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} window.apstag = { init: function init() { for (var _len = arguments.length, args = new Array(_len), _key = 0; _key < _len; _key++) { args[_key] = arguments[_key]; } a9Q('i', args); }, fetchBids: function fetchBids() { for (var _len2 = arguments.length, args = new Array(_len2), _key2 = 0; _key2 < _len2; _key2++) { args[_key2] = arguments[_key2]; } a9Q('f', args); }, setDisplayBids: function setDisplayBids() {}, _Q: [] }; window.performance.mark('apstagLoadStart'); </script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841js_/https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"></script><script>window.performance.mark('apstagLoadEnd'); window.performance.measure('apstagLoad', 'apstagLoadStart', 'apstagLoadEnd'); var timing = window.performance.getEntriesByName('apstagLoad')[0].duration; window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'apstagLoad', page: page, timing: timing }); /**----------------- Initialize apstag (A9) -----------------*/ apstag.init({ pubID: "3067", adServer: "googletag", bidTimeout: 1000 }); window.dataLayer.push({ event: "initialA9RequestInitiated", timing: generateFormattedTime(), sessionId: sessionId }); apstag.fetchBids( { slots: apstagSlots, timeout: 1000 // Make sure this timeout is less than or equal to OpenWrap TimeOut }, function(bids) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { apstag.setDisplayBids(); PWT.a9_Bids = bids; PWT.a9_BidsReceived = true; initAdserver(false); }); } ); /**-------------------------- Mup Fpb integration --------------------------*/ var MAGIC = 0xbeefcafe; function getMupFpbParams(mupFpbSlotConfigs, mupFpbConfig) { var mupParams = {}; mupFpbSlotConfigs.forEach(function(slotConfig) { try { mupParams[slotConfig.placement] = { site: mupFpbConfig.site, geo: mupFpbConfig.adlerGeo || "", platform: mupFpbConfig.detectedDevice, sizes: slotConfig.sizes, position: slotConfig.targeting.pos }; } catch (error) { console.log("Error forming mup params:", error.message); return false; } return true; }); return mupParams; } function getAdlerKey(size) { var keyMap = { "970x250": "adler_a", "300x600": "adler_a", "320x100": "adler_a", "970x90": "adler_b", "728x90": "adler", "300x250": "adler", "320x50": "adler", "160x600": "adler" }; return keyMap[size]; } function parseMupResponse(mupFpbAjaxCall) { try { window.adlerData.mup.values = JSON.parse(mupFpbAjaxCall.responseText); initAdserver(false); } catch (err) { console.log("Error parsing mupResponse: ".concat(err.message)); } } function processMupFpbValues(adUnitsArray) { if (!window.adlerData.mup.values) return false; var mupFpbValues = window.adlerData.mup.values; adUnitsArray.forEach(function(adUnit) { if (adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtsz) { try { var adlerKey = getAdlerKey(adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtsz); if ( adlerKey === null || !mupFpbValues[adUnit.code] || !mupFpbValues[adUnit.code][adlerKey] ) { return false; } var markup = mupFpbValues[adUnit.code][adlerKey]; var deobfuscatedMarkup = deobMup(markup.adler); var muv = 100 + deobfuscatedMarkup; var centPwtecp = parseInt( adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtecp.replace(".", ""), 10 ); var adjustedPwtecp = (centPwtecp * muv) / 10000; adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtecp = adjustedPwtecp.toFixed(2); adUnit.bidData.kvp.mup = "".concat(deobfuscatedMarkup); } catch (error) { console.log("Error applying mup for:", adUnit.code); return false; } } return true; }); window.adlerData.mup.processed = true; return true; } function callMupFpb(slotConfigs, mupFpbConfig) { var mupFpbReq = new XMLHttpRequest(); mupFpbReq.addEventListener( "load", parseMupResponse.bind(null, mupFpbReq) ); mupFpbReq.open("POST", mupFpbConfig.mupFpbApiEndpoint, true); mupFpbReq.timeout = 1000; mupFpbReq.send( JSON.stringify(getMupFpbParams(slotConfigs, mupFpbConfig)) ); } function reverse(n) { var x = new Uint32Array(1); x[0] = n; x[0] = ((x[0] & 0x0000ffff) << 16) | ((x[0] & 0xffff0000) >>> 16); x[0] = ((x[0] & 0x55555555) << 1) | ((x[0] & 0xaaaaaaaa) >>> 1); x[0] = ((x[0] & 0x33333333) << 2) | ((x[0] & 0xcccccccc) >>> 2); x[0] = ((x[0] & 0x0f0f0f0f) << 4) | ((x[0] & 0xf0f0f0f0) >>> 4); x[0] = ((x[0] & 0x00ff00ff) << 8) | ((x[0] & 0xff00ff00) >>> 8); return x[0]; } function unflip(n) { return reverse(n ^ MAGIC); } function deobMup(encryptedMup) { if (!encryptedMup) { throw new Error( "Missing Mup. Please confirm value is being passed in." ); } var decryptedMup = unflip(parseInt(encryptedMup, 10)); return decryptedMup; } /**-------------- End of Mup Fpb integration --------------*/ /**--------------------- Rtf integration ------------------*/ function