Punctuation Marks (Viram Chinh)
Punctuation marks (viram chinh) are used in writing to show pauses, make feelings clear, and express meaning accurately. REET goes beyond the common full stop and comma to test the precise usage-context of less-common marks like the quotation mark and the hanspad sign.
- 2 questions in REET 2024
- Class 6-8 depth level
- 7 min read
How REET asks this topic
Both REET 2024 questions on this topic went beyond the ordinary full stop/comma and tested marks with a specific usage-context — the mark used when quoting someone's exact words (quotation mark), and the mark used to insert a word accidentally left out while writing (hanspad). This makes it clear that REET doesn't just test the common marks — it expects you to know the precise usage-context of every punctuation mark.
What are Punctuation Marks?
When we speak, we pause according to our feelings, change our tone, or add emphasis — in written language, punctuation marks do this same job. They are used to make the meaning of a sentence clear, correct, and free of confusion. The main punctuation marks in Hindi include the full stop (पूर्ण विराम), comma (अल्प विराम), semicolon (अर्ध विराम), question mark (प्रश्नवाचक चिह्न), exclamation mark (विस्मयादिबोधक चिह्न), quotation mark (उद्धरण चिह्न), hyphen (योजक चिह्न), dash (निर्देशक चिह्न), brackets (कोष्ठक), colon-dash (विवरण चिह्न), the hanspad or error-filler sign (हंसपद), and the equality sign (तुल्यता सूचक चिह्न).
The correct use of punctuation marks has a direct effect on a sentence's meaning — sometimes the very same sentence gives a completely different meaning just by moving where a comma sits. A well-known example is 'रोको मत जाने दो' — here shifting the position of the comma flips the meaning entirely: 'रोको, मत जाने दो' (stop him, don't let him go) versus 'रोको मत, जाने दो' (don't stop him, let him go). This is exactly why punctuation marks shouldn't be treated as a rote-learning formality but as an essential tool for clarity of meaning — and in the classroom too, showing their importance through sentences like this example works very well.
So remembering every punctuation mark not just by its name, but along with its precise usage-context, is the most reliable approach for REET preparation.
Major Punctuation Marks, Symbols and Usage
| Mark | Symbol | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Full stop (पूर्ण विराम) | । | When a sentence is complete |
| Comma (अल्प विराम) | , | A short pause within a sentence, to separate items in a list |
| Semicolon (अर्ध विराम) | ; | A pause longer than a comma but shorter than a full stop, between two related clauses |
| Question mark (प्रश्नवाचक चिह्न) | ? | At the end of a sentence that asks a question |
| Exclamation mark (विस्मयादिबोधक चिह्न) | ! | To express surprise, joy, sorrow, or a similar emotion |
| Quotation mark (उद्धरण चिह्न) | “ ” / ‘ ’ | When quoting someone's exact words, word for word |
| Hyphen (योजक चिह्न) | - | To join two words (e.g. माता-पिता) |
| Dash (निर्देशक चिह्न) | — | In writing dialogue, before a list, or to give an explanation |
| Brackets (कोष्ठक) | ( ) | To set off extra information within a sentence |
| Colon-dash (विवरण चिह्न) | :- | Before giving a detailed description of something |
| Hanspad / error-filler sign (हंसपद) | ^ | To insert a word accidentally left out while writing |
| Equality sign (तुल्यता सूचक चिह्न) | = | To show that two things are equal or the same |
Pay special attention to the usage-context of less-common marks like the quotation mark and hanspad — REET tests these specifically.
Common Mistakes in Identifying Punctuation Marks for REET
The most common mistake is treating the comma and the semicolon as the same thing — the comma gives a light pause between items in a list or short phrases (e.g. 'राम, श्याम और मोहन आए'), while the semicolon gives a somewhat deeper pause between two closely related but independent clauses (e.g. 'वह मेहनती है; इसलिए सफल हुआ'). The second common mistake is mixing up the hyphen (-) and the dash (—) — the hyphen is short and joins words, while the dash is longer and is used before dialogue or a list.
A third mistake happens with the quotation mark and the colon-dash — the quotation mark (“ ”) shows someone's exact spoken words, while the colon-dash (:-) signals that a list or detailed information is about to follow. REET repeatedly tests the difference within these three pairs, so it's important to remember each mark along with its precise usage-context.
