Punctuation is used to express meaning in various settings, including written language, mathematics, chess notation, and computer programming. It allows text to go beyond superficial meaning and can be used to indicate emotions, break up complex ideas, and indicate various concepts within a given language or syntax. The rise of text and instant messaging has also expanded the uses of punctuation through emoticons and other symbols.
Most uses of punctuation are intended to express some kind of meaning, regardless of the setting in which the punctuation is used. In written language, for example, punctuation is typically used to expand the meaning of what is being said in words often by ending a sentence or expressing an emotion. Punctuation can also be used in mathematical notation, often with different meanings than in written language, although those meanings have begun to expand from mathematical uses to written language. There are also some uses of punctuation outside common grammar or mathematics, including notation for chess and computer programming.
Regardless of the punctuation marks used and the setting in which they are used, many uses of punctuation have some attributes in common. Punctuation is typically used to express meaning or expand what is around in some symbolic way, allowing text to go beyond what is presented on a superficial level. In written language, for example, punctuation is generally used to present information about what is expressed in words. A period allows readers to understand when an idea comes to a conclusion as the sentence ends, commas and semicolons can be used to break up complex ideas, and question marks and exclamation marks allow the reader to better understand the purpose of one’s words writer.
There are also uses of punctuation outside of language, especially in mathematics. In addition to simple notations such as plus and minus signs, there are also other punctuation marks that can have meaning in mathematics. The > and you” to say that he or she is better than someone else.
Numerous uses of punctuation have also gone beyond standard written language or altered written language. In chess notation, for example, exclamation and question marks are often used to indicate good enough moves or moves of dubious effectiveness. Computer programming uses numerous punctuation marks to indicate various concepts within a given language or syntax, often to separate pieces of code or to start and end a command line. The rise of text and instant messaging has also expanded the uses of punctuation in written language through the development of emoticons and other symbols to quickly express ideas through non-verbal means.
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