D.S.E. Writing - Full Stops (.)

There are three main uses for full stops.

1. A full-stop can mark the end of a sentence.

   It is hot in July.

2. Three full-stops in a row (…) can be used when part of a quotation or part of a text is left out.

    I began to comfort her...had told me of the impossibility of ... Martian settlements.

  *  Three full-stops in a row (…) can also be used to show where a sentence is incomplete.

    The Chief Executive today opened the new stadium at ...

 3.  Full-stops can also be used to shorten words and names of organizations or countries. Take care though, some well-known names of organizations or countries do not need full-stops.

   The Young Men’s Christian Association     >             Y.M.C.A.

   February                                                      >               Feb.

   Mister                                                           >               Mr.

   established                                                   >              est.

   adjective                                                       >              adj.

   But

   The United States of America                      >               USA

   The Mass Transit Railway                           >                MTR

   The People’s Republic of China                  >               PRC