The Full Stop (Period) in English

History of the Full Stop

Origins: The full stop has its origins in ancient Greece, where it was used as a method of separating thoughts or ideas within sentences. It evolved into the punctuation mark we recognise today during the Middle Ages.
Development: During the Middle Ages, the full stop became a distinct punctuation mark, marking the end of a sentence. By the 16th century, its use was standardised, and it became a crucial part of written language.
The Terminology Split: The difference between "full stop" and "period" emerged due to the divergence between British and American English. In British English, the term "full stop" was retained from earlier usage, whereas American English adopted the term "period" around the 19th century, influenced by the idea of marking the end of a period of thought.
Modern Usage: Today, the full stop (period) is universally recognised as a punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a declarative sentence or statement. Despite the difference in terminology, its function remains the same across English-speaking countries.

Ending Sentences: A full stop is used to indicate the conclusion of a declarative or imperative sentence. Example: She went to the market.
Abbreviations: Full stops are used after certain abbreviations, particularly in American English. Example: Dr., e.g., etc.
Acronyms: Full stops were traditionally used in acronyms (e.g., "U.S.A."), but this practice is increasingly omitted, particularly in modern usage where forms like "USA" are preferred.
Titles and Initials: In names and titles, a full stop follows initials. Example: J.K. Rowling, Mr. Smith.
Indirect Questions: Full stops are used at the end of indirect questions, distinguishing them from direct questions that end with a question mark. Example: She asked why he was late.

Terminology: In the UK, the punctuation mark at the end of a sentence is referred to as a "full stop," while in the US, it is called a "period." This difference is rooted in linguistic divergence that occurred during the 19th century.
Abbreviations: In UK English, abbreviations like Mr, Dr, and Mrs often omit the full stop, while in US English, these abbreviations usually include a full stop. Example: Mr Smith (UK) vs. Mr. Smith (US).
Quotation Marks: In UK English, the full stop is placed outside quotation marks if it is not part of the quoted material, whereas in US English, it is placed inside. Example: "She said no". (UK) vs. "She said no." (US).

Avoid using multiple full stops for emphasis, except in informal or creative writing. Example: Wait.... is often seen in informal contexts but is not standard in formal writing.
Do not use a full stop in headings, titles, or when a sentence is followed by another punctuation mark such as an exclamation mark or question mark. Example: Who are you? not Who are you?.
Avoid using full stops at the end of bulleted lists unless the items in the list are complete sentences.
Avoid using full stops after single letters used as abbreviations in UK English, such as U for University.

Run-on Sentences: Failure to use a full stop at the end of a sentence leads to run-on sentences, which can make text confusing. Example: He went to the shop he bought milk should be He went to the shop. He bought milk.
Misplaced Full Stops: Incorrectly placing a full stop inside brackets when it should be outside. Example: (See Figure 2.) vs (See Figure 2).
Forgetting Full Stops: In informal writing or texting, it�s common to forget full stops, which can lead to unclear communication.
Misplacing Full Stops in Quotations: In American English, the full stop should be placed inside the quotation marks for a complete sentence. Example: "She said she was going."

Decline in Informal Digital Communication: The full stop is often omitted in casual texting and online chats, where line breaks or no punctuation at all may replace it.
Full Stops as Indicators of Tone: In digital communication, a full stop can sometimes be interpreted as abrupt or formal, especially in a medium where brevity and informality are common.
Stylistic Use in Creative Writing: Full stops are sometimes used creatively in poetry or prose to create dramatic pauses or to emphasize certain elements of the text.

Western Languages: Similar to English, most Western languages use the full stop to end sentences.
Asian Languages: In traditional Chinese and Japanese scripts, a small circle (resembling a full stop) is used instead of a dot.
Arabic and Persian Scripts: These scripts use a similar mark, but it is inverted and placed at the top of the line.
Indian Scripts: In scripts like Devanagari, the 'purna viram' is used, which is a vertical line indicating the end of a sentence.

Decimal Points: In mathematics and finance, a full stop is used as a decimal point in many English-speaking countries. Example: 3.14 (three point one four).
Email and Website Addresses: Full stops play a crucial role in digital addresses, such as in email addresses and URLs. Example: name@example.com or www.example.com.
Abbreviations in Latin: In Latin-derived abbreviations like e.g. and i.e., full stops separate the letters.
Programming: In many programming languages, full stops are used in object-oriented programming to access properties or methods of an object. Example: object.property.
Morse Code: In Morse code, a full stop is represented by .-.-.- and is used to indicate the end of a sentence.