Periods

This periods lesson shows you how to use them correctly in your writing. This is the most common punctuation mark, so make sure you learn about it and practice. You can find the tests at the bottom of the page.

Let’s get started!

Periods have many uses:

• Complete Thoughts
• Abbreviations
• Ellipsis
• Decimal Points

Complete Thoughts

Periods are used to signal the end of a complete thought.

• The photocopier is broken.
• I have never visited the museum.

A complete thought can include the following:

Declarative Sentences

• I like hockey.
• She lives in France.

Indirect Questions

• My co-worker asked me if I had the file.
• She asked him about his project.

Imperative Sentences (Instructions)

• Please bring the documents to the meeting.
• Do not arrive late.

Abbreviations

Periods are used to show a shortened version of a word.

Titles

Mr.

Mrs.

Ms.

Dr.

 

Initials

William M. Johnson

J.R. Rider

Places

U.S.A.

P.E.I.

St.

Ave.

Dates

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thu.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.
May	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.
Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.

Time

• a.m.
• p.m.

Etcetera

• etc.

If a sentence ends in an abbreviation, it is not necessary to add another period.

• I have never visited P.E.I. 

Common abbreviations with all capital letters do not normally take periods. For example,

• WHO (World Health Organization)
• IMF (International Monetary Fund)

Ellipsis

3 periods together are called an ellipsis. This is used with quotations to show missing words.

• “The current world economy will improve next year…jobs will be created at a faster pace.”

Decimal Points

Use periods as decimal points to separate numbers.

• 3.4
• 2.57
• $19.99, $17.34

 

Ending Punctuation Tests

Ending Punctuation Test

Ending Punctuation Test 2