Everyday punctuation marks from the simple full stop to the quotation mark now mean something totally different as Gen Z adapt them to form new meanings, experts have revealed.
Recently it was revealed that the semicolon is at risk of dying out because its use is plummeting, and now younger generations are re-purposing the punctuation marks that endure so that they no longer mean what they used to.
For instance, teenagers are more likely to use a full stop as a blunt gesture, rather than to simply signify the end of a sentence.
Noël Wolf, a linguistic expert at Babbel, told MailOnline: ‘We’re seeing a real shift in how punctuation is being used in everyday communication, particularly among younger generations.
‘Inverted commas, or quotation marks, have traditionally served a clear grammatical purpose: indicating direct speech or quoting another source.
‘But in contemporary digital communication, especially on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X, they’re being repurposed.’
It’s also reflected in work by contemporary writers such as Sally Rooney who have done away with quotation marks in their novels, so that when you do see them, they’re not there to indicate direct speech.
Generation Z around the globe are changing the conventions around punctuation – so, do you know what they mean? (stock image)
‘Gen Z is now frequently using quotation marks to signal irony, sarcasm or emotional distance – for example, writing I’m “fine” to imply the opposite of fine,’ he explained.
‘It’s become a kind of punctuation-based body language.’
While people might be quick to assume that Gen Z are loosening society’s grip on grammatical conventions, Noel argued the opposite.
‘This isn’t about grammar falling apart, but a creative adaptation of it. Punctuation is still valued, but its function is evolving.
‘In an age where much communication happens via short-form text; such as messages, comments and captions, younger generations are using punctuation to convey tone, nuance and intent in the absence of voice or facial cues.’
The expert explained that the adaptations have come into place as a consequence of the internet.
He said, ‘The internet, of course, is a driving force, with informal digital spaces encouraging experimentation. What might once have been seen as ‘incorrect’ punctuation is now part of a new, expressive way of interacting online.
‘This doesn’t mean rules are vanishing, they’re just shifting. Interestingly, many young people still appreciate the power of punctuation when clarity matters; for example, in academic writing or professional contexts. So, rather than seeing punctuation as dying out, we should see it as diversifying.
‘Its role in helping us communicate clearly, emotionally and effectively is arguably more important than ever, as we are constantly navigating multiple modes of communication, from texts and tweets to emails and essays.’
Linguistic expert Noël Wolf said the changes are due to the rise of the internet – but are not a regression (stock image)
The expert explained that it’s not just quotation marks undergoing a change in meaning, but also exclamation marks and ellipses.
‘Other punctuation marks are undergoing similar shifts,’ he said, adding, ‘Full stops, once essential for sentence clarity, are increasingly interpreted in messaging contexts as signalling bluntness or finality.
‘A simple reply like ‘Okay.’ can be read as passive-aggressive or cold, depending on the social context, which is a sharp contrast to the more friendly ‘Okay!’
‘Linguistically, this shows how punctuation is now carrying emotional and social meaning, not just serving a grammatical function.
‘Ellipses (…), once used to indicate omitted text or a trailing thought, now often convey hesitation, awkwardness or emotional nuance, for example, ‘I guess… we’ll see.’
Wolf explained that even basic forms of grammar, such as the comma, are also developing to have different meanings.
He said, ‘Even the humble comma is being manipulated to mimic speech patterns or pacing.
‘For example, ‘So, um, that happened,’ the comma creates rhythm and mimics the cadence of spoken language.’
Elsewhere, Gen Z are embracing dashes and maximising their use, according to the expert.
He said, ‘Meanwhile, dashes (-) are thriving as versatile punctuation for emphasis, interjections or sudden tonal shifts: ‘She said she was ‘fine’ – and then blocked me.’
‘Their growing popularity may even be influenced by tools like ChatGPT, which frequently rely on em dashes to signal tone shifts, pauses or emphasis in text.’
Wolf concluded, ‘What we’re witnessing is a form of punctuational code-switching. In formal contexts, most people, including Gen Z, revert to conventional usage. But in digital spaces, punctuation becomes part of a rich, multimodal communicative system.
‘Tone, intent and identity are all being conveyed through tiny textual signals. The rise of informal, digital-first writing styles has certainly influenced this shift.
‘On platforms like X, where brevity is key or in WhatsApp chats, punctuation often carries emotional weight as much as syntactic structure.
‘In this sense, we’re seeing the emergence of a functional punctuation dialect – one that’s intuitive, adaptive and highly expressive.
‘So, far from fading into obsolescence, punctuation is thriving, just in new and sometimes unexpected ways. As always, language adapts to fit the needs of its users.’
Meanwhile, Gen Z are also changing the way they use the emojji.
In an attempt to confuse the older generations, Gen Z are ditching ‘mainstream’ emoji in favour of bizarre alternatives.
‘For the predominantly younger-skewing ‘chronically online,’ riding the wave of emerging trends helps forge identity and create distance from the ‘out-of-touch’ older generations,’ explained Emojipedia.
‘In a culture shaped by brainrot, post-irony, and existential dread, avoiding the mainstream is a badge of honor.
‘Creating underground memes and micro-viral moments that distinguish an in-the-know in-group from outsiders can be mini-milestones in establishing a generation’s internet identity, leaving others on the outside feeling confused and out of the loop, often intentionally so.’
