Cadet College Admission Preparation : Punctuation Marks, Its Number and Their Uses

Punctuation is a part of syllabus for English subject for Cadet College admission test in Bangladesh. So first let us know the definition of punctuation, its numbers and their uses in English language.

According to Collins Dictionary, Punctuation is the use of symbols such as full stops or periods, commas, or question marks to divide written words into sentences and clauses. In other words, Punctuation is the symbols that we use to divide written words into sentences and clauses.

How Many Punctuation Marks Are In English?

There are 14 punctuation marks that are used in the English language. They are period (called ‘Full Stop’ in British English), question mark, exclamation point, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, brackets, braces, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark, and ellipsis.

However, there are five basic punctuation marks in written English : period (full stop), comma, question mark, exclamation mark, and colon.

Importance of Punctuation in English Writing : 

Punctuation marks serve as the road signs in our writing, guiding the reader through the text. They help in creating a clear and concise message that is easy to understand. Without punctuation, sentences can be ambiguous, and the meaning can be distorted. Punctuation creates a rhythm in the text, helping the reader to pause, emphasize, and understand the message better.

Proper punctuation is essential in conveying the tone and mood of your writing. For instance, the use of exclamation marks shows excitement, while the use of semicolons shows a connection between two ideas. Proper punctuation also improves the credibility of your writing as it shows that you have taken the time to ensure that your message is clear and concise.

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Basic Punctuation Rules :

Now let us know the basic punctuation rules in English language. More precisely, let us try to know below when to use which punctuation marks :

Period :  The period is used to indicate the end of a sentence. It is also used in abbreviations such as Mr., Dr., etc.

For examples :

1. Cadet college admission test in Bangladesh for academic year 2024 will be held on December 23, 2023.

Comma :  Commas help separate items in a list, to separate clauses in a sentence, and to separate adjectives that modify a noun.

For example :

1. I need to buy some household items such as rice, onion, salt, fruits, and spices.

Question Mark :  The question mark helps indicate a question. For example :

1. Who do you think will win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023?
2. Which phone brand have you bought last day?

Exclamation Mark : The exclamation mark is used to indicate emphasis or strong feelings. For example :

1. What an innings Virat Kohli Played against New Zealand!”
2. Hurrah! we won the match.

Colon :

The colon helps introduce a list or to emphasize a point. For example :

1. There is only one rule : once you are born, you have to die.
2. Indian XI against New Zealand in first semifinal : Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Advanced Punctuation Rules : 

There are other punctuation marks which are considered advanced in the sense of making complex structures. In other words, there are advanced punctuation rules that are used to create a more complex sentence structure. These include semicolons, colons, parentheses, hyphens, and dashes.

Semi-colon :

A semicolon helps connect two independent clauses that are closely related. It is also used to separate items in a list when the items contain commas. For example, “We could visit Bill; he has a boat.”

Parentheses :

Parentheses are used to provide additional information that is not essential to the sentence. The information can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. For example :

1. The gentle man (whom I met last year) passed away last evening at the age of just 50.

Hyphen :

Hyphens are used to connect two words to create a compound word. They are also used to indicate a word break at the end of a line. See the example below :

1. There’s a to-let poster on the front wall of your building.
2. You must know the rules on how to use the semi-colon.

Dash :

A dash is used to indicate a sudden break or change in thought. It is also used to provide emphasis. For example :

1. My uncle’s all three daughters- Sumaiya, Suraiya & Sukha- are all meritorious.
2. The first semifinal march-India vs New Zealand-was held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15, 2023 in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

To sum up, punctuation plays a very important role in the sentence structure and clarity of any piece of writing. It helps in creating a logical flow of ideas, making it easier for the reader to understand the message conveyed in it. Punctuation also helps in putting emphasis on the essential parts of any writing and creating a rhythm in the text.

Final Note For Cadet College Admission Aspirants : To get desired outcomes from cadet college admission test 2024, there is no alternative to best and regular practice according to the syllabus. As punctuation is a part of the syllabus, so try to have a complete knowledge of all the punctuation symbols used in English. Follow us for more such content as per the syllabus. Best Luck for all of you!