setRtfInstrumentationKV(rtfSlotConfigs, status, error) { rtfSlotConfigs.forEach(function(slotConfig) { slotConfig.targeting.adler_status = status; if (error) { slotConfig.targeting.adler_error = error; } }); } function getRtfParams(rtfSlotConfigs, rtfFpbConfig) { var requestParams = {}; var geo = rtfFpbConfig.adlerGeo || ""; if (geo === "") { setRtfInstrumentationKV(rtfSlotConfigs, "nogeo", "nogeo"); } rtfSlotConfigs.forEach(function(slotConfig) { try { requestParams[slotConfig.placement] = { site: rtfFpbConfig.site, geo: geo, platform: rtfFpbConfig.detectedDevice, sizes: slotConfig.sizes, position: slotConfig.targeting.pos }; } catch (error) { console.log("Error forming rtf params:", error.message); return false; } return true; }); return requestParams; } function rtfFallback(rtfSlotConfigs, event) { setRtfInstrumentationKV(rtfSlotConfigs, event.type); } function injectRtfValue(adUnit, rtfSlotConfigs) { var rtfFpbValues = window.adlerData.rtf.values; rtfSlotConfigs.forEach(function(slotConfig) { if (slotConfig.placement !== adUnit.code) return false; if (!rtfFpbValues[slotConfig.placement]) { slotConfig.targeting.adler_status = "nofloor"; } else { slotConfig.targeting.adler = rtfFpbValues[slotConfig.placement].adler; slotConfig.targeting.adler_a = rtfFpbValues[slotConfig.placement].adler_a; slotConfig.targeting.adler_b = rtfFpbValues[slotConfig.placement].adler_b; slotConfig.targeting.adler_status = "ok"; } return true; }); } function parseRtfValues(rtfAjaxCall, rtfSlotConfigs) { try { window.adlerData.rtf.values = JSON.parse(rtfAjaxCall.responseText); initAdserver(false); } catch (err) { setRtfInstrumentationKV(rtfSlotConfigs, "parse", err.message); } } function processRtfFpbValues( pubmaticAdUnitsArray, a9BidsArray, rtfSlotConfigs, shouldSetLoki ) { if (!window.adlerData.rtf.values) return false; var rtfFpbValues = window.adlerData.rtf.values; var a9NoBidValues = ["0", "1", "2"]; for (var i = 0; i < pubmaticAdUnitsArray.length; i += 1) { var adUnit = pubmaticAdUnitsArray[i]; var noA9bidForSlot = false; for (var j = 0; j < a9BidsArray.length; j += 1) { var a9Bid = a9BidsArray[j]; if ( a9Bid.slotID === pubmaticAdUnitsArray[i].code && (!a9Bid.amznbid || a9NoBidValues.indexOf(a9Bid.amznbid) !== -1) ) { noA9bidForSlot = true; break; } } if ( !adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtsz && (noA9bidForSlot || a9BidsArray.length === 0) && shouldSetLoki ) { try { if (!rtfFpbValues[adUnit.code]) { return false; } var rtfValue = rtfFpbValues[adUnit.code].adler_a || rtfFpbValues[adUnit.code].adler; adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtpid = "loki"; adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtecp = rtfValue; adUnit.bidData.kvp.pwtbst = "1"; injectRtfValue(adUnit, rtfSlotConfigs); } catch (error) { console.log("Error applying rtf for:", adUnit.code); } } } window.adlerData.rtf.processed = true; return true; } function callRTFFpb(slotConfigs, rtfFpbConfig) { var rtfReq = new XMLHttpRequest(); rtfReq.addEventListener( "load", parseRtfValues.bind(null, rtfReq, slotConfigs) ); rtfReq.addEventListener("timeout", rtfFallback.bind(null, slotConfigs)); rtfReq.addEventListener("error", rtfFallback.bind(null, slotConfigs)); rtfReq.open("POST", rtfFpbConfig.rtfFpbApiEndpoint, true); rtfReq.timeout = 1000; rtfReq.send(JSON.stringify(getRtfParams(slotConfigs, rtfFpbConfig))); } /**------------------ End of Rtf integration ------------------*/ googletag.cmd.push(function() { callMupFpb(allSlotConfigs, mupFpbConfiguration); callRTFFpb(allSlotConfigs, rtfFpbConfig); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var testAdParam = {}; var mupData = undefined; var updatePageTargeting = function(pageTargeting, testParam) { pageTargeting.spe = 'n'; pageTargeting.kw = ''; pageTargeting.loc = mupFpbConfiguration && mupFpbConfiguration.adlerGeo ? mupFpbConfiguration.adlerGeo : ''; pageTargeting.rpv = Math.floor(Math.random() * 100 + 1).toString(); pageTargeting.evince = 'ad'; pageTargeting.ref = 'organic'; pageTargeting.lang = window.navigator.userLanguage || window.navigator.language; pageTargeting.dow = new Date().getDay().toString(); pageTargeting.pv = typeof SCCookie !