punctuation
- The marks, such as periods, commas, and parentheses, used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning. nounProper punctuation is essential for clear communication in writing.She forgot to add punctuation at the end of her sentences, making them difficult to understand.
- The act or practice of inserting standardized marks or signs in written matter to clarify the meaning and separate structural units. nounThe editor spent hours on punctuation to ensure the manuscript was ready for publication.Learning the rules of punctuation is a fundamental part of mastering a new language.