Also keep in mind the difference in length and purpose between the hyphen (-) and the dash (—) — the hyphen is short and joins words (माता-पिता), while the dash is longer and is used before writing dialogue or giving an explanation. A full stop is mandatory at the end of an ordinary statement sentence, while a question mark and an exclamation mark take its place in interrogative and exclamatory sentences respectively — this is the basic purpose of punctuation marks: making a sentence's meaning clear and free of confusion.
One finer rule about quotation marks is that double quotation marks (“ ”) are used for the main quotation, and single quotation marks (‘ ’) are used for any quotation that appears inside that quotation (a quote within a quote) — for example, the teacher said, “Explain to the student the meaning of ‘सत्यमेव जयते’.” Understanding this layering matters for accuracy in writing, even though it is tested less directly in REET.
How to Teach This to Children
Activity
Give children a paragraph with no punctuation marks and have them insert the marks in the right places, then match their answers against the correct version — this builds a practical understanding of usage.
Teaching Aids
A poster or flashcard set showing every mark along with a usage-sentence is useful for daily practice in classes 6-8.
Common Misconception
Children treat the comma and the semicolon as the same thing, and often mix up the quotation mark and the dash too — clarify each pair with separate examples.
Assessment
Give a 10-sentence paragraph and have students insert the correct punctuation marks, and separately ask about the usage-context of some less-common marks (hanspad, colon-dash).
Trick to Remember / Exam Tip
Always use the quotation mark (“ ”) for a 'direct quotation', and always use the hanspad (^) to add a word 'accidentally left out' — REET creates confusing situations by mixing these two up with each other or with brackets/colon-dash, so drill their precise usage-context separately.
Questions Asked in REET 2024 (Solved)
Question 45
When something said by someone is written down exactly as it was said (verbatim), which punctuation mark (विराम चिह्न) is used?
- Aयोजक चिह्न
- Bविवरण चिह्न
- Cनिर्देशक चिह्न
- Dउद्धरण चिह्न
Explanation
किसी के कहे गए कथन को ज्यों का त्यों लिखने पर उद्धरण चिह्न (“ ”) लगाया जाता है। योजक चिह्न (-) शब्दों को जोड़ने के लिए, विवरण चिह्न (:-) किसी बात का विवरण देने के लिए और निर्देशक चिह्न (—) निर्देश/संकेत के लिए प्रयुक्त होता है।
Question 56
In writing, when a word is accidentally omitted, the punctuation mark used to insert it (caret) is
- Aतुल्यता सूचक चिह्न
- Bसंकेत चिह्न
- Cहंसपद चिह्न
- Dवर्गाकार कोष्ठक चिह्न
Explanation
लिखते समय कोई शब्द छूट जाने पर उस स्थान पर नीचे ‘^’ चिह्न लगाकर ऊपर छूटा शब्द लिखा जाता है; इसे हंसपद (त्रुटिपूरक) चिह्न कहते हैं। तुल्यता सूचक (=) चिह्न बराबरी दिखाता है और कोष्ठक अतिरिक्त जानकारी के लिए होते हैं।
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which punctuation mark is used when a sentence comes to a complete end?
- Aअल्प विराम (,)
- Bपूर्ण विराम (।)
- Cअर्ध विराम (;)
- Dयोजक चिह्न (-)
Explanation
A full stop (।) is placed at the end of a sentence once its complete meaning has been expressed and the sentence is finished. The comma and semicolon are used for shorter pauses within a sentence, not at its end.
Question 2
The mark used to express surprise or a sudden feeling is
- Aप्रश्नवाचक चिह्न (?)
- Bविस्मयादिबोधक चिह्न (!)
- Cअल्प विराम (,)
- Dकोष्ठक ( )
Explanation
The exclamation mark (!) is used to express surprise, joy, sorrow, or a sudden rush of emotion, as in 'वाह! क्या दृश्य है।' The question mark, by contrast, is used to ask a question.