== "undefined" ? SCCookie.getPageViewCount() + "" : ""; if (mupData) { pageTargeting.mup = mupData.profileNumber; } window.adlerData.shouldSetLoki = pageTargeting.rpv > bidRpvThreshold; const objs = [pageTargeting, testParam]; const targeting = objs.reduce(function(r, o) { Object.keys(o).forEach(function(key) { r[key] = o[key]; }); return r; }); return targeting; } function refreshAds(event) { var refreshSlotConfigs = event.detail.slotConfigs.concat(event.detail.lazySlotConfigs); var pageTargeting = updatePageTargeting(event.detail.pageTargeting, testAdParam); window.performance.mark('adStackStart'); (function refreshLazySlots(lazySlotConfigs) { window.refreshLazyAds = lazySlotConfigs.map(function(slot) { return { placement: slot.placement, refresh: true }; }); })(event.detail.lazySlotConfigs); // Clear old state window.initAdserverFlag = false; // Delete old config googletag.destroySlots(); callMupFpb(refreshSlotConfigs, mupFpbConfiguration); callRTFFpb(refreshSlotConfigs, rtfFpbConfig); determineConsent(); /**---------- Set page level targeting for DFP ----------*/ (function setPageLevelTargeting(googletag) { /* Both Bidders Set targeting params pertaining to all slots on page. */ googletag = googletag || window.googletag; Object.keys(pageTargeting).forEach(function(pageTarget) { if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(pageTargeting, pageTarget)) { (function(key, value) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().setTargeting(key, value); }); })(pageTarget, pageTargeting[pageTarget]); } }); })(googletag); /**---------- Set ad slot level targeting for DFP ----------*/ if (typeof event.detail.slotConfigs === "object") { (function setSpecificAdSlotTargeting(googletag, specificSlotConfigs) { var refresh = arguments.length > 2 && arguments[2] !== undefined ? arguments[2] : false; /* FPB 1. Define initial (static) slots for DPT. 2. Add listeners for events relevant to analytics. 3. Set targeting params pertaining to individual slots. */ var adSlotRenderPeriods = {}; googletag = googletag || window.googletag; specificSlotConfigs.forEach(function(slot) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { adSlots.slots[slot.placement] = googletag.defineSlot(slot.code, slot.sizes, slot.placement).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { if (event.slot === adSlots.slots[slot.placement]) { adSlotRenderPeriods[slot.placement] = Date.now(); } }); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { if (event.slot === adSlots.slots[slot.placement]) { window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'gptSlotRenderPeriod', page: page, slotId: slot.placement, code: slot.code, position: slot.targeting.pos, position2: slot.targeting.pos2, time: Date.now() - adSlotRenderPeriods[slot.placement] }); } }); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { if (event.slot === adSlots.slots[slot.placement]) { window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'gptImpressionViewable', page: page, slotId: slot.placement, code: slot.code, position: slot.targeting.pos, position2: slot.targeting.pos2 }); } }); Object.keys(slot.targeting).forEach(function(target) { if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(slot.targeting, target)) { adSlots.slots[slot.placement].setTargeting(target, slot.targeting[target]); } }); adSlots.slots[slot.placement].setTargeting('adrefresh', refresh ? 'y' : 'n'); }); }); })(googletag, event.detail.slotConfigs, event.detail.isNotPageTransition); } (function pushAdSlots(googletag) { googletag = googletag || window.googletag; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); googletag.enableServices(); window.dfpReady = true; }); })(googletag); googletag.display(); PWT.requestBidSlots = googletag.pubads().getSlots(); if (typeof PWT.requestBids === 'function') { const config = PWT.generateConfForGPT(PWT.requestBidSlots); PWT.requestBids( config, function(adUnitsArray) { PWT.ow_Bids = adUnitsArray; PWT.ow_BidsReceived = true; initAdserver(false); } ); } apstag.fetchBids({ slots: apstagSlots, timeout: 1000 // Make sure this timeout is less than or equal to OpenWrap TimeOut }, function(bids) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { apstag.setDisplayBids(); PWT.a9_Bids = bids; PWT.a9_BidsReceived = true; initAdserver(false); }); }); } function requestLazyAd(event) { var results = {}; var lazyInitAdserver = function(slot) { if (results.a9_BidsReceived && results.ow_BidsReceived && window.adlerData.mup.values && window.adlerData.rtf.values) { if (!results.ow_Bids) { var owBackup = []; for (var i = 0; i < slotConfigs.length; i++) { owBackup.push({ adUnitIndex: '' + i, adUnitId: slotConfigs[i].code, bidData: { kvp: {} }, code: slotConfigs[i].placement, divId: slotConfigs[i].placement, }); } results.ow_Bids = owBackup; } if (!results.a9_Bids) { results.a9_Bids = []; } processMupFpbValues(results.ow_Bids); processRtfFpbValues(results.ow_Bids, results.a9_Bids, allSlotConfigs, window.adlerData.shouldSetLoki); PWT.addKeyValuePairsToGPTSlots(results.ow_Bids); googletag.display(slotConfig.placement); googletag.pubads().refresh([slot]); } } var slotConfig = lazySlotConfigs.find( (function(config) { return config.placement === event.detail; }) ); if (slotConfig && googletag) { var apstagSlot = (function formatApstagSlot(slot) { var slots = [{ slotID: slot.placement, sizes: slot.sizes }]; return slots; })(slotConfig); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.destroySlots([adSlots.slots[slotConfig.placement]]); adSlots.slots[slotConfig.placement] = null; const slot = googletag.defineSlot( slotConfig.code, slotConfig.sizes, slotConfig.placement ); if (slot) { adSlots.slots[slotConfig.placement] = slot.addService( googletag.pubads() ); Object.keys(slotConfig.targeting).forEach(function(key) { adSlots.slots[slotConfig.placement].setTargeting( key, slotConfig.targeting[key] ); }); if (typeof PWT.requestBids === 'function') { const config = PWT.generateConfForGPT([slot]); PWT.requestBids( config, function(adUnitsArray) { results.ow_Bids = adUnitsArray; results.ow_BidsReceived = true; lazyInitAdserver(slot); } ); } apstag.fetchBids( { slots: apstagSlot, timeout: 1000 }, (function(bids) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { apstag.setDisplayBids(); results.a9_Bids = bids; results.a9_BidsReceived = true; lazyInitAdserver(slot); }); }) ); } }); } }; 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href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Primary breadcrumb">Home</a><span class="chevron"></span> <a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="secondary breadcrumb" href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar">Grammar</a> <span class="chevron"></span> <a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="secondary breadcrumb" href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/punctuation">Punctuation</a></p></div><div class="textBlock layout"><h1><span>Punctuation</span></h1><p><p>Punctuation marks are <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/essential">essential</a> when you are writing. They show the reader where sentences start and finish and if they are used properly they make your writing easy to understand. This section gives practical guidance on how to use commas, semicolons, and other types of punctuation correctly, so that your writing will always be clear and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/effective">effective</a>. There are also sections which offer advice on using punctuation when writing <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/direct_speech">direct speech</a>, lists, or abbreviations.</p><p>You may find some <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/aspect">aspects</a> of punctuation harder to grasp than others (for example, when to use a semicolon or a colon). Clicking on each heading will take you to a page with more details and full information.</p></p></div><div class="categories"></div><div class="categories pages"><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:48 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/colon" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 1"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7086/original/colon.jpg" alt="Colon"/></div><article><h2>How to use a colon (:)</h2><h4>Those two little dots have three main uses: learn what a colon’s job is and where it can be used with our helpful guide. Can you spot how it is being used here?</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2021-01-15 22:56:48 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/comma" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 2"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7087/original/comma.jpg" alt="Comma"/></div><article><h2>How to use a comma (,)</h2><h4>Don’t struggle with whether or not to use an Oxford comma: our guide will teach you this, plus much more about the humble comma and its many uses.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:43 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/period-full-stop" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 3"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7088/original/full-stop-period.jpg" alt="Full stop period"/></div><article><h2>How To Use A Full Stop/Period (.)</h2><h4>Don’t let your confidence in using a full stop be stopped: take a look at our guide to when this fundamental punctuation mark is needed.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:45 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/hyphen" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 4"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7089/original/hyphen.jpg" alt="Hyphen"/></div><article><h2>How to use a hyphen (-)</h2><h4>Hyphens can be tricky to use, but there are three times where you should consider using them. This article shows you when to use them, and how.