What written signs exist in the Russian language. The meaning, functions and role of punctuation marks in the Russian language

Helps to structure written text. Their use is regulated by punctuation rules specific to each language. They are not always easy to learn, so a lot of errors occur in this section. So, when studying foreign languages, very few programs include punctuation. However, this section is no less important than grammar or spelling, although it is only needed in So what are the punctuation marks?

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The main punctuation units in any language are the period, comma, as well as question and exclamation marks. With their help, you can correctly express your thoughts, although not always with sufficient accuracy. In total, ten icons are used in modern Russian: in addition to those already mentioned, these are the dash and colon, which will be discussed separately. In addition, these are brackets and quotation marks that have a separating function. Also the ellipsis, which ends a thought, and the semicolon, which play the same role, but within the same sentence.

As you can see, the list is small, but each of the listed punctuation units has its own purpose. Sometimes they are interchangeable, but more often they are not.

Classification

There are several options for dividing punctuation units. Firstly, on the basis of pairing. That is, in the case of placing one punctuation mark, it is necessary to supplement it with a second one. The paired categories include brackets, quotation marks, as well as double commas and dashes.

According to the second classification, all punctuation marks can be divided into 3 categories. For example, these:

1. Selection marks. They are intended to indicate the boundaries of various syntactic constructions and isolation. It is this category that paired signs belong to. They allow you to clearly structure a sentence and see its significant parts.
2. Branch signs. They mark the boundary between independent sentences, including those within complex structures. In addition, they indicate the type. This includes everything that is not included in the first paragraph.
3. Sometimes the red line is highlighted separately. It denotes a change in topic or a new turn in a story or argument.

Functions

It may seem that in modern world punctuation is already an atavism. As a rule, even without periods it is possible to delimit sentences, and even without commas it is most often clear what is being said. What can we say about other signs that are much less common? And yet, it is extremely difficult to do without them.

Firstly, they allow you to make mental pauses and differentiate phrases without turning the text into a meaningless set of letters and words. Secondly, they convey great amount various shades - uncertainty, half-assertion, etc. Without such a powerful tool as punctuation, this would be very difficult to achieve. In addition, it would be extremely difficult to understand official documents, agreements and contracts without punctuation marks. A misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of the entire sentence - and this is no joke.

So the role of punctuation marks is important, no matter how their opponents claim the opposite. After all, many linguists are of the opinion that any unnecessary introductions into the language simply do not take root, while the significant parts are retained in any case. And then, the famous “execution cannot be pardoned” is just one example, but in fact there are thousands of them. Any punctuation mark is an important part of the sentence that cannot be neglected.

History of origin and development

It's hard to imagine how you can do without punctuation, but current situation developed relatively recently, and perhaps the process of development of this language section is still ongoing. Nevertheless, it is very interesting to observe how the origin and development of punctuation occurred.

The oldest punctuation mark is the dot, which is found in ancient Russian writings. But its use was not regulated in any way, and the location on the line was different - not at the bottom, but in the middle. The rules for staging it became more similar to modern ones around the 16th century.

The comma became widespread around the 15th century. Its name comes from an obsolete verb meaning stop, delay. The root word in this case is “stammer.” And the most observant ones will notice one more thing. For example, the fact that “punctuation”, by etymology, goes back to the same root.

Most of the other signs were introduced into widespread use before the 18th century. Lomonosov, Karamzin and many other prominent scientists contributed to their popularization. Modern punctuation rules for the Russian language were adopted in 1956 and are still in effect.

Correct use of punctuation units

Punctuation isn't always easy. At the end of a sentence there are four options to choose from, and inside a phrase... It is not surprising that so much time is devoted to the study of punctuation. It may be a little difficult to remember all the rules, but the basic ones are simply necessary.

