What does periods after a word mean

You can also use an ellipsis for literary effect, to represent a dramatic pause or a thought that trails off. The bus was supposed to come at so we waited and waited. Wait a minute. I guess we could meet you there later. This usage is fine in fiction, but you should avoid it in formal writing. Real-time suggestions, wherever you write. Period Grammarly. What Does a Period Do? Grammar What Are Modal Verbs? Contents Exit focus mode. Headline example Be brief—make every word count Text example Be brief.

Make every word count. When a phrase ending with a colon introduces a bulleted list: If one or more list elements complete the introductory phrase preceding the colon, use a period after every list element.

Is this page helpful? Yes No. In the past, written language was almost always tinged with a level of formality because it was associated with permanence in books and written documents. However, now that text messaging and social media have given their users an outlet for casual written language, differences between writing styles can be seen.

So when you end your text with a period, it can come across as insincere or awkward, just like using formal spoken language in a casual setting like a bar. Another example of language change in casual written forms is the repetition of letters. Linguist Deborah Tannen described a similar phenomenon , noting that repeated exclamation points in a message can convey a sincere tone, like in the following text message:. I feel soooooooo bad! Catch another cab and ill pay for it for youuuuu.

Note that this message does not contain a message-final period, since that may convey insincerity that would contradict the apology being presented.

Jackie, I am so sorry. I feel so bad! This more formal version, according to the arguments made by Tannen and Darics, reads more like a work email sent to a colleague than one to a friend sincerely and fervently apologizing for a transportation mishap. This observation supports work like a study by psychologist Beverly Plester and colleagues , who found that an increased use of textese was correlated with higher scores on verbal reasoning ability tests.

This shows that frequent and fluent users of casual written language can often readily code-switch: they know to put that period at the end of every sentence in a formal writing assignment. Some educators are even beginning to incorporate lessons about formal and informal writing into their classrooms , which can help students identify those situations that require the use of different styles.