Mastering the Period: Usage, Rules & Examples

Period (.) Punctuation Guide

A period ends a sentence or complete thought. Also separates list items and marks abbreviations.

When to Use

• End declarative sentence: "The cat sat on the mat."
• End imperative: "Close the door."
• End exclamatory: "What a beautiful day!"
• End interrogative: "Did you see the movie?"
• Separate list items: "I brought apples, oranges, and bananas."
• Mark abbreviations: "USA" for "United States of America."

When NOT to Use

• After title/heading: "Chapter 1: The History of the Internet"
• After signature: "Sincerely, John Smith"
• In dates (use comma): "July 4, 1776"