Commas: correct use

Since this sign is the most common, it is not surprising that it accounts for the most problems. A comma is a sign that separates simple sentences within a complex sentence. It is also used in enumeration, to highlight introductory structures, applications, isolation of participles, adverbs and comparative turnover and many other purposes. It is perhaps quite difficult to list them all, since this is a huge part school curriculum. However, it should be remembered that a comma also always distinguishes the address. Punctuation marks require careful attention, and neglecting the rules for their placement for a native speaker is, first of all, disrespect for one’s own person.

Direct speech and dialogue

It is this topic that causes the greatest difficulty for both schoolchildren and adults. And if there are fewer problems with the dialogue, because dashes are simply placed before each line, then punctuation marks in direct speech simply become a stumbling block, especially if introducing words are also used.

In order to correctly format this part of the text, you need to know that the replica itself, along with its own punctuation marks, is highlighted in quotation marks. If introducing words are used, then a comma is used instead of a period, which in this case is taken out of the statement. Interrogative and always saved. As for the formatting of the author’s words, it depends on the division of the replicas. If they are a single sentence, interrupted by an explanation, then it is written with a small letter and highlighted with a dash and colon. Only one pair of quotation marks is placed - at the beginning and at the end of direct speech. This probably sounds a little confusing in theory, but in practice it’s not difficult to figure out.

Using dash and colon

Grammar in the Russian language presupposes the existence and this means the demand for the above-mentioned punctuation marks. Their purpose is approximately the same, and they both can be replaced by a comma, which, however, will not convey the desired shades.

A colon is necessary if the subsequent part or even a whole simple sentence more fully reveals the meaning of the previous one, adds details, etc. A dash is in the opposite situation. Of course, they have other functions, but this is also sufficient most of school curriculum, which deserves detailed consideration.

Differences in punctuation between Russian and European languages

When studying our native language, we do not always think about what punctuation marks exist in foreign dialects and whether they serve the same function. Of course, the rules of punctuation are also different, but we are not talking about them now.

A striking example is Spanish. Interrogatives and exclamation sentences it is highlighted more noticeably, because the corresponding signs are placed not only at the end, but also at the beginning of phrases, so that they are paired along with quotation marks or brackets.

By the way, in English language Often, instead of an ellipsis at the end of direct speech, you can find a dash. And the Greeks can put [;] instead of a question mark. It’s difficult to guess without knowing. So it’s not always worth thinking about the rules that the Russian language sets. Punctuation marks and ways of using them are different everywhere.

Eastern languages

Japanese and Chinese remain true to tradition, despite the influence of Europe. So, the dot looks like a circle and is sometimes placed in the center of the line, and sometimes just like a regular one. This was done to avoid confusion, since the European sign could be mistaken for part of the last hieroglyph.

There are also two types of commas: regular and teardrop. The first, for example, separates simple sentences as part of a complex one, and the second - homogeneous members.

Little-known punctuation marks

It may seem that the previously mentioned list is more than exhaustive. But, strangely enough, this is not so. So, what punctuation marks exist that few people know about and are practically never used? There are a little more than a dozen of the most famous:

• Interrobang. This combination of a question mark and an exclamation mark in one unit looks exotic, but interesting. Of course, it is easier and more common to write “?!”, especially since the meaning will be the same, but supporters of the introduction of interrobang believe that it looks more representative in writing.
• Rhetorical It was in use for about 20 years at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. Essentially, he is mirror image the usual question mark.
• Asterism. Previously, chapters or their parts were separated from each other precisely by this sign, which was three stars arranged in the form of a triangle. But quite a long time ago they were replaced by the same asterism, but located in the form of a straight segment.
• Ironic sign. It may seem too similar to the rhetorical one, although it is smaller, located above the line and has a completely different function, as the name suggests. It was invented in the 19th century.
• Love sign. Its function is also obvious from the name, and it itself is a combination of two interrogatives, mirrored to each other, with one dot.
• Agreement sign. It is a combination of two exclamation marks with one period. Expresses a show of goodwill or greeting.
• A sign of confidence. Serves the function of emphasizing a strong opinion regarding the statement made. It is an exclamation mark crossed out by a short horizontal line.
• Question comma. Used to emphasize interrogative intonation within one sentence. By analogy, there is an exclamation comma.
• Sarcastic sign. It is a kind of snail with a dot inside and is protected by copyright. It is used to specifically emphasize that the sentence behind which it is located contains sarcasm.
• Snark sign. It can also be typed on a regular keyboard, since it is just a period followed by a tilde - [.~]. It is used to show that the sentence it follows is not to be taken literally and has a hidden meaning.

