How to Use Full Stops

The full stop, also referred to as a period, is quite a simple piece of grammar to learn. It only has a couple of uses.

The end of a sentence

You use a full stop to signify the end of a sentence.

I am going to be ending this sentence now.

The full stop indicates that the sentence has come to an end.

In abbreviations

You use a full stop in some abbreviations. This varies with each abbreviation you use.

I have an appointment in the p.m. tomorrow.

In this case, two full stops are used after each letter to indicate they are abbreviations, but singular abbreviations work in the same way.
I can buy lots of cake, bread, etc. at the bakery.

If the abbreviation with a full stop is at the end of a sentence, you don’t need to add a second full stop.

I am tired this a.m.

Obviously this can become confusing if the end of the sentence is not clear, so it is rarely used unless at the end of a paragraph.

Understanding and getting the basics is a fundamental part of becoming a great writer, so make sure that your knowledge of basics, such as the full stop, is second nature. In the publishing world, if you make a mistake with full stops you will be instantly rejected so it is very important to use them correctly.