Punctuation rules in Spanish

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The correct punctuation of a text in Spanish it is one of the most difficult tasks to carry out. On many occasions we doubt whether or not we should write a comma instead of a period or a semicolon instead of a colon and other similar cases. The truth is that the punctuation of a text is essential to correctly and without misunderstanding our ideas or opinions, that is why it is essential to know and know how to apply the rules of punctuation.

In this lesson from a TEACHER we will do a summary of the scoring rules in Spanish so that you know what are the guidelines that we must follow when using some of the most common and important punctuation marks in Spanish. Keep reading!

Index

1. How to use the comma
2. How to use the point
3. Semicolon
4. The two points
5. Suspensives points

The Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) defines the word punctuation as the "set of spelling signs used to punctuate". Among all of them, one of the most important and most used is the comma (,), which is a punctuation mark that

Its main uses are, as we have said, to indicate small pauses throughout the sentences, as well as to introduce subsections in the form of sentences which we can do without without altering the full meaning of the text. In these cases, it is necessary to introduce a comma at the beginning of the subsection and another at the end (Next week, which is my birthday, we could go out to dinner).

Another linguistic use of the comma is to mark the elements within a long enumeration (lettuce, tomato, olives, fresh cheese, oil, vinegar). Furthermore, one of the spelling rules for using the comma within a text is that it can never be placed between the subject and the predicate; that is, the comma in Spanish cannot separate the subject from the verb that performs the main action described in the sentence.

Rules for using the comma

The rule says that we must write the comma just after the previous word and then leave a space between it and the next word (Well you may be right). As we have pointed out, the importance of the comma lies in the fact that it is necessary to know how to use it well since It depends on it, on numerous occasions, both the correct interpretation and the reading aloud of the text.

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Next to the comma (,), the period (.) Is the another of the most used punctuation marks and abundant within the texts. The main function of this sign is signal the final pause between one statement and another; that is, it marks the end of one sentence and the beginning of another through a pause.

The orthographic norm indicates that after a period, the next word must be written capitalized always ((I love you very much. And you know).

When the point marks the end of a sentence and then we have another sentence, this point is called point and followed Whereas if the period marks both the end of a sentence and the end of a paragraph, it is known by the name of new paragraph.

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Perhaps one of the punctuation marks that causes us the most headaches is the semicolon (;), since on many occasions we doubt when we should use it. This is because the use of the semicolon depends, on many occasions, on not so much linguistic as subjective issues, since, sometimes we can resort to the use of other punctuation uses, such as the comma or the period, instead of the semicolon, and this causes that this sign is used less and less and with greater insecurity on the part of the speaker.

The semicolon points a pause that is greater than that of the comma but at the same time less than that of the period. Its main uses are, on the one hand, to separate the subsequent elements that appear listed and that suppose some kind of clarification to what was said above, and on the other hand, to separate sentences that, although they are semantically linked, in terms of syntax are sentences completely independent of each other.

The colon (:) indicates a pause greater than that of the comma but at the same time less than that of the period. Its main function is to capture attention within the statement in which it is found to enter any clarifying or informative data with respect to the above information.

The colon introduces, for example, enumerations, also quotes that reproduce the same words that someone said before or they are also used to pause before talking about some concept, fact or person fundamental to the subject of the text, in a way what a pause is signaled for attention about what comes next.

Another use of the colon is at the beginning of the letters, within the greetings formulas, following the proper names and preceding all the information contained in the letter (Dear Alonso:).

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The ellipsis They are made up of three points in a row that are placed forming a single graphic unit (...). It is important to note that only three and no more should be used, because it would be considered a misspelling.

Ellipsis are used within speech to indicate a long pause, which is generally expresses hesitation or doubt Given what has been said above and thus leave some time to think about what you want to say.

Another of its most important uses is omission of certain information that is taken for granted by the interlocutors or other participants in the speech; This is, for example, the end of a quote or a song, which is all known to all speakers of the same linguistic community.

If you want to read more articles similar to Punctuation Rules in Spanish - Summary, we recommend that you enter our category of Orthography.