Quite an interesting set, but to many it seems redundant. And although the role of some of these signs seems necessary, language ultimately displaces inappropriate and unused things. This is probably what happened in this case.

However, natural languages ​​are far from the only discipline in which there is the concept of punctuation. However, this topic requires separate consideration. It would be much more appropriate to consider the influence modern trends for placement of punctuation marks.

Punctuation and Netiquette

Since communication on the Internet initially most often implies informality, some simplification and disregard for the rules of the Russian (and not only) language is quite natural. There has even been a concept of netiquette, which includes the question of how to place punctuation marks.

For example, a period at the end of a long dialogue is a sign that the interlocutor wants to close the topic. In other cases it looks rude and cold. A large number of exclamation marks mean, depending on the context, violent negative or positive emotions. An ellipsis can show despair, thoughtfulness, melancholy and some other shades of mood that can hardly be called positive. The placement of commas in online communication is rarely the subject of serious thought, because the goal is to convey the essence to the interlocutor, and the presentation of thoughts in this case is secondary. However, you cannot neglect the placement of question marks - this is bad manners.

Although these rules are different from the general rules, they are not difficult to remember. And, of course, you need to take into account that they do not relate to business and official correspondence, which must be formatted correctly and competently. Punctuation is a powerful tool that must be used carefully.

Today we will talk about existing punctuation marks.
Let's find out which ones exist punctuation marks, what they serve and where they came from.
Let's start by forming a certain understanding of the purpose of punctuation marks. Why do we need these very signs?
Our speech is extremely diverse, not only in the content of words, but also in intonation features. We can ask something meaningfully, pause, exclaim, and bring the speech to its logical conclusion. Divide your story into parts. Quote someone, use many other techniques in speech.
To reflect these very intonation and semantic features in writing, punctuation marks come to our aid.
Let's list all existing punctuation marks and give a brief description of each.
« » - Space serves to separate words from each other.

« . » - Dot allows us to divide text into sentences. A sentence is a kind of complete thought within a narrative. The dot is also used to shorten long words (example “kv. 97” - short for apartment 97).

« , » Comma allows us to place accents and separate words from each other within a sentence. A famous example: “Execute cannot be pardoned.” and “You can’t execute, you can have mercy.” shows how important commas are in creating the meaning of a sentence.

« ? » Question mark allows us to make an offer to the “asker.”

« ! » Exclamation mark comes to our aid when we need to give a more pronounced emotional color to a proposal.

« … » Ellipsis(three dots) we use when we want to indicate a pause or understatement in the story. Ellipsis is also used for technical purposes to shorten text, usually in quotes.
Example.
In the lines of Gorky’s poem: “Over the gray plain of the sea... A petrel soars proudly.”, we can find a call for revolution.

« ”” » Quotes. As you may have noticed, they are used quite often in this article. With them we highlight quotes, direct speech, names, words in figurative meaning. They are a kind of word highlighters in a general context.

« - » Dash or hyphen. The scope of application of this punctuation mark is quite wide. It is used both as an en dash without spaces in words like “ever, someone, somehow”, and as an em dash in sentences. For example: “Teaching is light! " A dash serves as a kind of bridge between words or sentences, indicating their relationship. Let us give a few more examples so that you can grasp the essence and variety of uses of this sign.
The book is with me - my faithful assistant.

