punctuation

Borrowed from Medieval Latin punctuatio, punctuationem (“a marking with points, a writing, agreement”), from punctuare (“to mark with points, settle”); see punctuate.

• IPA^(key): /pʌŋk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

punctuation (countable and uncountable, plural punctuations)

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.
2. An act of punctuating.

• See also Thesaurus:punctuation mark

• punctuation mark

• point
• punctilious
• punctuate
• punctual
• punctuality

Punctuation

• punctuation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• punctuation in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.