Definition of punctuation
1
: the act of punctuating : the state of being punctuated
2
: the act or practice of inserting standardized marks or signs in written matter to clarify the meaning and separate structural units
also
: a system of punctuation
3
: something that contrasts or accentuates
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for punctuation
The first known use of punctuation was in 1593
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