Punctuation Marks and Their Usage: English ЕГЭ 2025 Preparation

Mastering punctuation is essential for clear and effective written communication in English. This guide will help you understand and correctly use various punctuation marks, which will enhance your performance in the writing section of the ЕГЭ English exam. By learning the rules and practicing their application, you will be able to write with greater precision and clarity.

Theory for Exam Preparation

Punctuation marks are symbols that help organize written language and clarify meaning. They indicate pauses, intonation, and relationships between ideas, making text more readable and comprehensible. In the ЕГЭ English exam, correct punctuation is an important component of the writing tasks. Punctuation errors can obscure meaning, create ambiguity, or change the intended message entirely. This guide will explore the various punctuation marks used in English, including periods, commas, semicolons, colons, question marks, exclamation marks, apostrophes, quotation marks, hyphens, and dashes. For each punctuation mark, we will examine its functions, rules for usage, and common errors to avoid. By familiarizing yourself with these rules and practicing their application, you will be better equipped to write accurately and effectively in the exam.

The Period (Full Stop)

Basic Usage

The period (.) is one of the most common punctuation marks in English. Its primary functions include:

• Marking the end of a declarative or imperative sentence
• Indicating abbreviations
• Creating decimal points in numbers
• Forming ellipses (as a series of three periods)

Ending Sentences

Use a period to mark the end of a complete sentence that makes a statement or gives a command:

Examples:

• The museum closes at 5 p.m.
• Please submit your assignment by Friday.
• The results of the experiment were inconclusive.
• Remember to bring your textbook to class.

Abbreviations

Periods are used in many abbreviations, though usage varies between British and American English:

Abbreviation Type	British English	American English
Titles	Mr / Mrs / Dr	Mr. / Mrs. / Dr.
Common abbreviations	etc / e.g. / i.e.	etc. / e.g. / i.e.
Organizations	BBC / NATO	B.B.C. / N.A.T.O. (though increasingly without periods)
Academic degrees	PhD / BSc	Ph.D. / B.S. (though increasingly without periods)

Note: Modern style increasingly favors fewer periods in abbreviations, especially in British English.

Decimal Points and Ellipses

Periods are used as decimal points in numbers:

• 3.14 (pi)
• $5.99 (five dollars and ninety-nine cents)
• 2.5 kilometers (two and a half kilometers)

Three consecutive periods form an ellipsis (...), which indicates an omission or a trailing thought:

• "To be or not to be..." (omitted text from a quotation)
• I was thinking about going to the party, but... (trailing thought)

The Comma

Basic Usage

The comma (,) is used to separate elements within a sentence. Its primary functions include:

• Separating items in a list
• Setting off introductory elements
• Separating independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions
• Setting off nonessential elements
• Separating adjectives
• Indicating direct address
• Preventing misreading

Lists

Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more:

Examples:

• I need to buy milk, bread, and eggs.
• The conference will be attended by scientists, researchers, politicians, and journalists.

Note: The final comma before "and" or "or" in a list is called the Oxford or serial comma. It is optional in British English but generally required in American English.

Introductory Elements

Use a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses:

Examples:

• However, the results were not what we expected.
• After finishing her homework, she went for a walk.
• To succeed in this course, you must attend all lectures.
• Although it was raining, they decided to go for a hike.

Independent Clauses

Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) that join independent clauses:

Examples:

• She studied for the test, and she felt prepared.
• I wanted to go to the concert, but I had too much work to do.
• You can take the bus, or you can walk to school.

Nonessential Elements

Use commas to set off nonessential information (information that could be removed without changing the basic meaning of the sentence):

Examples:

• My brother, who lives in London, is visiting next week.
• The book, published in 2020, became an instant bestseller.
• The museum, as you probably know, is closed on Mondays.

Coordinate Adjectives

Use commas between adjectives that independently modify the same noun (coordinate adjectives):

Examples:

• It was a long, tiring journey.
• She wore a beautiful, expensive dress.