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-17 14:53:57 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/apostrophe" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 5"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7004/original/GettyImages-1060623770.jpg" alt="Gettyimages 1060623770"/></div><article><h2>How To Use An Apostrophe (’)</h2><h4>Many people have difficulties with using the apostrophe correctly. We're here to eliminate the uncertainty surrounding this punctuation mark. </h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2021-02-05 15:53:11 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/dash-and-em-dash" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 6"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7090/original/em-dash.jpg" alt="Em dash"/></div><article><h2>How To Use An Em Dash (—)</h2><h4>Dashes are often found in informal writing, but how often should you use this punctuation?</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:45 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/question-mark" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 7"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7091/original/question-mark.jpg" alt="Question mark"/></div><article><h2>How to use a question mark (?)</h2><h4>When should you use a question mark? The answer isn’t quite as simple as ‘when a question is involved’ – so we’ll take you through the rules.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:48 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/semicolon" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 8"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7092/original/semi-colon.jpg" alt="Semi colon"/></div><article><h2>How to use a semicolon (;)</h2><h4>Semicolons can cause some confusion, particularly if you’re not entirely sure when they should be used. Fear not! We have all your punctuation solutions.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2021-02-05 15:57:24 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/bullet-points" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 9"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7085/original/bullet-points.jpg" alt="Bullet points"/></div><article><h2>How To Use Bullet Points (:)</h2><h4>Although there are no fixed rules about how to use bullet points, here are a few things you need to consider. </h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:47 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/parentheses-and-brackets" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 10"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7093/original/parentheses.jpg" alt="Parentheses"/></div><article><h2>How to use parentheses and brackets ( ) [ ]</h2><h4>Round brackets and square brackets are the two main types of brackets. Read this quick guide to learn how to use them correctly.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:48 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/punctuation-in-abbreviations" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 11"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7231/original/how-to-use-punctuation-abbreviatinos.jpg" alt="How to use punctuation abbreviatinos"/></div><article><h2>How to use punctuation in abbreviations</h2><h4>If you’re not sure whether it’s ‘Mr’ or ‘Mr.’, then check out our guidelines setting out the different rules of punctuation in abbreviations.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:48 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/punctuation-in-direct-speech" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 12"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7232/original/how-to-use-punctuation-in-direct-speech.jpg" alt="How to use punctuation in direct speech"/></div><article><h2>How to use punctuation in direct speech</h2><h4>Does the comma go inside speech marks? Do you use single (‘) or double (“) inverted commas? The answers are all in our guide to punctuation in direct speech.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2021-02-05 15:55:35 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/punctuation-in-lists" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 13"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7233/original/how-to-use-punctuation-in-lists.jpg" alt="How to use punctuation in lists"/></div><article><h2>How to use punctuation in lists</h2><h4>Any list will need the help of punctuation to make it clear. Do you know which punctuation marks are used for lists, and how to use them?</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:47 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/exclamation-mark-point" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 14"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7221/original/exclamation-mark-or-exclamation%5Bpoint.jpg" alt="Exclamation mark or exclamation%5bpoint"/></div><article><h2>Is it "exclamation mark" or "exclamation point" (!)