Academic / B2

pungkch-oo-AYSHUN/ˌpʌŋktʃuˈeɪʃn/

Punctuation is marks such as commas, full stops, and question marks in writing (usually uncountable): punctuation error; punctuation changes meaning. Punctuate is the verb; punctual is about time. Faulty punctuation changed the legal meaning in the clause. Mix-up: punctual; puncture. Do not write “a punctuation” as a countable comma.

Meaning

Marks such as commas, full stops, and question marks in writing (usually uncountable).

Examples

• “Faulty punctuation changed the legal meaning in the source clause.”
• “Check punctuation in the data labels, which is the graph sense.”

Good to know

punctuation marks / error; a punctuation mark (countable). Verb: punctuate. Trap: punctual. Language papers and law. Commas and full stops, not arriving on time.

Topics

New