Let’s learn some common uses of the word period.
Firstly, period can be used as a noun to refer to a specific length of time. It is often used in expressions such as over a period, during a period and a period of time.
We’ll observe the patient’s weight for a period of three months.
Period can also be used to talk about a time in a person’s life or in history. When using period in this way, this time is often defined by certain conditions or characteristics. The word period usually has an adjective before it.
I went through a difficult period when I returned to the UK.
In school, we can use period to refer to a part of a day when a specific subject is taught.
I have maths in the second period on Tuesday.
Finally, period in American English refers to the punctuation mark which shows the end of a sentence. In British English we refer to this as a full-stop.
Is that a period or a comma?
Period
Period can be used as a noun to refer to a specific length of time. It is often used in expressions such as over a period, during a period and a period of time.
- We’ll observe the patient’s weight for a period of three months.
- During this period, we normally get a lot of rain.
Period can also be used to talk about a time in a person’s life or in history. It often has an adjective in front of it.
- I went through a difficult period when I returned to the UK.
- The Elizabethan period was famous for its playwrights such as Shakespeare.
In school, we can use period to refer to a part of a day when a specific subject is taught.
- I have maths in the second period on Tuesday.
- Mrs Jackson takes us for art in the last period on a Friday.
Period in American English refers to the punctuation mark which shows the end of a sentence. In British English we refer to this as a ‘full-stop’.
- Is that a period or a comma?
- Some writers need to use more periods in their paragraphs as their sentences are too long.