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Terminal punctuation

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. ? ! ‽
Terminal punctuation

Terminal punctuation refers to the punctuation marks used to identify the end of a portion of text. Terminal punctuation marks are also referred to as end marks[1] and stops.[2]

In languages using the ISO basic Latin alphabet, terminal punctuation marks are defined as the period, the question mark, and the exclamation mark.[3][4] These punctuation marks may bring sentences to a close. In their widest sense, terminal punctuation marks bring any element of written text to a close, including other conventions, such as abbreviations.[5]

Terminal punctuation in English
Interrogative
No Yes
Exclamatory No Period or Full stop (.) Question mark (?)
Yes Exclamation mark (!) Interrobang (‽)

See also

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Notes

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References

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  • Baugh, L. Sue (2005). Essentials of English Grammar: The Quick Guide to Good English (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-145708-8.
  • Loberger, Gordon; Shoup, Kate (2009). Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing. ISBN 978-0-470-41080-6.
  • Lutz, Gary; Stevenson, Diane (2005). The Writing Digest Grammar Desk Reference. Cincinnati, OH: Writer's Digest Books. ISBN 978-1-58297-335-7.
  • Staff of REA (2009). REA's Handbook of English Grammar, Style, and Writing. Research and Education Association. ISBN 978-0-87891-552-1.
  • University of Chicago Press (1982). The Chicago Manual of Style: For Authors, Editors, and Copywriters (13th Revised and Expanded ed.). Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-10403-4.