Using End Marks

What are end marks?

Periods
Sentences
Abbreviations
Question marks
Exclamation points
Review A
Review B

What are end marks?

When you speak, you can make your meaning
clear by
your tone of voice
the pauses in your speech
your gestures and facial
expressions
When you write, you use end marks and other
punctuation to help the reader understand your
meaning.

What are end marks?

End marksperiods, question marks, and
exclamation pointsshow where one sentence
ends and the next begins.
Ill call you later tonight I have to study
Will I call you
later tonight?

Ill call you later tonight.

I have to study.

Or do I have to
study tonight?

Ill call you later. Tonight

I have to study.

What are end marks?

End marks also help indicate the purpose of a
sentence.
Statement

I raked up all the leaves today.

Question

Did you rake up all the leaves?

Exclamation

I finally raked up all the leaves!

Command

Hurry up and rake those leaves!

Request

Please rake the leaves today.

[End of Section]

Periods
The period is the most common end mark.
Periods are used to end
statements
requests and mild commands

Periods are also used after most abbreviations.

Periods

Sentences

A statement ends with a period.

We are on the same team.

The referee hasnt flipped the coin yet.

Statements are declarative sentences.

Periods

Sentences

A request or a mild command ends with a

period.
Request

Please prepare the salad.

Command

Slice the peppers and carrots.

Requests and commands are

imperative sentences.

Periods

Abbreviations

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

Personal names (initials)
J. K. Rowling

S. E. Hinton

Titles used with names

Dr. Helen Giles

Mrs. Garcia

Jim Rhodes, Jr.

Periods

Abbreviations

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

Organizations and companies
Student Volunteer Assn.

Leos Cleaning, Inc.

NOTE: Abbreviations for government agencies and

other widely used abbreviations are written without
periods. Each letter is capitalized.

CIA (Central
Intelligence Agency)

UFO (Unidentified
Flying Object)

Periods

Abbreviations

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

Items in addresses
216 N. Oak St.

P.O. Box 3114

State names
N.Y.

Mass.

N.Dak.

Periods

Abbreviations

Periods are used in many types of abbreviations.

Times of day

7:30 A.M.
8:15 P.M.

Periods

Abbreviations

Units of measurement
Abbreviations for units of measurement are usually
written without periods.
kilogram

kg

mile

mi

foot

ft

ounce

oz

Use a period with the abbreviation for inch (in.)

to prevent confusing it with the word in.
inch

in.

Periods
On Your Own

Add periods where needed in the following sentences.

1. Cory brought her camera on the field trip
2. Please pass me the potatoes
3. We sent the entry form to PO Box 312
4. Mrs Ruiz was not in her office today
5. The board needs to be six ft and four in long.

[End of Section]

Question marks
A question ends with a question mark.
Have you heard my new song?
Where should I meet you?
Did you see the art exhibit?

Questions are also called interrogative sentences.

Exclamation points
An exclamation ends with an exclamation point.
What a fun ride that was!

Those puppies are so cute!

Exclamations are also called exclamatory
sentences.

Exclamation points
A strong command ends with an exclamation
point.
Look out for that car!

Pick up that litter now!

Commands and requests are imperative sentences.

Question marks and exclamation points

On Your Own

Add question marks or exclamation points, as

appropriate, to the following sentences.
1. How many players are on each team
2. Watch out
3. What a beautiful bunch of flowers that is
4. Where would you like to go this evening
5. The roof is caving in Get out now
[End of Section]

Review A
In the following sentences, add correct end marks as
needed. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
1. The book is about Dr Martin Luther King, Jr
2. Which way do I turn to get to the skate park
3. I read one of my own poems in class
4. Mitchs father was born in Japan.
5. Look out for that falling rock

[End of Section]

Review B
Add end marks as needed in the following sentences.
1. What an exciting game that was
2. Please make your bed every morning
3. Most of the city streets are now covered with ice
4. Wake up right now
5. Has Mr Tyrell P Brown agreed to speak at the
ceremony
6. The baby weighs eight lbs and is 20 in long
[End of Section]

The End