Period, Full Stop, or Full Point (.)

 

1. Use a period at the end of a simple statement.

 

We planted roses in the garden. (This is a declarative sentence.)

 

You must study for four hours every day. (This is a mild command.)

 

Please walk toward the exit. (This is a request.)

 

Turn right and drive till you reach a stop sign. (This sentence gives instructions.)

 

2. Place a period and not a question mark after an indirect question.

 

Right: She wants to know what time is the meeting. (Indirect question)

 

Wrong: She wants to know what time is the meeting?

 

3. An initial is the first letter of a name. When you use an initial in a name, place a period after the initial.

 

John Adams Smith or John A. Smith or J.A Smith

 

4. Do not add a period if the last word of the sentence ends in a period.

 

I will meet you in the coffee shop at 9:00 a.m.

 

5. An abbreviation is a short form of a word. Use a period with the most

 

abbreviations that have small letters (lowercase letters).

 

Dr., Mr., Mrs., Jan., p.m., P.O. Box., e.g. (Example), Fla. (Florida),. etc. (et cetera means and the rest)

 

a.m.—ante meridiem. These are Latin words meaning before noon. The time is from midnight to noon.

 

p.m.—post meridiem. These are Latin words meaning afternoon. The time is from noon to midnight.

 

6. Omit the period for abbreviations in capital letters. Note that different

names may have the same abbreviation.

 

AD—from Latin Anno Domini. Shows the number of years since Jesus Christ’s birth.

 

BC—before Christ

 

CD-ROM

 

DC—District of Columbia

 

FBI—Federal Bureau of Investigation

 

FL—Florida

 

MA—master of arts degree, or the state of Massachusetts

 

TV—television

 

UK—United Kingdom

 

US—United States (Examples: US imports, US senator. Use US as an adjective only; otherwise, spell out the proper noun or full name.)

 

USA - United States of America

 

VCR - videocassette recorder

 

 

Period and Capitalization Exercises

 

Example: mt everest is the highest mountain on earth.

 

Mt. Everest is the highest mountain on earth.

 

 

1. is his meeting in jan or feb?

 

2. dr roy asked you to take one tablet at 8 am and another at 8 pm

 

3. they were asking when the park will open

 

4. we took sandwiches, juice, chips, and pastries for the picnic

 

5. the farewell party is on mon, feb 10

 

6. julius caesar, the roman leader, reached britain with an army in 55 bc

 

7. when are you getting your ba degree?

 

8. most homes have a tv and phone these days.

 

9. please cross the road at the crossing.

 

10. please mail this package to mr sk Chen

 

po box 124

 

main st

 

ny 20453

 

us

 

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