A sentence ends with a full stop, a question mark or an exclamation mark.

Punctuation Example
STATEMENT Full stop We've got the best bargains.
IMPERATIVE Full stop Send for our brochure today.
QUESTION Question mark Have you booked a holiday?
EXCLAMATION Exclamation mark What a bargain!
NOTE
a If a question has no inversion, then we still use a question mark.
You've booked a holiday?
b A request in the form of a question usually has a question mark.
Can you send me a brochure, please?
c There is a question mark after a question tag.
It's a bargain, isn't it?
2 Punctuation between main clauses
a There are a number of ways of punctuating two main clauses.
Full stop between separate sentences
Shakespeare wrote plays. He also acted on the stage.
Semi-colon between separate clauses
Shakespeare wrote plays; he also acted on the stage.
Comma between clauses linked by and, but or so
Shakespeare wrote plays, and he also acted on the stage.
No punctuation when the verb follows and, but or so
Shakespeare wrote plays and acted on the stage.
A full stop or semi-colon shows that there are two separate pieces of information.
A comma or no punctuation shows the meanings as more closely linked.
b Clauses linked by and, but or so can be without a comma, especially if they are
short.
He wrote plays, and he also acted.
He wrote plays and he also acted.
But if there is no linking word, we must put a full stop or semi-colon.
NOT He wrote plays, he also acted.
c We can use a dash between clauses, but it is rather informal.
Shakespeare wrote plays - he also acted on the stage.
We can use either a dash or a colon before a clause which is an explanation.
The theatre was full - there were several school parties there.
The theatre was full: there were several school parties there.
56 Punctuation
3 Sub clauses and phrases
The rules about commas with sub clauses and phrases are not very exact. In
general, we can use commas around an adverbial phrase or clause. Commas are
more likely around longer phrases.
a Adverbials
We can use a comma after an adverbial clause or phrase at the beginning of a
sentence.
After the guests had all left, we had to tidy up.
After their departure, we had to tidy up.
Afterwards, we had to tidy up.
The comma is more necessary if the adverbial is long. After a short phrase there is
often no comma.
Afterwards we had to tidy up.
A comma is much less usual when the adverbial comes at the end of the sentence.
We had to tidy up after the guests had left.
We had to tidy up afterwards.
We do not normally use a comma before an infinitive clause of purpose.
Lots of people come here to look round the market.
But commas are usual with linking adverbs, truth adverbs and comment adverbs.
Yes, I have received your letter.
All of us, as a result, were feeling pretty tired.
There wasn't much to eat, however.
On the whole, the party was a success.
Nothing got broken, luckily.
NOTE
a When something is added as an afterthought, we can use a comma, a dash or
brackets.
My husband does the cooking, sometimes.
I'd love a holiday- if I could afford it.
Everything should be OK (I hope).
b The name of the reader/listener is separated off by commas.
I hope to see you soon, Melanie. Dear Alex, Thank you for your letter.
b Noun clauses
A noun clause is not separated off by commas. This rule includes indirect speech.
It is a fact that there are more cars in Los Angeles than people.
We know the earth goes round the sun.
Everyone was wondering what to do.
For direct speech, � (4).
c Relative clauses
An identifying relative clause is not separated off.
People who write plays sometimes act in them too.
But an adding clause has commas. It can also have dashes or brackets.
Shakespeare, who wrote many famous plays, also acted on the stage.
For details about the different kinds of relative clause, � 272(5).
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7 SPOKEN ENGLISH AND WRITTEN ENGLISH PAGE 72
d Apposition
We sometimes use commas around a phrase in apposition, but not always.
Irving Berlin, the famous composer, couldn't read music.
The composer Irving Berlin couldn't read music.
For details, � 14.
e Phrases which explain
A dash or colon comes before a phrase which explains, which adds the missing
information.
Only one American President has been unmarried- James Buchanan.
The product is available in three colours: white, green and blue.
f Lists