End MarksNinth Grade English, Kroll

What’s an end mark?Periods, question marks, and exclamation points

are used to indicate the end of sentences; therefore, they are known as “end marks”.

. ? !

PeriodsUse periods at the end of all declarative

sentences and most imperative sentences:Declarative: Chess is a strategic game. Imperative: Follow the rules.

Use periods at the end of most sentences containing indirect questions:The student asked how chess is played.

Other uses of periodsUse periods after initials and after most

abbreviations: Gen. George Washington 3 lb. 4 oz. Dr. Michael C. Scott

Use a period after each number or letter in an outline or list: I.

A. 1. 2.

B.

Question MarksUse a question mark at the end of an

interrogative sentence:Do you know who has won the most

championships?

Exclamation PointsUse an exclamation point to end a exclamatory

sentence or after a strong interjection (a word that shows feeling or imitates a sound):Hurrah!We won the game!What a game!

Note: Don’t overuse them. They lose their effectiveness if used too frequently:Chess is the most competitive game! It requires

skills and concentration! Tension mounts as each player attacks the enemy king!