punctuation

[ puhngk-choo-ey-shuh n ]
/ ˌpʌŋk tʃuˈeɪ ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR punctuation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the practice or system of using certain conventional marks or characters in writing or printing in order to separate elements and make the meaning clear, as in ending a sentence or separating clauses.
the act of punctuating.
punctuation marks.

Origin of punctuation

1530–40; < Medieval Latin pūnctuātiōn- (stem of pūnctuātiō) a marking, pointing. See punctuate, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM punctuation

punc·tu·a·tion·al, punc·tu·a·tive, adjective non·punc·tu·a·tion, noun re·punc·tu·a·tion, noun

Words nearby punctuation

punctilious, punctual, punctuality, punctuate, punctuated equilibrium, punctuation, punctuation mark, punctuationalism, punctulate, punctum, punctum cecum

Content related to punctuation

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Words related to punctuation

interval, mark, bullet, dagger, ditto, reference, asterisk, caret

Example sentences from the Web for punctuation

British Dictionary definitions for punctuation

punctuation
/ (ˌpʌŋktjʊˈeɪʃən) /

noun

the use of symbols not belonging to the alphabet of a writing system to indicate aspects of the intonation and meaning not otherwise conveyed in the written language
the symbols used for this purpose
the act or an instance of punctuating