End Marks
An end mark is a period, question mark, or exclamation point used to indicate the purpose of a sentence.
Sentences
Statements or Declarative Sentences
A statement (or declarative sentence) is followed by a period.
EXAMPLE
- Buster is the dog with the brown spots. [The sentence is a statement, so it is followed by a period.]
Questions or Interrogative Sentences
A question (or interrogative sentence) is followed by a question mark.
EXAMPLE
- What time is your guitar lesson? [The sentence is a question, so it is followed by a question mark.]
Sometimes a sentence may sound like a question but be a statement.
Use a period when a sentence is a statement.
Use a period when a sentence is a statement.
EXAMPLES
- Did you get the correct answer to question five? [The sentence is a question, so it is followed by a question mark.]
- Jacob asked if we got the correct answer to question five. [The sentence is a statement, not a question, so it is followed by a period.]
Exclamations or Exclamatory Sentences
An exclamation (or exclamatory sentence) is followed by an exclamation point.
EXAMPLE
- Look out for that step! [The sentence is an exclamation, so it is followed by an exclamation point.]
Interjections
An interjection is followed by an exclamation point or comma.
If the interjection expresses mild surprise or excitement, it is followed by a comma.
If the interjection expresses strong surprise or excitement, it is followed by an exclamation point.
If the interjection expresses mild surprise or excitement, it is followed by a comma.
If the interjection expresses strong surprise or excitement, it is followed by an exclamation point.
EXAMPLES
- Oh, I’m glad you are feeling better. [The interjection Oh expresses mild excitement, so it is followed by a comma.]
- Wow! That model airplane can fly high! [The interjection Wow expresses strong surprise, so it is followed by an exclamation point.]
Requests or commands or Imperative Sentences
A request or a command (an imperative sentence) is followed by either a period or an exclamation point.
If the request or command is mild, it is followed by a period.
If the request or command is strong, it is followed by an exclamation point.
If the request or command is strong, it is followed by an exclamation point.
EXAMPLES
- Please clean your room. [The request is a mild command, so it is followed by a period.]
- Don’t touch that hot oven! [The command is strong, so it is followed by an exclamation point.]