GRAMMAR RESOURCE · CHAPTER 30 · PART C

Punctuation and Capitalization

Use commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, quotation marks, hyphens and capital letters accurately.

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the rules, recognise the target forms in context, avoid common errors and apply the patterns to new sentences.

1. Full stops, commas and semicolons

A full stop ends a statement. Commas separate items and mark certain clause boundaries. A semicolon can link closely related independent clauses or separate complex list items.

The rain stopped; the match resumed.

2. Colons and dashes

A colon can introduce an explanation, list or elaboration after a complete clause. Dashes can mark an interruption or emphatic aside; use them consistently and sparingly.

Bring three items: a pen, a notebook and an ID card.

3. Apostrophes

Use apostrophes for possession and contractions, not ordinary plurals. Distinguish its (possessive) from it’s (it is/it has), and your from you’re.

The dog wagged its tail. / It’s raining.

4. Quotation marks and punctuation

Quotation conventions vary by style guide. In standard US style, commas and periods usually go inside closing quotation marks; other styles may differ. Use quotation marks for direct speech and titles where the chosen style requires them.

She said, “I am ready.”

5. Capitalization and hyphens

Capitalize sentence beginnings, the pronoun I, proper nouns, languages, nationalities, days and months. Hyphens can clarify compound modifiers before nouns: a well-known writer.

We study English on Monday. / a well-known author

Guided practice

Try each item first. Then open the answer key and read the explanation for any answer you missed.

  1. Choose the correct: “Its raining” or “It’s raining.”
  2. Correct the plural: “The student’s are ready.”
  3. Choose: The cat licked (its / it’s) paw.
  4. Punctuate: “I bought apples oranges and pears.”
  5. Choose the best punctuation: “She was tired ___ she continued.”
  6. Complete with a colon: “We need three things ___ time, patience and practice.”
  7. Correct: “My parents house is nearby.”
  8. Which needs a capital: english or English?
  9. Correct: “we visited dhaka in june.”
  10. Choose: a (well known / well-known) writer
  11. Punctuate direct speech: Mina said I am ready.
  12. What punctuation can link two closely related independent clauses?
  13. Correct: “Your going to be late.”
  14. Choose the correct capitalization: “the united nations” or “the United Nations.”
  15. Should every comma indicate a pause in speech?
Show answer key and explanations
  1. It’s raining. — It’s is the contraction of it is.
  2. The students are ready. — A regular plural does not take an apostrophe.
  3. its — Its is the possessive determiner; it’s means it is or it has.
  4. I bought apples, oranges, and pears. (serial comma optional by style) — Commas separate items in a series; serial-comma use depends on style.
  5. She was tired, but she continued. (or She was tired; she continued.) — A comma alone should not join two independent clauses.
  6. We need three things: time, patience and practice. — A colon can introduce a list after a complete introductory clause.
  7. My parents’ house is nearby. (if the house belongs to both parents) — The plural possessive parents takes an apostrophe after the s.
  8. English — Names of languages and nationalities are capitalized.
  9. We visited Dhaka in June. — Capitalize the beginning of a sentence, proper place names and months.
  10. well-known — A compound modifier before a noun is commonly hyphenated when needed for clarity.
  11. Mina said, “I am ready.” — A reporting clause is followed by a comma before the quotation in this style.
  12. A semicolon — A semicolon joins closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
  13. You’re going to be late. — You’re means you are; your indicates possession.
  14. the United Nations — Official organization names are proper nouns and are capitalized.
  15. No — Commas follow grammatical and clarity conventions, not every spoken pause.

Revision checklist

If an answer was wrong, identify the rule behind the mistake and try writing two original examples.

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Editorial note: Some grammar conventions vary by dialect or examination syllabus. Follow the terminology and conventions specified by your course or exam board where relevant.