it is better not to lament.”

– Hyphen (-)

Joins compound words or splits a word.

• E.g., “Long-winded”, “Jack-of-all-trades”

( ) Parentheses

Adds nonessential information.

• E.g., “He got what he wished (finally).”

[ ] Brackets

Used for clarification within a quote.

• E.g., “She [the teacher] was kind.”

{ } Braces

Used in programming or to show equal choices.

• E.g., {pepper, onion, sausage}

Apostrophe (’)

Indicates omission or possession.

• E.g., “don’t”, “John’s book”

” ” Quotation Marks

Encloses direct speech or quotations.

• E.g., “He said, ‘Hello.’”

… Ellipsis

Indicates omitted text or trailing thought.

• E.g., “Well… I’m not sure.”

If you’re still wondering why punctuation matters, don’t miss Why Not to Ignore Punctuation Marks, which dives deep into why these symbols shape meaning in writing.

There are 14 core punctuation marks in English grammar. However, in modern writing, especially in digital communication, you may also encounter other symbols like the slash (/), asterisk (*), and hashtag (#). These are not part of the official 14 punctuation marks, but they are widely used and worth understanding.

Table of Punctuation Marks, Symbols & Their Uses

Punctuation Marks	Symbols	Common Uses	Example
Period / Full Stop	.	Ends a sentence.	She went home.
Comma	,	Divides elements in a list, clauses, or follows introductory components.	Apples, bananas, and oranges.
Question Mark	?	Ends a direct question.	Are you coming?
Exclamation Mark	!	Expresses strong emotion or surprise.	Wow!
Colon	:	Introduces a list, explanation, or quote.	“Be careful.”
Semicolon	;	Connects closely related independent clauses.	She likes tea; he prefers coffee.
Apostrophe	(’)	Shows possession or contraction.	John’s book, don’t
Quotation Marks	“ ” or ‘ ’	Enclose direct speech or quotations.	She said, “Hello.”
Hyphen	–	Connects words or divides a word at the line’s conclusion.	well-known, twenty-one
Dash (En Dash / Em Dash)	– / —	En Dash for ranges (2010–2020); Em Dash for emphasis or interruption.	She was late, as always.
Parentheses (Brackets)	()	Encloses additional info or clarifications.	He came (after she left).
Brackets (Square Brackets)	[]	Used inside quotations for clarification.	She [the teacher] was kind.
Ellipsis	…	Indicates omitted text or trailing thoughts.	Well… I’m not sure.
Slash	/	Shows alternatives or fractions.	and/or, 25/50
Ampersand	&	Informal use for “and” (e.g., brand names).	Johnson & Johnson
Asterisk	*	Indicates a footnote or special remark.	*Terms and conditions apply.
Number Sign / Hashtag	#	Used for numbering or hashtags.	#ThrowbackThursday
At Sign	@	Used in email addresses or social tags.	@user, info@example.com
Underscore	_	Used in URLs or file names.	file_name.txt
Pipe	|	Used in programming or logic	option 1 | option 2
Backslash / Forward Slash	\ /	Used in file paths, URLs, or coding.	C:\Users or https://
Curly Braces	{}	Used in programming or math.	{x + y}
Angle Brackets	< >	Used in coding or to enclose tags.	<html>
Tilde	~	Approximation or math use.	~5 minutes

Conclusion: Mastering Punctuation for Better English Writing

Understanding the 14 punctuation marks in the English language is essential for anyone looking to write effectively and professionally. Each symbol, whether it’s a comma, colon, or ellipsis, serves a unique purpose in structuring your thoughts, conveying meaning, and adding rhythm to your writing.

From academic essays to casual emails, correct punctuation elevates your communication and reduces ambiguity. Misplaced or missing punctuation can drastically change the intent of a sentence, leading to confusion or even misinterpretation.

Whether you’re a student, writer, teacher, or language learner, practicing proper punctuation will enhance your grammar, fluency, and confidence in written English. Revisit this guide often and apply the examples.

“You consistently employ body language to punctuate your speech when speaking aloud.” Punctuation serves that function in written communication. Russell Baker.

“Punctuation is to words what cartilage is to bone.” John Lennard.

“The road map of written language is punctuation.” Lynne Truss.

Explore more language improvement resources at our Your Cloud Campus for grammar, literature, and writing help.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What are the 14 punctuation marks in English? 

A: The punctuation marks include period,  colon, semicolon, question mark, comma, exclamation mark, dash, hyphen,  quote marks, parentheses, brackets, braces, apostrophe, and ellipsis.

Q2: What are the uses of 14 punctuation marks in English?

A: Each punctuation mark serves a unique function, like ending a sentence, showing a pause, connecting thoughts, or expressing emotion. Refer to our full list above for detailed examples.

Q3: How many punctuation marks are there in English grammar?

A: There are 14 standard punctuation marks commonly used in English writing, and each plays a critical role in writing clarity.

Q4: What is punctuation in English?

A: Punctuation is the use of symbols in writing to help convey tone, structure, pauses, and meaning.

Q5: What is this called in punctuation — like ‘…’? 

A: It’s called an ellipsis, used to indicate omissions or trailing thoughts.

Q6: What is : in English grammar? 

A: The colon (:) introduces lists, explanations, or quoted text.

Q7: What is – in punctuation? 

A: It can be a hyphen (joins words) or a dash (adds emphasis or breaks).

Q8: What are the most common punctuation marks in English?

 A: Period, comma, question mark, exclamation mark, colon, and quotation marks.

Q9: What is this mark called: “?

A: That’s a quotation mark. It’s used to enclose direct speech or a quote.

Q10: What are some common punctuation mistakes?

 A: Overusing commas, missing apostrophes, or using dashes instead of hyphens. Learn more in our writing improvement guide.
For students struggling with common word confusions alongside punctuation, we recommend 5 Confusing English Word Sets Everyone Should Know.

Q11: What is loose punctuation?

Loose punctuation refers to incorrect or inconsistent use of punctuation marks, which can confuse the reader. Avoid mixing dashes and hyphens, or skipping necessary commas.