Note: Don't use commas between adjectives when the first adjective modifies the combined idea of the second adjective plus the noun:

• She bought a small round table. (No comma because "small" modifies "round table")
• He drove a powerful sports car. (No comma because "powerful" modifies "sports car")

Direct Address

Use commas to set off names or titles in direct address:

Examples:

• Thank you, Professor Smith, for your help.
• John, could you pass me that book?
• I appreciate your assistance, sir.

Preventing Misreading

Use commas to prevent misreading or confusion:

Examples:

• Inside, the house was dark and quiet. (Without the comma, "Inside the house" might be read as a prepositional phrase)
• Ever since, people have been more cautious. (Without the comma, "Ever since people" might be read as the subject)

The Semicolon

Basic Usage

The semicolon (;) is used to connect closely related independent clauses and to separate items in complex lists. Its primary functions include:

• Joining related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction
• Separating items in lists that contain internal commas

Joining Independent Clauses

Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning without using a coordinating conjunction:

Examples:

• The museum closes at 5 p.m.; visitors should plan accordingly.
• She didn't study for the test; she failed it.
• The weather was perfect for hiking; we spent the entire day outdoors.

Note: You can also use a semicolon before conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, etc.) when they connect independent clauses:

Examples:

• The restaurant was fully booked; however, they managed to find us a table.
• The experiment failed; nevertheless, the researchers gained valuable insights.
• The train was delayed; consequently, we missed our connection.

Complex Lists

Use semicolons to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas:

Examples:

• The conference will be attended by Dr. Smith, a physicist; Dr. Johnson, a chemist; and Dr. Brown, a biologist.
• We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Athens, Greece during our European tour.
• The committee included John Smith, the chairman; Mary Johnson, the secretary; and David Brown, the treasurer.

The Colon

Basic Usage

The colon (:) is used to introduce related information. Its primary functions include:

• Introducing lists
• Introducing explanations or examples
• Introducing quotations
• Separating titles and subtitles
• Indicating time

Introducing Lists

Use a colon to introduce a list, especially after phrases like "the following" or "as follows":

Examples:

• Please bring the following items to class: a notebook, a pen, and a textbook.
• The recipe requires three ingredients: flour, sugar, and eggs.
• We need to address several issues: funding, staffing, and scheduling.

Note: The text before a colon should be a complete sentence (independent clause).

Introducing Explanations or Examples

Use a colon to introduce an explanation or example that illustrates what preceded it:

Examples:

• The reason is clear: they didn't follow the instructions.
• He had only one goal: to win the championship.
• I have a suggestion: let's meet earlier tomorrow.

Introducing Quotations

Use a colon to introduce a quotation, especially a formal or lengthy one:

Examples:

• Shakespeare wrote: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."
• The professor began the lecture with this statement: "The history of science is the history of human curiosity."

Titles and Subtitles

Use a colon to separate a title from a subtitle:

Examples:

• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• English Grammar: A Comprehensive Guide

Time

Use a colon to separate hours from minutes when writing time:

Examples:

• The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m.
• The train departs at 14:45.

Question Marks and Exclamation Marks

Question Marks

The question mark (?) is used to indicate a direct question. Its primary functions include:

• Ending direct questions
• Indicating uncertainty

Examples of direct questions:

• Where is the nearest post office?
• Have you finished your homework?
• What time does the movie start?

Note: Do not use a question mark after indirect questions:

• She asked where the nearest post office was. (Indirect question)
• He wanted to know if I had finished my homework. (Indirect question)

Question marks can also indicate uncertainty:

• The battle took place in 1066(?). (Indicates uncertainty about the date)
• He was born in London(?), but grew up in Manchester. (Indicates uncertainty about the birthplace)

Exclamation Marks

The exclamation mark (!) is used to express strong emotion, emphasis, or surprise. Its primary functions include:

• Indicating strong emotions
• Emphasizing commands
• Expressing surprise or excitement

Examples:

• That was an amazing performance!
• Stop right there!
• I can't believe we won the championship!

