Punctuation - THE USE OF PERIOD

   All the punctuation marks are "Signals" from the wrietr to the reader.
A period shows that a sentence has been ended or that an abbreviation has been used. A Comma may show a slight break in thought, seperate the two parts of a compound sentence? or be used in one of several other ways.

   Keep in mind that (some sentences may be puncuated in more than on way) and that, in some instances, a punctuation mark may or may not be used at the writer's discretion.

   Remember, also, that some professions and businesses have their own style of punctuation. A journalist, for example, may omit some punctuation marks which normally are included in a business letter. A lawyer, on the other hand, uses many more punctuation marks when preparing a legal form than essential for most types of business writing.

                  USE OF THE PERIOD

1.   The period ( . ) is used after a declarative or imperative sentence.
   
           She went to the office.    (declarative)
          Close the car door.          (imperative)
   
   Exception: If you wish to give a declarative or an imperative sentence the force of an exclamatory sentence, use an exclamatory point rather than a period.
   
          I was so shocked that I was speechless!    (declarative)
          Bring the Pulmotor quickly!                     (imperative
2. After requests, period rather than a question mark.
   
        May I send you a copy of our latest bulletin.     (request)
       Will you send me any further information which you have available.  (request)
3.  The period is used after abbreviation and initials.
   
       Dr.                     Mrs.                 A.M.                   Jan.
      LTD.                  Sat.                  C.I.Jones            Inc.
      B.S.                    Ph.D.               U.S.A.                Gen.Notes: When a sentence ends with an abbreviation, one period is sufficient for both the abbreviation and the sentence.
   
       Mail the package to Conley and Gree,Inc.
4. The period is used to indicate the omission of words in quoted passages.
   
   (a) Use three periods ( . . . ) to indicate the omission of words within a quoted passage
   
      "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States... one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." --Francis Bellamy
   
   (b) Use four periods ( . . . . ) to indicate the omission of words at the end of a quoted passage.
   
            "Fame is the spur...."--John Milton
   
   THE USE OF COMMA
   USE OF SEMICOLON
   USE OF THE COLON
   USE OF PARENTHESES
   USE OF THE DASH
   USE OF BRACKETS
   USE OF THE EXCLAMATORY MARK
   USE OF THE QUESTION MARK
   USE OF QUOTATION MARKS