punctuation — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A set of symbols and marks which are used to clarify meaning in text by separating strings of words into clauses, phrases and sentences; examples include commas, hyphens, and stops (periods).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Different languages have different rules for punctuation.

2. Nikud.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Jeremiah ii. 34, where the meaningless אֵלֶּה ("these") of the Massoretic text should be corrected into אַלָּה or לַהאֱ ("oak" or "terebinth") […] The change is merely one of punctuation; the original Hebrew text remains unaffected.

3. An act of punctuating.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions

   Broader terms

   interruptionbreak

2. the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases

   Synonyms

   punctuation mark

   Broader terms

   mark

3. the use of certain marks to clarify meaning of written material by grouping words grammatically into sentences and clauses and phrases

   Broader terms

   grouping