Investigating the Difficulties Encountered by EFL Students in Using Punctuation Marks in Writing

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the Difficulties Encountered by EFL students in Using Punctuation Marks in Writing. The study took place in Sudan University of Science and Technology, College of Education, This study adopted descriptive and analytical method. The researcher used a test which includes three different types of questions on using English punctuation marks in writing as tool for data collection to achieve this goal. The sample comprised (30) EFL students of first year at Sudan University, College of Education. The data were analyzed by using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).The findings of this study showed the most frequently incorrect use of punctuation marks such as question mark, quotation mark, exclamation mark, apostrophe, and semi-colon.by university students can distort the meaning of written text. Also most of EFL students are unable to use punctuation marks correctly in writing. They are also unable to identify different types of punctuation marks particularly, (exclamation mark, question mark, quotation mark, comma, apostrophe and semi-colon). According to the above results, the researcher recommended that. Firstly, University students should be given more exercises, so as to be able to use punctuation marks in writing correctly. Secondly, teachers should guide students to use different types of punctuation marks in writing. Thirdly, teachers should raise students’ awareness, regarding the use punctuation marks in writing. Finally, English language teachers at Sudan University, College of Education should use different techniques in teaching punctuation marks.