Question 3
The punctuation mark used to join two words is
- Aनिर्देशक चिह्न (—)
- Bयोजक चिह्न (-)
- Cविवरण चिह्न (:-)
- Dहंसपद चिह्न (^)
Explanation
The hyphen (-) is used to join two words together, as in 'माता-पिता' or 'भाई-बहन'. The dash (—) serves a different purpose — it is used before dialogue or a list.
Question 4
The mark used to show equality or sameness between two things is
- Aतुल्यता सूचक चिह्न (=)
- Bकोष्ठक ( )
- Cउद्धरण चिह्न (“ ”)
- Dयोजक चिह्न (-)
Explanation
The equality sign (=) is used to show that two things or quantities are equal. It is used in mathematical contexts as well as in general writing.
Question 5
The mark used to set apart extra or explanatory information in a sentence is
- Aकोष्ठक ( )
- Bप्रश्नवाचक चिह्न (?)
- Cपूर्ण विराम (।)
- Dअल्प विराम (,)
Explanation
When extra information that explains or supplements the main part of a sentence needs to be set apart, it is written in brackets ( ), as in 'महात्मा गांधी (राष्ट्रपिता) का जन्म 1869 में हुआ।'
Question 6
In writing dialogue, the mark generally used after the speaker's name is
- Aनिर्देशक चिह्न (—)
- Bयोजक चिह्न (-)
- Cविस्मयादिबोधक चिह्न (!)
- Dहंसपद चिह्न (^)
Explanation
In dialogue-writing, after giving the speaker's name, a dash (—) is placed, as in 'राम — तुम कहाँ जा रहे हो?' The hyphen is shorter and is used to join words, which is a different purpose.
Question 7
The mark used before giving a detailed description of something is
- Aविवरण चिह्न (:-)
- Bप्रश्नवाचक चिह्न (?)
- Cअर्ध विराम (;)
- Dतुल्यता सूचक चिह्न (=)
Explanation
When a detailed description or list is about to follow a statement, the colon-dash (:-) is used, as in 'फलों के नाम इस प्रकार हैं :- आम, केला, सेब।'
Question 8
The mark used to show a lighter pause than a full stop between two closely related but independent clauses is
- Aअर्ध विराम (;)
- Bअल्प विराम (,)
- Cयोजक चिह्न (-)
- Dविस्मयादिबोधक चिह्न (!)
Explanation
The semicolon (;) is used when two clauses are related to each other but don't need the full pause of a full stop — it shows a pause that is longer than a comma's but shorter than a full stop's.
Question 9
The most effective classroom activity for a teacher while teaching punctuation marks is
- Aकेवल चिह्नों के नाम रटवाना
- Bबिना विराम चिह्न वाला अनुच्छेद देकर सही जगह चिह्न लगवाना और मिलान कराना
- Cचिह्नों को पाठ्यक्रम से हटा देना
- Dबिना उदाहरण के परिभाषा देना
Explanation
Children truly learn the practical use of punctuation marks only when they practice inserting the correct marks into a paragraph themselves and compare their answer with the correct one — rote-learning names alone doesn't teach usage.
Question 10
Which punctuation mark will come at the end of the sentence 'क्या तुम कल आओगे'?
- Aपूर्ण विराम (।)
- Bविस्मयादिबोधक चिह्न (!)
- Cप्रश्नवाचक चिह्न (?)
- Dअल्प विराम (,)
Explanation
This sentence is asking a question ('क्या तुम आओगे'), so it must end with a question mark (?), not a full stop (।).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are punctuation marks?+
Marks used in writing to show pauses, make feelings clear, and express meaning correctly are called punctuation marks, such as the full stop (।) and the comma (,).
How many REET questions come from punctuation marks?+
REET 2024 had 2 questions from this topic, both based on less-common marks with a specific usage (quotation mark, hanspad).
When is the quotation mark used?+
The quotation mark (“ ” or ‘ ’) is used when writing someone's exact spoken words, word for word.
What is the hanspad sign?+
The mark used to insert a word that was accidentally left out while writing, by placing a '^' sign below that spot and adding the word above, is called the hanspad or error-filler sign.
What is the difference between a comma and a semicolon?+
The comma (,) gives a light pause between items in a list or short phrases, while the semicolon (;) shows a somewhat deeper pause between two closely related but independent clauses.
Read Next
Change Log
- 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked