Unlike its sibling Period, Comma’s shape and name have fluctuated since its birth in the 3rd century BC. Born as Komma, it grew up on the mezzanine level (neither the attic nor the basement). Komma was never especially powerful, and could only command brief spurts of silence before everyone else…

Since its birth in the 8th century, Question Mark (first known as Punctus Interrogativus) has always been very oratorically aware — cognizant that changes in pitch can significantly alter interpretation of sentences. In childhood, Question closely resembled its Aunt Tilde, but eventually dwarfed its relative. Its voice never developed in…

The peppiest and youngest of the Marks, Exclamation — born Punctus Exclamativus in the 14th century — was hard to control as a child. Loud and tone-deaf, it attracted many a stern look from passersby. …

Born in the 3rd century BC, Periodos “Period” Mark lived in the attic (as * does today) for most of its childhood. When it appeared, Period liked to stop and smell the roses. It is the most petite of all the Marks. After going through puberty and dropping to the…