The history of punctuation is anything but dull. 

Punctuation marks, those small yet powerful symbols in our written language, have an intriguing history that shapes how we communicate today. 

In her insightful studies, English scholar Florence Hazrat delves into the intriguing evolution and history of punctuation, as shared in her fascinating Aeon article. From the creation of the question mark to the use of parentheses, quotation marks, and exclamation marks, Hazrat’s research uncovers the momentous and monumental milestones in the journey of punctuation marks.

The Beginnings of Punctuation Marks

Contrary to what one might assume, punctuation did not emerge alongside writing. Originally, punctuation marks served two primary functions: to indicate the end of a thought and to guide readers on how to interpret a sentence – be it a statement or a question. 

In the earliest forms of writing, readers had to rely on context rather than punctuation for understanding. It was not until the 7th century that punctuation marks as we know them began to take shape, thanks to Isidore of Seville. His introduction of the period, comma, and colon marked a significant transition in reading, moving humanity from spoken to silent understanding. As Hazrat observes in her article:

“These changes attest to a shift in the perception of writing from record of speech to record of information. Meaning no longer needed to pass from eye to mind via voice and ear, but was directly – silently – apprehended.”

A Shift in Writing Perception

With the inclusion of basic punctuation marks, the perception of writing shifted from a mere speech record to an information repository. The addition of other punctuation marks like the comma, colon, and period during the Middle Ages further refined written communication, and the exclamation mark and question mark later joined to add emotional emphasis and clarify intonation. The period clarified sentence demarcation, while the comma and colon helped in clause separation, enhancing readability.

The Ancient Roots of Quotation Marks

The history of quotation marks can be traced all the way back to ancient Alexandria, where evidence of the arrow-shaped diple was found. It began as a way to indicate that a scribe or author had a varying opinion from the source material. However, the mark was first used to notate quotations when scholars in the eighth century needed to cite direct quotations from the Bible. It wasn’t until the 16th century that quotation marks as we know them started to take shape, when double commas became a popular way to introduce a quote. Finally, in 1748 the closing quotation mark made it’s debut in Samuel Richardson’s novel, Clarissa. The quotation mark became an established form of punctuation by the 19th century, when printers came to a consensus about their use.

The Renaissance of Punctuation

Within the history of punctuation marks, the real revolution coincided with the invention of the printing press. 
According to Hazrat, printers in Germany, France, and Italy, many of whom were scholars, played a crucial role in developing punctuation marks. Notably, Aldus Manutius, a Venetian printer-intellectual, invented the semicolon for Pietro Bembo’s dialogue “De Aetna,” thus introducing sophisticated pausing in writing.

In 1905, printers in Moscow staged what came to be known as the ‘Comma Strike’ when they demanded to be paid for each quotation mark, question mark, and exclamation point. They argued that the elements in these punctuation settings took the same amount of time as letters and they wanted to be compensated appropriately. Eventually, this strike led to the institution of Russia’s first constitution.

Exclamation Marks

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own jokes.” Many authors and editors share the same sentiment, arguing that the exclamation point is overused. While little is known about the origin of this punctuation mark, a clue might come from Latin, where joy was written as an o with an i above it. Squint, and you might be able to imagine how this character preceded the exclamation point we know today.

Punctuation in the Digital Age

The digital revolution marks another fascinating chapter in Hazrat’s history of punctuation.

In this modern era, our familiar punctuation marks have transformed, taking on the role of expressing emotions through the language of emoticons. These include the smiley face 🙂, the playful wink 😉, the unmistakable frown 🙁, the broad grin 😀, and even the cheeky, tongue-out expression 😛. 

It’s remarkable to think that centuries after their initial creation, we continue to innovate and infuse new meanings into our written communication with these symbols. This contemporary evolution highlights how punctuation remains a dynamic and evolving aspect of language, continuously shaping how we convey clarity, emotion, and nuanced expression in our writing. 

Understanding Punctuation with Analytical Grammar

For those intrigued by the intricacies of punctuation marks and grammar, Analytical Grammar presents a comprehensive curriculum for middle and high school students. This program transcends rote memorization, giving students a deeper understanding of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure and equipping them with the tools they need for articulate and effective written communication.

If you or your students are ready to take a deep dive into punctuation and grammar, there is no better place to start than with our Analytical Grammar curriculum.

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This blog post was originally published on February 2, 2021, and updated on December 27, 2023.