punctuation

noun

punc·tu·a·tion | \ ˌpəŋk-chə-ˈwā-shən

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

Examples of punctuation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the 1960s, Merwin moved back to New York, living in Greenwich Village, where his work became more experimental and autobiographical, losing punctuation and other formal elements. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "W.S. Merwin, Prize-Winning Poet and Conservationist, Has Died at 91," 15 Mar. 2019 Every once in a while, a Wall Street Journal columnist envies the punctuation of people who don’t have to follow a stylebook. — Jason Zweig, WSJ, "Mutual Funds Just Can’t Seem to Stop Slipping Up," 31 Aug. 2018 As the evening wound down, guests left with beach-friendly straw totes filled with items from Goop and Saks—the ideal punctuation to a lovely, midsummer night. — Vogue, "Goop and Saks Fifth Avenue Toast Summer in Sag Harbor," 18 July 2018 Then, Kaitlyn interviews The Verge’s copy editor Kara Verlaney about her thoughts on proper punctuation across the internet and all its forms. — Ashley Carman, The Verge, "The way we text says a lot about our personality," 7 Nov. 2018 Quick, punctuation-less Internet comments leave plenty of room for things to get lost in translation and taken way out of context. — Andrea Park, Teen Vogue, "Fans Accuse Pete Davidson of Being Insensitive on the Anniversary of Ariana Grande's Grandpa's Death," 23 July 2018 Your eye travels straight through, to that punctuation of color. — Lisa Cregan, House Beautiful, "Pat Healing's Tips for Decorating with Color," 19 July 2011 As others, including stylists Ann Caruso and Micaela Erlanger, surveyed the setting, a harpist and opera singer provided grandiose entertainment for a refined punctuation on the evening. — Vogue, "Hotel Vivier Lands in New York and Opens in Style," 13 Dec. 2018 Analyzing everything from changes in personal style, arm freckle pattern, handwriting, and eye shape, to Avril’s choice of words and punctuation on Twitter, fans have built a serious case for some of kind of switcheroo. — Hanna Lustig, Teen Vogue, "Avril Lavigne Called the Doppelgänger Conspiracy Theory About Her Death "So Weird"," 2 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'punctuation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.