National Punctuation Day

National Punctuation Day is dedicated to the many punctuation marks used around the world. Without punctuation, texts would be incomprehensible, illegible, and meaningless. We use punctuation throughout our lives, yet many people overlook its importance. Every year on September 24, you can participate in punctuation quizzes and activities.

History

It is interesting that ancient cultures did not use dots, commas, or colons. This was not necessary, as many ancient languages were primarily spoken. The earliest known document featuring punctuation is the Mesha Stele, dating back to 900 BC. While the Greeks mentioned punctuation, they preferred uninterrupted lines of text. The first punctuation system was developed by Aristophanes of Byzantium, who used a single sign to indicate pauses depending on its placement. The widespread adoption of punctuation marks came with the printing of the Bible.

Interesting Details

• A unified system of punctuation appeared around 1400, with the invention of the printing press. The core system has changed very little since then.
• The only significant changes occurred with the rise of computers, which introduced additional characters such as # and @.
• In Latin, a question was not marked with a symbol, but rather written out as the word “quaestiō.”
• The # symbol is also known as an octothorpe.

How to Take Part

Pay attention to punctuation rules—many even elude linguists and professional editors. Read carefully, looking for punctuation errors. Join a punctuation contest or share your love of proper punctuation on social media. Being well-educated and writing correctly is always in style.

When is National Punctuation Day in 2025?

National Punctuation Day is observed on September 24 each year.

Observations