In forests, fields, seas and oceans - harmony is everywhere.

– How did you sleep today?
- Sleep is a miracle!

"To me!" – the owner said the command.

I will buy two buckets - one for home, the other for the dacha.

I'm very sorry for the East too.
I will fly from Moscow to Vladivostok.

« : » Colon we indicate that the subsequent part of the sentence belongs to the previous one. For example, when in a sentence we have a generalizing word, and after it comes a list of words related to it. Different animals live in the forest: wolf, fox, bear and others. A colon can separate two parts of a sentence if the second follows in meaning from the first. I am pleased: today the day was not in vain. The colon is also actively used in sentences with direct speech and quotations in cases where the words of the author come first. Eg. Einstein said: “Everything is relative!”

« ; » Semicolon. We usually use this sign for the same purpose as a comma. It is worth saying that if a comma is a kind of intonation pause for the purpose of separation, then a semicolon is an intonation pause, but a little longer and more significant.
It is used in complex sentences, as well as list transfers.
Let's give a couple of examples.
Need to buy:
1) red apples;
2) pickled cucumbers;
3) tomatoes.
Vitya didn’t catch the fish; but, despite this, he spent the whole evening talking about how interesting the fishing was.

« () » In parentheses we separate out implied text that is inconsistent with other parts in the sentence. Usually the following are written in brackets: clarifications, some details and details. In speech, we usually denote such moments with the words: more precisely, in the sense, I mean, etc.
Examples:
In winter (end of December) I am going to go to Austria.
Punctuation marks – convenient tools to create clearer and richer text.

« ’ » Apostrophe. This sign, as a rule, separates one part of a word from another in complex surnames (Joan of Arc, D’Artagnan) as well as in words with part of the word in Latin (I sometimes use E-mail and Skype). This is a kind of top comma, letting us know that when pronouncing we need to make a micro-pause at the place of the apostrophe.

« Paragraph" - the punctuation mark indicated by a paragraph is, in fact, a transition to a new line. It is used for the purpose of semantic or intonation division of the text into parts. A new thought usually begins with a new line. Transitions are actively used when writing poems and dialogues.

We have listed and revealed all punctuation marks existing in the Russian language today. In conclusion, I would like to draw attention to several facts from history.
Did you know that until the end of the 15th century in Rus', words were written together without spaces?
The period appeared only in the 1480s, the comma in the 1520s. And the first paired sign (brackets) was in 1619.
Today we successfully use all of the listed signs, both for their intended purpose and by creating fancy emoticons from them.
That's all for now.
Good luck;)

Punctuation(from lat. punctum - point) is a section of the Russian language that studies punctuation, as well as the punctuation system itself. Punctuation in Russian serves in order to convey as accurately as possible in writing what the author wanted to express. Punctuation rules created in order to regulate the intonation structure of speech, as well as syntactic and semantic relationships in the language.

We all remember the greatness and power of our language. This means not only its lexical richness, but also its flexibility. This also applies to punctuation - there are both strict rules and guidelines that depend on the situation, stylistic features and meaning of the text.

Punctuation in Russian speech achieved through punctuation. Punctuation marks- these are graphic symbols necessary to convey the intonation and meaning of a sentence, as well as to place certain accents in speech.

In Russian there are the following punctuation marks:

1) End of sentence marks: period, question mark and exclamation mark;

2) Sentence separation marks: comma, dash, colon and semicolon;

3) Signs highlighting individual parts of a sentence: quotes and parentheses.

I came home late. Why is the bedroom light still on? That's right, she was waiting for me! “Back at work again?” - she asked tiredly. The apartment smelled of medicine (she probably drank valerian tincture so as not to worry), so I tried to calm her down and go to bed as soon as possible. All the events of that day flashed before my eyes: a scandal at work; a reprimand from the boss who unfairly blamed me for what happened; walking through the city at night in thought.