Note: Exclamation marks should be used sparingly in formal writing. Overuse can make your writing seem unprofessional or overly emotional.

Apostrophes

Basic Usage

The apostrophe (') has two main functions in English:

• Showing possession
• Indicating omissions in contractions

Showing Possession

For singular nouns, add 's:

Examples:

• The student's book (the book belonging to one student)
• Mary's car (the car belonging to Mary)
• The dog's toy (the toy belonging to the dog)

For plural nouns ending in s, add only an apostrophe:

Examples:

• The students' books (the books belonging to multiple students)
• The Smiths' house (the house belonging to the Smith family)
• The dogs' toys (the toys belonging to multiple dogs)

For plural nouns not ending in s, add 's:

Examples:

• The children's playground (the playground for children)
• The women's conference (the conference for women)
• The people's choice (the choice made by people)

For singular nouns ending in s, both 's and just an apostrophe are acceptable, though 's is increasingly preferred:

Examples:

• James's car or James' car
• The boss's office or The boss' office
• Charles's book or Charles' book

Contractions

Use an apostrophe to indicate omitted letters in contractions:

Full Form	Contraction
do not	don't
cannot	can't
I am	I'm
they are	they're
it is / it has	it's
would have	would've

Common Errors with Apostrophes

• Confusing its and it's:
  • its = possessive form of "it" (The dog wagged its tail.)
  • it's = contraction of "it is" or "it has" (It's raining. / It's been a long day.)
• Confusing your and you're:
  • your = possessive form of "you" (Is this your book?)
  • you're = contraction of "you are" (You're going to be late.)
• Using apostrophes with plural nouns:
  • Incorrect: I bought two book's.
  • Correct: I bought two books.
• Using apostrophes with plural acronyms or decades:
  • Incorrect: DVD's are becoming less common. / The 1990's were a time of technological change.
  • Correct: DVDs are becoming less common. / The 1990s were a time of technological change.

Quotation Marks

Basic Usage

Quotation marks (" " or ' ') are used to indicate direct speech, quotations, and certain titles. Their primary functions include:

• Enclosing direct speech or quotations
• Indicating titles of short works
• Highlighting words used in a special way

Direct Speech and Quotations

Use quotation marks to enclose someone's exact words:

Examples:

• "I'll be there at seven," she promised.
• The professor said, "The exam will cover chapters one through five."
• "Where are you going?" he asked.

For quotations within quotations, use single quotation marks inside double quotation marks (in American English) or vice versa (in British English):

American English:

• She said, "I read the article 'The Future of Artificial Intelligence' yesterday."

British English:

• She said, 'I read the article "The Future of Artificial Intelligence" yesterday.'

Titles of Short Works

Use quotation marks for titles of short works such as articles, short stories, poems, songs, and episodes of TV shows:

Examples:

• I read the article "The Impact of Climate Change" in yesterday's newspaper.
• My favorite poem is "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.
• Have you heard the song "Imagine" by John Lennon?

Note: Titles of longer works (books, movies, albums, newspapers) are usually italicized or underlined, not placed in quotation marks.

Special Usage of Words

Use quotation marks to highlight words used in a special way, such as irony, coined terms, or words used as words:

Examples:

• Her "help" actually made the situation worse.
• The term "selfie" was added to the dictionary in 2013.
• The word "affect" is often confused with "effect."

Punctuation with Quotation Marks

In American English, periods and commas go inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons go outside:

Examples:

• "I'll see you tomorrow," he said.
• She called it a "minor setback"; however, the consequences were significant.

In British English, punctuation goes inside quotation marks only if it is part of the quoted material:

Examples:

• 'I'll see you tomorrow', he said.
• Did she really call it a 'minor setback'?

