How to Use Periods

A period is used to indicate that a sentence is a statement or a command.

  • Statement: I completed my homework on time.
  • Command: You need to finish your homework before it’s due.

Periods with abbreviations

Periods are used in some abbreviations. When an abbreviation with a period is used at the end of a sentence, don’t use an extra period to end the sentence. 

  • Example: I asked her to come at 10 a.m.

Periods with quotation marks

Periods should be placed inside a quote.

  • Correct: Morticia said, “The graveyard is very beautiful.”
  • Incorrect: Morticia said, “The graveyard is very beautiful”.

Use a comma instead of a period if the end of a quote is not the end of the sentence.

  • Correct: “The graveyard is very beautiful,” Morticia said.
  • Incorrect: “The graveyard is very beautiful.” Morticia said.

Periods with parentheses

Sometimes parentheses come at the end of a sentence, such as when citing a source or making a side comment. Punctuation should always come after the end of the parentheses.

  • Example: The study measured “cooperative play in baby kittens” (Jones 1).
  • Example: The art exhibition was a huge success (thanks largely to Gerard’s help).
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