Punctuation marks can be repeated and combined. For example, the use of a question mark and an exclamation mark at the same time indicates that we have a rhetorical question(a question that does not require an answer or the answer to which everyone already knows):

Who knew that everything would happen exactly like this?!

How long?!

Can also be combined comma and dash. This combination allows you to connect different values:

A cool wind blew, it became dark in the forest, and a summer village evening was approaching.

This combination of punctuation marks can also be explained by the use different designs, for example, references in a sentence with a dash between the subject and the predicate:

You, brother, are the dearest person left on earth.

Despite the fact that in the Russian language there are cases when there are no strict rules for the use of certain punctuation marks, even in such cases there are certain recommendations. For example, are there such cases basic punctuation, that is, one that is given preference. For example, the main punctuation mark when using inserted structures is parentheses:

After yesterday's downpour, all of us (except Anna, who happened to have a raincoat) fell ill with a cold.

In this case, it is possible to highlight the inserted structure using a dash (a minor punctuation mark in this case):

He sat down thoughtfully on the bench - it was wet after the rain - and thought about what happened today.

All punctuation rules and punctuation rules we will look in more detail in subsequent articles.

Punctuation marks are necessary element written form of Russian speech. A modern test cannot be recorded without punctuation marks and cannot be reproduced normally. Punctuation marks provide the writer and reader with an unambiguous understanding of the sentence and text.

The purpose of punctuation marks is to convey the syntactic and semantic division of the text, as well as the main structural features of the intonation of the sentence. The transfer of intonation structure is not an end in itself; its elements insofar as they participate in the syntactic and semantic division of the text. Modern punctuation reflects structure, meaning and intonation. Written speech is organized quite clearly, definitely and at the same time expressively. As a rule, the intonation principle is reduced to the semantic, semantic to the structural.

Sometimes punctuation marks act as duplicate indicators of division in the presence of special linguistic means - conjunctions, allied words, as well as connective particles. The use of punctuation marks is governed by rules that are mandatory and identical for all speakers and writers.

In Russian punctuation they use following signs punctuation: period, question mark, exclamation point, ellipsis, comma, semicolon, colon, dash, parentheses, quotation marks. The function of a punctuation mark is also performed by a paragraph indent, or a red line.

Punctuation marks in the modern punctuation system of the Russian language have functions assigned to them. They either separate parts of the text from each other, or highlight any segments within parts.

In accordance with this, there are two main functions of punctuation marks:

departments;

discharge.

These functions are often complicated by more specific, semantic-distinguishing functions.

The main functions of all punctuation marks, as well as their semantic distinguishing functions, are described in the set of rules of Russian punctuation.

Punctuation marks with separating function

The separating marks are period, exclamation and question marks, semicolon, colon, ellipsis, paragraph (in this case the term is used to mean paragraph indentation).

Separating punctuation marks divide written text into semantically and grammatically significant parts. Close functionally are the symbols comma (separator), semicolon, period. Their difference is often only “quantitative”: they record pauses varying degrees duration, “semantically, the parts divided by commas and semicolons are less independent, they represent segments within one sentence; the dot denotes the completeness of the thought.” These signs are used when listing syntactically equivalent parts of the text: members of a sentence, parts of a sentence (comma and semicolon), individual sentences (period). For example, a comma: “between homogeneous members: And here a fresh wind blows, smelling of the river, resin, the mysterious spirit of damp wood...”.

Features of the use of semicolons are associated with its graphic originality. Being a connection of a period and a comma, it is used as a sign, as it were, “intermediate” between them. The semicolon is used, on the one hand, to simply more clearly, more noticeably indicate the boundary between very common components of a sentence, within which there are other punctuation marks; on the other hand, to emphasize the relative semantic independence of the parts (“There were no passers-by; the windows of the palace were dark; the sentry at the entrance stood motionless, wrapped in a sheepskin coat, with a gun stuck to his side”)

The qualitative similarity of the listed signs is easily understood by comparing examples designed differently:

• 1) The crowd suddenly rushed forward and separated us. Hats and caps flew into the air. A furious "hurray" exploded near the podium. (K.G. Paustovsky).
• 2) The crowd suddenly rushed forward and separated us, hats and caps flew into the air, a frantic “hurray” exploded near the podium.