Hyphens and Dashes

Hyphens

The hyphen (-) is used to join words or parts of words. Its primary functions include:

• Forming compound words
• Joining prefixes to words
• Writing numbers and fractions
• Indicating word breaks at the end of a line

Examples of compound words:

• mother-in-law
• well-known
• self-control
• twenty-five

Examples with prefixes:

• ex-husband
• pre-war
• anti-inflammatory

Examples with numbers and fractions:

• twenty-first
• two-thirds
• mid-1990s

En Dash

The en dash (–) is slightly longer than a hyphen and is used to:

• Indicate ranges
• Show relationships or connections

Examples of ranges:

• Pages 125–150
• 1939–1945
• Monday–Friday

Examples of relationships:

• London–Paris flight
• Conservative–Liberal debate

Em Dash

The em dash (—) is longer than both the hyphen and the en dash. It is used to:

• Indicate a break in thought
• Set off parenthetical information
• Introduce a summary or explanation

Examples:

• The concert—which was sold out—was postponed due to bad weather.
• Everything I had—my career, my home, my savings—was lost in the economic crash.
• There was only one possible explanation—someone had stolen the documents.

Note: In informal writing, two hyphens (--) are sometimes used instead of an em dash.

Parentheses and Brackets

Parentheses

Parentheses ( () ) are used to enclose additional or supplementary information. Their primary functions include:

• Adding explanatory information
• Providing examples
• Including references or citations

Examples:

• The results (as shown in Figure 3) indicate a significant improvement.
• Please bring your identification (passport or driver's license) to the meeting.
• According to recent studies (Smith et al., 2020), climate change is accelerating.

Note: If a complete sentence is inside parentheses, the period goes inside the closing parenthesis. If the parenthetical material is within a sentence, the period goes outside.

Brackets

Brackets [ ] are used primarily in quotations to:

• Insert clarifying information
• Indicate changes to the original text

Examples:

• "They [the researchers] concluded that the treatment was effective."
• "The experiment was conducted last year [2022] at the university."
• "She said, 'I will meet him [John] at the restaurant.'"

Punctuation in the ЕГЭ English Exam

Common Punctuation Errors to Avoid

In the ЕГЭ English exam, certain punctuation errors are particularly common. Be careful with:

• Comma splices (joining two independent clauses with just a comma)
• Missing commas after introductory elements
• Incorrect use of apostrophes (especially with its/it's and your/you're)
• Inconsistent use of quotation marks
• Overuse of exclamation marks in formal writing
• Missing commas in non-restrictive clauses

Strategies for Correct Punctuation in the Exam

• Read your writing aloud: This can help you identify where natural pauses occur and where punctuation might be needed
• Check for complete sentences: Ensure each sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought
• Review comma usage: Pay special attention to commas, as they are the most frequently used and misused punctuation marks
• Be consistent: Choose either British or American punctuation conventions and stick to them throughout your writing
• Proofread carefully: Save time at the end of the exam to check your punctuation
• Keep it simple: If you're unsure about complex punctuation, consider rephrasing to use simpler structures

Practice Examples

Key Points to Remember

• Periods: End declarative sentences, mark abbreviations, and form decimal points.
• Commas: Separate items in lists, set off introductory elements, join independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions, and set off nonessential information.
• Semicolons: Join related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction and separate items in complex lists.
• Colons: Introduce lists, explanations, or quotations, and separate titles from subtitles.
• Question marks: End direct questions and indicate uncertainty.
• Exclamation marks: Express strong emotion, emphasis, or surprise (use sparingly in formal writing).
• Apostrophes: Show possession and indicate omissions in contractions.
• Quotation marks: Enclose direct speech, quotations, titles of short works, and words used in a special way.
• Hyphens: Join words or parts of words.
• Dashes: Indicate ranges (en dash) or breaks in thought (em dash).
• Parentheses and brackets: Enclose additional information or clarify quoted material.