The full stopalso known as the period in American Englishis a basic punctuation mark used to end a complete sentence. Although it seems simplemany English learners make common mistakes with full stops—especially in compound sentencescommandsand quotation marks.
In this guideyou will learn what a full stop iswhen to use it correctlyand how to avoid the most common errorswith clear examples designed for ESL learners.
What Is a Full Stop?
Definition
A full stop (.) is a punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a complete sentence. In American Englishit is called a period. It is written as a small dot placed at the bottom of the line.
Basic Usage
A full stop is mainly used at the end of:
- Declarative sentences (statements)
- Mild imperative sentences (polite commands or requests)
- Indirect questions
Examples:
- She is reading a book.
- Please sit down.
- I wonder if he will arrive on time.
Other Uses of the Full Stop
- Abbreviations: The full stop is used to mark abbreviationssuch as Mr.Dr.and St.
- Decimal numbers: The full stop separates the whole number from the decimal part (e.g.3.14).
- Web addresses and emails: It separates parts of a URL or email addresssuch as www.example.com or [email protected].
- Initialisms (traditional ): In older or formal sfull stops may appear in initialisms such as U.S.A.
When (.) is used in email addresses or websitesit is pronounced as dotnot “full stop” or “period”.
Example: [email protected] is pronounced: “John at gmail dot com.”
Examples of Full Stop Usage
Full Stop in Abbreviations
The full stop is commonly used in abbreviations in English.
- Mr. – title for a man
- Mrs. – title for a married woman (pronounced /ˈmɪs.ɪz/)
- Dr. – Doctor
- St. – Street or Saint
- Ave. – Avenue
- Ltd. – Limited
- Inc. – Incorporated
British vs. American English (Abbreviations):
- American English: Often uses a full stop after titles (e.g.Mr. SmithDr. Brown).
- British English: Often omits the full stop if the abbreviation ends with the last letter of the word (e.g.Mr SmithDr Brown).
Tip for learners: Using the full stop (American ) is generally safer and widely accepted.
Full Stop as a Decimal Point
In English-speaking countriesthe full stop is used as a decimal point.
- 3.14 – the full stop separates the whole number 3 from the decimal part 0.14
- 99.99 – commonly used to show prices
- 2.5 – separates 2 from the decimal part 0.5
- 1,234.56 – the comma separates thousandsand the full stop separates the whole number from the decimal part
- 0.25 – the full stop separates 0 from the decimal part 25 (twenty-five hundredths)
Full Stop in Acronyms and Initialisms
Traditionallyfull stops were used in initialisms:
- U.S.A.
- U.K.
- E.U.
In modern Englishthese are more commonly written without full stops:
- USA
- UK
- EU
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using a full stop instead of a comma or conjunction
❌ Incorrect: I went to the store. And bought some milk.
✅ Correct: I went to the store and bought some milk.
✅ Correct (two clauses): I went to the storeand I bought some milk.
2. Using a full stop in compound sentences incorrectly
⚠️ Rule: A compound sentence should use a comma + conjunction (e.g.and / but) or a semicolon (;).
❌ Do not use a full stop unless you want to separate the ideas into two distinct sentences.
3. Using a full stop with strong commands
⚠️ Note: Strong commands usually take an exclamation mark (!) to show emotion.
✅ Correct: Get out!
❌ Less natural: Get out.
4. Quotation marks (American English rules)
✅ Correct: “I love pizza,” she said. (The period goes inside the quotation marks.)
❌ Incorrect: “I love pizza”she said.
5. Typing two spaces after a full stop
❌ Mistake: Using two spaces after a sentence (old typewriter ).
✅ Current rule: In modern typinguse only one space after a full stop.
Importance of Proper Punctuation
Proper punctuation helps:
- Clarify meaning and avoid confusion
- Improve readability
- Show tone and intention
- Demonstrate professionalism in writing
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Punctuation
Choose the correct punctuation mark to complete each sentence. Use a full stop (.)comma (,)or exclamation mark (!).
- Please close the door___
- I went home___ and I cooked dinner.
- What a beautiful view___
- She finished her homework___
- Stop talking___
Answers – Exercise 1
- Please close the door.
- I went home, and I cooked dinner.
- What a beautiful view!
- She finished her homework.
- Stop talking!
Exercise 2: Find and Correct the Mistake
Each sentence below contains a punctuation mistake. Rewrite the sentence correctly.
- I like coffee. And tea.
- Please be quiet!
- He bought apples oranges and bananas.
- “I am tired”. she said.
- I sent an email to [email protected].
Answers – Exercise 2
- I like coffee and tea.
- Please be quiet.
- He bought applesorangesand bananas.
- “I am tired,” she said.
- I sent an email to [email protected].
FAQs on Full Stop
1. What does a full stop mean?
A full stop marks the end of a complete sentence.
2. What is the difference between a full stop and a period?
They are the same punctuation mark. “Full stop” is the term used in British English; “period” is used in American English.
3. When should I use a full stop?
Use it at the end of declarative sentencesmild imperativesand indirect questions.
4. How do you pronounce “period” or “full stop”?
In American Englishthe word is period (/ˈpɪr.i.əd/). In British Englishit is usually called a full stop. Remember: if (.) appears in an email address or websitepronounce it as dot.
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