?</h2><h4>The exclamation mark comes in handy in various situations – but are there times you should or shouldn’t use it? We explore this controversial punctuation mark. </h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2020-09-18 14:57:17 +0100"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/types-of-punctuation" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 15"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7272/original/types-of-punctuation.jpg" alt="Types of punctuation"/></div><article><h2>Types Of Punctuation</h2><h4>Without punctuation, it would be very difficult to understand any piece of writing. Explore all common punctuation marks, from semicolons to bullet points.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2019-12-09 11:59:47 +0000"><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/inverted-commas-quotation-marks" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 16"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841im_/https://lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7274/original/what-are-inverted-commas-quotation-marks.jpg" alt="What are inverted commas quotation marks"/></div><article><h2>What are inverted commas?</h2><h4>Inverted commas are used for a number of reasons, and also have different names. This guide shows you the differences between them, and how to use them.</h4></article></a></section></div><div class="sitemap_pagination category_pagination"></div><div class="load_more_container"><a class="seemore" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="see more in cat" href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar">See more from Grammar</a></div></div></div><aside class="sideBanner"><div class="sideBannerWrap"><div class="adUnit banner "><div id="lexi_serp_dkt_atf_160x600_1"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("lexi_serp_dkt_atf_160x600_1"); });</script></div><div id=""><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(""); });</script></div></div></div></aside><aside id="sidebar" class="sidebar extend"><div class="sidebar-content"><div class="banbox-mini ad-placeholder" id="top_right_rail"><div class="adUnit "><div id="lexi_serp_dkt_btf_300x250_20"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("lexi_serp_dkt_btf_300x250_20"); });</script></div><div id="lexi_serp_mweb_btf_300x250_10"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("lexi_serp_mweb_btf_300x250_10"); });</script></div></div></div><div class="dayword"><section><div class="daywordmain"><span class="wotd-title">Word of the day</span><div class="word_spacer"></div><div><div><strong><a class="linkword" id="ef1c8aa0-8376-4c8f-a5dd-08fbcd97456e" href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/unget-at-able" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="Word">unget-at-able</a></strong><p class="word_type phonetic_spelling">/ ʌnɡɛtˈatəb(ə)l /</p><p class="word_type pos">adjective</p></div></div><div class="cta"><a id="ef1c8aa0-8376-4c8f-a5dd-08fbcd97456e" href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/unget-at-able" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="Word">See definitions & examples</a></div></div></section></div><div class="news layout"><section><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/explore/word-of-the-year" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 1"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img alt="202012 semicolon lexico woty english 748x482" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841/https://raw.githubusercontent.com/entropyhub/entropyhub.github.io/master/assets/images/reexternalwotypage/202012_semicolon_lexico_WOTY_english_748x482.jpg" class="lazy" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs="/></div><article><span class="article-title">It's here! Lexico's first Word of the Year!</span></article></a></section><section><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/explore/what-is-the-longest-english-word" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 2"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img alt="Weird and wonderful words min" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841/https://s3.amazonaws.com/lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7308/medium/weird-and-wonderful-words-min.jpg" class="lazy" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs="/></div><article><span class="article-title">What Is The Longest English Word?