punctuation
noun
punc·tu·a·tion
ˌpəŋk-chə-ˈwā-shən 
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
Examples of punctuation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Somehow, the music matches the nervous, revolutionary energy on screen: the unlikely sight of an angry Brooklyn patrolled by troops, hundreds of people clashing in the streets, a suicide bomber putting an abrupt punctuation to it all.
—
Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
On top of that: Much of Bulgakov’s novel depends on his prose — his extraordinary prose, down to the punctuation.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 Apr. 2024
Just as Grammarly suggests spelling and punctuation edits, the StartupOS platform can review and suggest edits for key startup documents.
—Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Only this time, Dre’s production sensibilities (to say nothing of his raps) were more dramatic, theatrical and even humorous to align with Em’s nasal raps and cutting punctuation.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
But the title’s punctuation ironizes or undercuts this intention, as if to suggest that language signifies in ways that are impossible to control.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024
And punctuation was emphatically the effect achieved when Mr. Domingo pinned a jeweled David Yurman sunburst to his bow tie.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
What insights will future historians be able to glean about the personal lives and the character of our leaders in 50 years based on a few surviving emails written in haste with poor grammar and punctuation?
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2024
An array of clanging chimes and banging cymbals add punctuation to Dre’s windy wonder – an album where every little nook, cranny and noise matters.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
On top of that: Much of Bulgakov’s novel depends on his prose — his extraordinary prose, down to the punctuation.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 Apr. 2024
Just as Grammarly suggests spelling and punctuation edits, the StartupOS platform can review and suggest edits for key startup documents.
—Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Only this time, Dre’s production sensibilities (to say nothing of his raps) were more dramatic, theatrical and even humorous to align with Em’s nasal raps and cutting punctuation.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
But the title’s punctuation ironizes or undercuts this intention, as if to suggest that language signifies in ways that are impossible to control.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024
And punctuation was emphatically the effect achieved when Mr. Domingo pinned a jeweled David Yurman sunburst to his bow tie.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
What insights will future historians be able to glean about the personal lives and the character of our leaders in 50 years based on a few surviving emails written in haste with poor grammar and punctuation?
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2024
An array of clanging chimes and banging cymbals add punctuation to Dre’s windy wonder – an album where every little nook, cranny and noise matters.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punctuation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near punctuation
Cite this Entry
“Punctuation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punctuation. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punctuation
noun
punc·tu·a·tion
ˌpəŋ(k)-chə-ˈwā-shən
: the act, practice, or system of inserting punctuation marks in written matter to make the meaning clear and separate parts (as clauses or sentences)
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