Punctuation is largely a matter of convention, and its rules are governed by punctuation sections in grammar books. For example, every English sentence must end with end punctuation, such as a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point. However, there are punctuation choices that are an aspect of style. This section focuses mainly on punctuation issues that are a matter of style and not a matter of right or wrong.

For information about specific punctuation marks, see the individual entries in this section, refer to the Harbrace College Handbook and The Chicago Manual of Style, or consult your project style sheet.