</span></article></a></section><section><a href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/grammar/spelling" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 3"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img alt="Spelling" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210215071841/https://s3.amazonaws.com/lexico.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/7010/medium/spelling.jpg" class="lazy" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs="/></div><article><span class="article-title">These Are Our Top English Spelling Tips!</span></article></a></section></div><div class="quiz-panel-odo"><div class="quiz-panel" id="quiz_100"><div class="quizTitle">'-sion', '-tion' or '-cion'?</div><form class="simple_form new_quiz_response" id="new_quiz_response" action="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/quiz_responses" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-remote="true" method="post"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"/><input type="hidden" name="quiz_id" id="quiz_id" value="100"/><div class="questions"><div class="question first current"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6155" value="6155"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6155">decition</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6154" value="6154"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6154">decision</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6184" value="6184"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6184">relaxation</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6185" value="6185"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6185">relaxasion</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6167" value="6167"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6167">extention</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6166" value="6166"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6166">extension</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6145" value="6145"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6145">commition</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6144" value="6144"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6144">commission</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6188" value="6188"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6188">seclusion</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6189" value="6189"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6189">seclution</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6195" value="6195"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6195">suspision</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6194" value="6194"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6194">suspicion</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6190" value="6190"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6190">solution</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6191" value="6191"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6191">solucion</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6183" value="6183"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6183">producion</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6182" value="6182"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6182">production</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6160" value="6160"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6160">election</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6161" value="6161"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6161">elecion</label></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which is the correct spelling?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6171" value="6171"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6171">informacion</label></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6170" value="6170"/><label class="option_text" for="quiz_option_id_6170">information</label></li></ul></div><div class="question last"><h3 class="score-message">You scored <span class="final-score"></span>/10 practise again?</h3><button 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href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/inculcator">inculcator</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 4" href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/modern_history">modern history</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 5" href="/web/20210215071841/https://www.lexico.com/definition/silage">silage</a></li></ol></section></div></div></div></aside></div></div></div><div class="violbox h-box lex"><div class="container full"><div class="further_reading" id="further_reading_section"><span>Are You Learning English? 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