punctuation
UK: ˌpʌŋk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən | US: ˌpʌŋk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən
n. the use of standardized marks (e.g., commas, periods) in writing to clarify meaning and separate structural units.
n. the marks themselves (e.g., “?”, “!”).
punctu<point> + ation<noun suffix>
- punctu: Derived from Latin punctus (past participle of pungere, "to prick or point"), reflecting the idea of marking points in text.
- ation: A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or result (e.g., "creation," "observation").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin punctus, which originally referred to physical pricking or piercing. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to denote "marking points" in written language, aligning with the function of punctuation as a system of textual "pointing." The suffix -ation formalizes it as a grammatical concept.
Proper punctuation ensures clarity in written communication.
The teacher emphasized the importance of commas in punctuation.
His essay lacked correct punctuation, making it hard to read.
The semicolon is a versatile punctuation mark.
Ancient texts often had minimal punctuation.