punctuate
Insert commas, periods
To punctuate is to insert marks—periods, commas, quotation marks—into written text to clarify structure and meaning.
Extended, it means to interrupt or emphasize at intervals: She punctuated her argument with sharp gestures.
A speech punctuated by applause has regular breaks for clapping.
He punctuated each sentence with a sigh.
Punctuation marking pauses
- periodPunctuation ending sentences
- semicolonPunctuation joining related clauses
- colonLarge intestine section
- apostropheMark showing ownership
quotation marks · question mark · ellipsis · hyphen · dash · brackets · parentheses · slash
Insert remarks abruptly
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- breakInterrupt continuity
- disruptInterrupt and disorder
- interruptBreak in upon
intervene · cut in · insert · interpose · pepper · dot · sprinkle · intersperse
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
- tempoRate of musical performance
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- timingArt of choosing moments
pacing · flow · meter · breath · caesura · phrasing · measure · spacing
Express clearly, or well-spoken
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- readabilityEase of understanding text
- legibilityClearness of text
- comprehensionMental understanding of meaning
coherence · explicitness · intelligibility · disambiguation · delineate · demarcate · organize · separate
To give emphasis
- underscoreLow horizontal text mark
- highlightMost notable part
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- reinforceAdd strength to something
intensify · amplify · heighten · spotlight · foreground · dramatize · mark · enhance
Rules for arranging words
- clauseProvision in agreement
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
- capitalizationUsing big letters properly
structure · parsing · notation · convention · rules · usage · mechanics · orthography
comma
Punctuation marking pauses
- periodPunctuation ending sentences
- semicolonPunctuation joining related clauses
- colonLarge intestine section
apostrophe · quotation marks · question mark · ellipsis · hyphen · dash · brackets · parentheses · slash · ampersand
interject
Insert remarks abruptly
interrupt · intervene · cut in · insert · interpose · pepper · dot · sprinkle · intersperse · break up
cadence
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
timing · pacing · flow · meter · breath · caesura · phrasing · measure · spacing · intervals
articulate
Express clearly, or well-spoken
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- readabilityEase of understanding text
- legibilityClearness of text
comprehension · coherence · explicitness · intelligibility · disambiguation · delineate · demarcate · organize · separate · clarify
accentuate
To give emphasis
- underscoreLow horizontal text mark
- highlightMost notable part
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
reinforce · intensify · amplify · heighten · spotlight · foreground · dramatize · mark · enhance · sharpen
syntax
Rules for arranging words
- clauseProvision in agreement
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
capitalization · structure · parsing · notation · convention · rules · usage · mechanics · orthography · typography
- Editing Tasksproofreading, proofread, spellcheck, revise, edit
- highlightemphasize, highlight, accentuate, underscore, underline
punctuateunderstate
Express with restraint
de-emphasize · minimize · downplay · underemphasize · belittle
punctuateblend
Combine into mixture
combine · merge · unify · homogenize · smooth over
- punctuation markWritten symbol guiding reading
- punctuation errorMisplaced or missing marks
- punctuation rulesGuidelines for textual marks
punctual, punctuality, punctuation, punctuating, punctuated, punctuates, punctuations