Why is a full stop called a period?

The word period was used as a name for what printers often called the "full point", the punctuation mark that was a dot on the baseline and used in several situations. The phrase full stop was only used to refer to the punctuation mark when it was used to terminate a sentence.

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When did full stop become period?

Full stop for the punctuation mark may be slightly older than period, but both date from the late 16th century. Period derives from the Latin periodus, meaning a complete sentence. Exactly how period went from this to referring to the dot at the end of a sentence is mysterious, but it's not a great leap.

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Why is a called a period?

“Period” is rooted in the Greek words “peri” and “hodos” (periodos) meaning “around” and “way/path.” This eventually turned into the Latin “periodus” meaning “recurring cycle.” Use of the English term “period” to describe menstruation began in the early 1800s (1).

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Is full stop also called period?

The full stop (.), also called the period, presents few problems. It is chiefly used to mark the end of a sentence expressing a statement, as in the following examples: Terry Pratchett's latest book is not yet out in paperback.

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Do Australians say period or full stop?

I just found out that Australians call periods full stops. A FULL STOP. Like your sentence is going on and then whoa full stop. All of the English-speaking world uses "full stop", except N America.

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Period and Full Stop Rules | How to Use Periods in English | Punctuation and Writing Essentials

20 related questions found

Why do Australians say R at the end?

#1 The Australian accent is non-rhotic

This is a key feature that only occasionally has exceptions. Sometimes native speakers will pronounce the /r/ sound at the end of the word if linking two words closely but only if the next word contains a vowel sound at the start.

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Why do Australians say but at the end?

Contributor's comments: "But" at the end of a sentence is used in Sydney where it is the same as putting "but" at the beginning of a sentence. Thus "But I didn't do it!" is the same as saying "I didn't do it, but!"

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What do British people call periods?

The period (known as a full stop in British English) is probably the simplest of the punctuation marks to use.

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What is the official term for period?

Periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus.

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What is a fancy name for a full stop?

period; point; stop; full point; punctuation; punctuation mark.

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How did ladies deal with periods in the 1700s?

What Did People Do before Pads and Tampons? The short answer is that most people with periods used cloth rags as a kind of DIY sanitary pad. Linen was a particularly good material for that purpose. But there's also evidence that some people used a particularly absorbent type of bog moss.

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What did people used to call periods?

The first period, a point in time known as menarche, usually begins between the ages of 12 and 15. Menstruation starting as young as 8 years would still be considered normal.

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What is the difference between a period and a full stop?

A period ( . ) is a punctuation mark indicating a full stop, placed at the end of declarative sentences as well as after many abbreviations. The period is actually called a full stop in British English, according to R.D. Burchfield in "The New Fowler's Modern English Usage," and is also known as a full point.

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What is a full stop in British slang?

chiefly British. : a point . used to show the end of a sentence or an abbreviation : period sense 5a.

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Why do British say what at the end of a sentence?

It's exactly the same linguistic tic as the one in German where people finish some question sentences with “oder?”. The Brits are asking “What's your answer to that?” and the Germans are saying “Do you have a different view?”, by way of extreme abbreviation.

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How did ladies deal with periods in the 1800s?

1800s to 1900: Turn of the century – From rags to riches? In European and North American societies through most of the 1800s, homemade menstrual cloths made out of flannel or woven fabric were the norm–think “on the rag.”

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Who started saying period?

This slang expression was popularized by the Black gay community and spread to the mainstream in the early 2020s on social media platforms such as TikTok and Twitter.

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What is slang for heavy periods?

You're probably already familiar with terms like “shark week” or “Aunt Flo,” but did you know that phrases like “mad cow disease,” “Having the painters in,” and “Granny's Stuck in Traffic” are all slang for having a period as well?

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What do the British call a lady?

In British English, "lady" is often, but not always, simply a courteous synonym for "woman". Public toilets are often distinguished by signs showing simply "Ladies" or "Gentlemen".

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How do you politely say you have your period?

Most popular
  1. Aunt Flo/Auntie Flow.
  2. Time of the month.
  3. On the rag.
  4. Red tide/army.
  5. Code Red.
  6. Monthly visitor.
  7. Lady time.
  8. Surfing the crimson wave/tide.

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What is a funny way to say you got your period?

You might be wondering, what do "code red", "shark week" and "Aunt Flo" have in common? They're all funny alternatives for saying "I've got my period!"

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How do Australian girls say no?

While some Australian speakers would pronounce “no” as a diphthong, starting on “oh” as in dog and ending on “oo” as in put, others begin with an unstressed “a” (the sound at the end of the word “sofa”), then move to the “oh” and then “oo”.

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Why do Aussies say Vale when someone dies?

With the passing of great Tom Hafey in 2014, many readers asked why so many newsreaders were expressing: Vale Tommy Hafey. What does VALE mean? "Vale"is Latin for "Goodbye". VALE means farewell, or goodbye in Latin.

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Why do Australians say oi?

"Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi" is a cheer or chant often performed at Australian sport events. It is a variation of the Oggy Oggy Oggy chant used by both soccer and rugby union fans in Great Britain from the 1960s onwards. It is usually performed by a crowd uniting to support a sports team or athlete.

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