The general functional significance of these signs and at the same time their difference in the degree of text division they indicate make it possible to use them in complex sentences as a certain gradation system. For example: “Fences ran across the cleared area, stacks and haystacks became, small smoky yurts grew; finally, like a victory banner, on a hill from the middle of the village a bell tower shot up to the sky.” This non-union complex sentence has four syntactically equivalent parts, but the first three are separated by commas, and the fourth is separated by a semicolon; This arrangement of signs makes it possible, firstly, to emphasize the greater semantic cohesion of the first three parts of the sentence and, secondly, the isolation and semantic independence of the fourth part of the sentence. In addition, such signs are justified from the point of view of the structural organization of the sentence: the first three have a common member that unites them into a single whole - in a cleared place, and in the fourth part there is an introductory word, and finally, its attribution to this part of the sentence is only possible when there is a semicolon separating the preceding part of the text.

A single comma, like a semicolon, always stands between syntactically equivalent parts of text or equivalent in meaning. syntactic function word forms.

Punctuation marks with special function

Emphasis marks include brackets and quotation marks, commas and dashes when used in pairs. In this case, parentheses and quotation marks are invariably used in pairs. The remaining punctuation marks are used on both sides of the highlighted component if it is located in the middle of the sentence.

If it is at the beginning or end of a sentence, then a comma, a dash or (sometimes) a combination of a comma and a dash are used once - after the highlighted phrase or before it. For example, the use of commas that highlight separate phrases at the beginning and end of a sentence: “Looking at the clouds, I remembered everything last days spent on the schooner."

Their purpose is to highlight particularly significant parts of a sentence; Such commas are used for isolation, for highlighting addresses, introductory constructions, and interjections.

The most common punctuation mark is the comma - the most “neutral” among other marks used in the middle of a sentence. Emphatic commas sharply diverge in function from periods and semicolons; in this case, they are included in a different system of punctuation meanings, those that are characteristic of emphases, in particular the paired dash and parentheses. For example:

commas for isolation: I spent the night somewhere on the outskirts, in a penny hotel, and left Sevastopol early in the morning (I.A. Bunin);

commas with introductory words and introductory sentences: Yesterday, they say, someone’s hunt passed us along the high road to the outgoing field, along with the hunt of young Tolstoys (I.A. Bunin);

commas when addressing: Indeed, Petya, tell the singer, let him serve the samovar (Gorky);

commas highlighting subordinate clauses: Some who stood closer reluctantly pulled off their hats (A.N. Tolstoy);

Here a new gradation is observed: commas, dashes, parentheses (commas highlight parts of the sentence that are less significant and complex; dashes - parts that are more significant and common; parentheses - especially sharply exclude parts from the composition of the sentence). For example, the use of emphases and parentheses, commas and dashes, dashes and parentheses:

• 1) The lower part of the face protruded somewhat forward, revealing the ardor of a passionate nature, but the tramp (based on some characteristic, although difficult to discern, signs, I immediately assumed that my guest was a tramp) had long been accustomed to restraining this ardor (V.G. Korolenko);
• 2) Nowhere in all of Russia - and I have traveled quite a bit in all directions - have I not listened to such deep, complete, perfect silence as in Balaklava (K.G. Paustovsky);
• 3) He became sad, taciturn, and external traces Baku life - premature old age - remained with Green forever (K.G. Paustovsky).

The distinctive role of such signs is especially clearly revealed when they are interchangeable. For example: Kutuzov listened to the report of the general on duty (the main subject of which was criticism of the position under Tsarev-Zaimishche) just as he listened to Denisov (L.N. Tolstoy). - Kutuzov listened to the report of the general on duty, the main subject of which was criticism of the position under Tsarev-Zaimishche, also...

