How to Punctuate the Name of a Boat

Each boat likely has its own unique name.

Choosing a name for a new boat is a major decision for many boat owners. Boat enthusiasts often view the naming of their crafts as seriously as new parents choosing a moniker for their offspring. While you generally have complete freedom in what to name your boat, you may decide to include or omit punctuation with the name. There are several factors to consider when making this decision.

Instructions

1. Ignore periods. There are very few circumstances in which a period is needed for a boat name, even if the name is a sentence or phrase.

2. Utilize exclamation points if you want your boat name to have extra energy or panache. This is especially useful for boat names that are phrases. For example, if your boat name is to be "Sexy Beast," you can add emphasis to it by adding an exclamation point to change the name to "Sexy Beast!"

3. Add a question mark if you want your boat name to stand out. Question marks are rare in boating names and can change the emphasis of the name. Using the "Sexy Beast" example, there is a big difference between naming the boat "Sexy Beast!" and "Sexy Beast?"

Tips & Warnings

• Many boaters believe it is bad luck to change the name of a previously named vessel or to name the boat after a woman.

References

• Boat Names: Choosing a Name
• First Boat: Choosing a Boat Name

Resources

• Ten Thousand Boat Names: Boat Name Database