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Punctuation marks are marks indicating how a piece of written text should be read (silently or aloud) and, consequently, understood
Punctuation marks are marks indicating how a piece of written text should be read (silently or aloud) and, consequently, understood
punctuation
The ______ known examples of punctuation marks were found in the Mesha Stele from the 9th century BC, consisting of points between the words and horizontal strokes between sections
The ______ known examples of punctuation marks were found in the Mesha Stele from the 9th century BC, consisting of points between the words and horizontal strokes between sections
oldest
The alphabet-based writing began with no spaces, no capitalization, no ______ (see abjad), and with only a few punctuation marks, as it was mostly aimed at recording business transactions
The alphabet-based writing began with no spaces, no capitalization, no ______ (see abjad), and with only a few punctuation marks, as it was mostly aimed at recording business transactions
vowels
Only with the ______ playwrights (such as Euripides and Aristophanes) did the ends of sentences begin to be marked to help actors know when to make a pause during performances
Only with the ______ playwrights (such as Euripides and Aristophanes) did the ends of sentences begin to be marked to help actors know when to make a pause during performances
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The ______ of punctuation vary with language, location, register, and time
The ______ of punctuation vary with language, location, register, and time
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What was the oldest known example of punctuation marks?
What was the oldest known example of punctuation marks?
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When did the use of punctuation marks to indicate the ends of sentences begin?
When did the use of punctuation marks to indicate the ends of sentences begin?
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Which author proposed six marks that could be seen as predecessors of emoticons and emojis?
Which author proposed six marks that could be seen as predecessors of emoticons and emojis?
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What did the alphabet-based writing begin without?
What did the alphabet-based writing begin without?
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How did the use of punctuation marks evolve by the 19th century?
How did the use of punctuation marks evolve by the 19th century?
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Study Notes
Punctuation Marks Overview
- Punctuation marks guide how written text should be read, influencing comprehension both in silent reading and aloud.
- The oldest known examples of punctuation were discovered on the Mesha Stele, dating back to the 9th century BC, characterized by points between words and horizontal strokes separating sections.
Evolution of Written Language
- Early alphabet-based writing lacked spaces, capitalization, and most punctuation marks, primarily serving to record business transactions.
- The introduction of punctuation to mark sentence ends commenced with ancient playwrights like Euripides and Aristophanes, designed to assist actors in understanding when to pause during performances.
Variability of Punctuation
- The use and form of punctuation marks differ across languages, regions, levels of formality, and historical periods.
Historical Questions
- The earliest punctuation marks occurred on the Mesha Stele in the 9th century BC.
- The practice of marking sentence endings began with playwrights in ancient Greece.
- An author known for proposing six marks that resemble the early forms of emoticons and emojis was not provided in the text.
- Alphabet-based writing began without spaces, capitalization, and extensive punctuation.
- By the 19th century, punctuation evolved significantly, though specifics were not detailed in the text.
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Description
Test your knowledge of punctuation marks with this quiz! From commas to semicolons, see how well you understand the use of these important symbols in written language.
