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Grammar Section
PUNCTUATION
Punctuation is the system of symbols that we use to separate written sentences and parts of
sentences, and to make their meaning clear. Each symbol is called a "punctuation mark".
All writing is a representation of the spoken word (not vice versa). To a large extent,
punctuation mimics certain non-verbal elements of speech such as pauses, intonation and volume,
all of which convey meaning. In general, punctuation helps to establish the structure and logic of
the written word. Without punctuation, much writing would be open to multiple interpretations.
The importance of and rules of punctuation vary from language to language. In English,
punctuation is essential to allow the reader to understand the writer's meaning.
The full stop signals the end of a declarative sentence. It indicates a strong pause. It is used
most commonly at the end of a complete sentence. Besides that, it may be used as an instrument for
dividing a text or a sentence into very small segments to underline the dynamic character of events
or to create a stylistic device of parceling. There are the following peculiarities in the usage of full
stops:
The stop is normally placed inside quotation marks but outside brackets. However, if the
quotation is part of another statement, the full stop goes outside the quote marks. If the parenthesis
is a complete sentence, the full stop stays inside the brackets:
If more volume is needed, however, the other pump can also be put into service. (Some very
large rigs have three or four pumps.)
No full stop is required if a sentence ends with a question mark or exclamation, or a title or
abbreviation which contains its own punctuation.
Full stops are not required after titles, headings, or sub-headings:
CABLE-TOOL AND ROTARY DRILLING
A cable-tool rig
The stop is not necessary following common titles which are shortened forms of a word
(technically, 'contractions'):
Dr [Doctor] Mr [Mister]
St [Street] Mme [Madame]
Full stops are not necessary after the capital letters used as abbreviations for titles of
organisations and countries:
UNO United Nations Organisation
USA United States of America
Brackets are used to insert a word or a phrase into a sentence.
At Drake's rig, a 6-horsepower (4.5-watt) steamboat engine powered the walking beam.
The words inserted between brackets are usually an explanation or an illustration. The rules
of the usage of brackets are such:
Round brackets are used to represent an aside or an extra piece of information which is
closely related to the main subject of the sentence.
Although the earliest drilling muds were not much more than a plain, watery mud (recall
that the Hamil brothers supposedly filled a pit with water and ran cattle through it to make it
muddy).
Square brackets are used to indicate that something is being added by the author. This is
usually for clarification or comment.
When brackets are used at the end of a sentence, the full stop falls outside the bracket (like
this).
Statements inside brackets should be grammatically separate from the sentence. That is, the
sentence should be complete, even if the contents of the brackets are removed.
Over 2,000 years ago, for instance, the Chinese drilled wells with primitive yet efficient
cable-tool rigs (they were still using similar rigs as late as the 1940s).
• If a quotation contains a mistake in the original you can indicate that the

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