The fact that parentheses are the most powerful disabling sign in comparison with commas and even dashes is confirmed by the possibility of using them not only inside sentences, but also in paragraphs. As an emphatic mark, they are used in syntactic units larger than a sentence. For example: Eight minutes to five. All the cadets are ready, dressed up for the ball. (“What a stupid word,” thinks Alexandrov, ““dressed up.” It’s as if they dressed us up in Spanish costumes.”) The gloves were washed and dried by the fireplace (A.I. Kuprin).

Quotation marks also serve as emphasis. The quotation marks are:

direct speech.

words used not in their usual meaning; words used ironically; words proposed for the first time or, conversely, outdated and unusual, etc. For example: In our country, as I have already said, a kind of pathetic, childish reverence for authors still reigns in literature to this day: in literature we highly honor the “table of ranks” and are afraid to speak out loud the truth about “high-ranking persons” (In .G. Belinsky);

titles literary works, newspapers, magazines, enterprises, ships, etc., which are conventional names. For example: As I remember now, the first thing I read was: “Pompadours and pompadours” (A. Karavaeva).

Multifunctional punctuation marks

As for such single signs as ellipses, colons and dashes, they, along with the general separating function, also perform a variety of semantic functions: they “fix certain semantic relationships that arise between parts of a sentence under the influence of a specific communicative task.”

Ellipsis is a sign that conveys understatement of thought, reticence, as well as intermittency and even difficulty in speech, for example: “Yes, life...” he said, after a pause and throwing a new log into the fire (V.G. Korolenko); He... don’t think... He’s not a thief or anything... just... (V.G. Korolenko).

An ellipsis can also convey the significance of what is said, indicate subtextual content, the hidden meaning contained in the text.

The colon is a sign warning of further clarification and clarification. The colon is used:

• a) after a generalizing word before the list of homogeneous members;
• b) in a non-union complex sentence, when its first part is specified;
• c) in a non-union complex sentence before the second part, revealing the reason for certain actions or states;
• d) in non-union complex sentences with explanatory relations - when the second part reveals the content of speech, thought, perception;
• e) after the author’s words before direct speech (essentially, in the same function as in non-union complex sentences with explanatory relations).

The explanatory function of the colon is specified with the following values: causality, justification, disclosure of content, specification general concept. For example:

I howled in pain and rushed at the Greek, but could not hit him even once: some two guys from the same company jumped up and grabbed my hands from behind (V. Voinovich);

The dash is a very meaningful sign. The breadth of its use in modern publications indicates a certain universalization of this sign. However, there are patterns in its use. “A dash, first of all, means all kinds of omissions - the omission of a connective in the predicate, omissions of sentence members in incomplete and elliptical sentences, omissions of adversative conjunctions; the dash, as it were, compensates for these omitted words - “preserves” their place.” For example: Great snipe - a free bird (M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin); Ilyusha - to the gate, but his mother’s voice was heard from the window (A.I. Goncharov); Not to the skies of someone else's homeland - I composed songs for my homeland (N.A. Nekrasov).

A dash conveys the meaning of condition, time, comparison, consequence in cases where these meanings are not expressed lexically, that is, by conjunctions. For example: If he wanted it, the guy and Tanya would feel bad (V.F. Panova); I woke up - my great-grandmother was not there (V.F. Panova); Says the words - the nightingale sings.

The dash can also be called a sign of “surprise” - semantic, intonation, composition. For example: No one was allowed to see Tanya - only letters were sent to her in a stream (V.G. Zernova) (unexpected accession); What do you regret now - I believe (K.M. Simonov) (unusual arrangement of explanatory clause); Many times I sat on a tree under a fence, expecting that they would call me to play with them, but they did not call (M. Gorky) (unexpected result).

Finally, a dash is also capable of conveying purely emotional meaning: the dynamism of speech, sharpness, and the speed of change of events. For example: A moment - and everything again drowned in darkness (V.G. Korolenko); By evening the wave subsided - and the sunset flared up in the west (K.G. Paustovsky); Let's cross the stream along the oak tree - and into the swamp (M.M. Prishvin).

Question and exclamation marks mark the end of a sentence and also convey interrogative and exclamatory intonation. With their help, the writer expresses his attitude to the conveyed content.

The combination of question and exclamation marks in any position expresses various shades of protest, bewilderment, and irony. For example, Gorky is cunning?! He is not cunning, but simple-minded to the point of insanity. He does not understand anything in real life - he is childish (K. Chukovsky).

Specific peripheral functions are performed by question and exclamation marks, highlighted by brackets or dashes in the middle of a sentence. An exclamation mark most often serves as a means of expressively emphasizing a certain part of a sentence, a question mark - alone or in combination with an exclamation mark - expresses bewilderment, disbelief, irony, surprise. In this role, a question mark can even be used separately, conveying in the dialogue only the very fact of surprise or bewilderment of one of the interlocutors. In oral speech, it must be matched by gestures and facial expressions that express these emotions. For example: They treated us to ham sandwiches (!), sweet cheese rounds, tea and chocolate (K. Chukovsky).

There are only 10 punctuation marks. But in writing they help to express all the variety of shades of meaning in oral speech. The same sign can be used in different cases. And at the same time play a different role. 20 chapters outline the main patterns of punctuation marks that are studied at school. All rules are illustrated clear examples. Give them some time Special attention. If you remember the example, you will avoid mistakes.

• Introduction: What is punctuation?

  §1. Meaning of the term punctuation
  §2. What punctuation marks are used in writing in Russian?
  §3. What role do punctuation marks play?

• Chapter 1. Signs of completeness and incompleteness of thought. Period, question mark, exclamation mark. Ellipsis

  Period, question and exclamation marks
  Ellipsis at the end of a sentence

• Chapter 2. Signs of incompleteness of a statement. Comma, semicolon

  §1. Comma
  §2. Semicolon

• Chapter 3. Sign of incompleteness of a statement. Colon

  Why do you need a colon?
  Colon in a simple sentence
  Colon in a complex sentence

• Chapter 4. Sign of incompleteness of a statement. Dash

  §1. Dash
  §2. Double dash

• Chapter 5. Double signs. Quotes. Brackets

  §1. Quotes
  §2. Brackets

• Chapter 6. Punctuation of a simple sentence. Dash between subject and predicate

  A dash is placed
  There is no dash

• Chapter 7. Punctuation of a simple sentence with a complex structure. Punctuation marks for homogeneous members

  §1. Punctuation marks when homogeneous members without a general word
  §2. Punctuation marks for homogeneous members with a generalizing word

• Chapter 8. Punctuation of a simple sentence complicated by a separate definition

  §1. Separating agreed definitions
  §2. Separating inconsistent definitions
  §3. Segregation of applications

• Chapter 9. Punctuation of a simple sentence complicated by a separate circumstance

  Circumstances are isolated
  Circumstances are not isolated

• Chapter 10. Punctuation of a simple sentence, complicated by clarifying or explanatory members of the sentence.

  §1. Clarification
  §2. Explanation

• Chapter 11. Punctuation of a simple sentence complicated by introductory words, introductory sentences and inserted constructions

  §1. Sentences with introductory words
  §2. Sentences with introductory sentences
  §3. Offers with plug-in structures

• Chapter 12. Punctuation when addressing

  Addresses and their punctuation in writing

• Chapter 13. Punctuation in comparative phrases

  §1. Separate comparative turns with commas
  §2. Turns with a conjunction: comparative and non-comparative

• Chapter 14. Punctuation in direct speech

  §1. Punctuation of direct speech accompanied by the words of the author
  §2. Dialogue punctuation