PUNCTUATION

Punctuate in writing can indicate where a speaker would pause but they do not always coincide with the
pauses the speaker may make. It is therefore advisable to punctuate according to sentence
construction as punctuation has its own rules.

CAPITALISATION

Capitalization is writing a word with its first letter as a capital letter (upper-case letter) and the remaining
letters in lower case.

Rule 1 - Capitalize the first word of every sentence and a quoted sentence.

1. I insisted that they should have dinner.

2. Jim is a hard worker.
3. They haven’t lived here.
4. He said, “Treat her like your daughter.”
5. "Look out!" she screamed. “You might fall down.”

Rule 2 - Capitalize a proper noun, specific people, places, and organizations

1. I like Bangalore.
2. She works for Sony.
3. I enjoy eating Oreo biscuit.

Rule 3 - Capitalize days of the week, holidays, and months of the year but not seasons

1. I love the fall because of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

2. My favorite month of the year is November.
3. Let’s meet on Wednesday.
4. I’m going on holiday in December.

Rule 4 - Capitalize a person's title when it precedes the name. Do not capitalize when the
title is acting as a description following the name.

1. Chairperson Ron Brown

2. Mr. Brown, the chairperson of the company, will address soon.

Rule 5 - Capitalize the person's title when it follows the name on the address or signature
line.

1. Sincerely,
Ms. Rao, Director.

Rule 6 - Capitalize any title when used as a direct address.

1. Will you check my BP, Doctor?

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2. I will definitely let him know, Sir.

Rule 7 - Capitalize the first-person singular pronoun, I, even in the middle of the sentence.

1. I will be seeing her this evening.

2. Is it all right if I come at about 9 pm
3. Yes, I know.

Rule 8 - Always capitalize the first and last words of titles of publications regardless of
their parts of speech. Capitalize other words within titles.

Exception:
Do not capitalize little words within titles such as a, an, the, but, as, if, and, or, nor, or
prepositions, regardless of their length.

1. The Day of the Jackal

2. What Color Is Your Parachute?
3. A Tale of Two Cities

Rule 9 - Capitalize words derived from proper nouns.

1. I must take English and math.

English is capitalized because it comes from the proper noun England, but math does not
come from Mathland.

Rule 10 - Capitalize races, nationalities, languages: Swedes, Swedish, African American,

Jewish, French.

1. Henry is an Australian.
2. She speaks French fluently.

Rule 11 - Do not capitalize names of seasons.

1. I love autumn and spring flowers.

2. People eat a lot during rainy season.

Rule 12 - Do not capitalize the first word after a comma.

1. If you meet Sally, can you ask her to phone me?

2. At 10 am tomorrow, she will be in her office.

Rule 13 - After a sentence ending with a colon, do not capitalize the first word if it begins a
list.

1. These are my favorite food: chocolate cake, ice-cream, burgers.

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 Rule 14 - Do not capitalize when only one sentence follows a sentence ending with a
colon. Capitalize when two or more sentences follow a sentence ending with a colon.

1. I love Jane Smiley's writing: her book, A Thousand Acres, was beautiful.
2. I love Jane Smiley's writing: Her book, A Thousand Acres, was beautiful. Also, Moo was
clever.

Rule 15 - Family relationships only when used instead of proper names

1. I went on a trip with Father. (Father could be replaced with my father's name.)
2. Your father is six feet tall.
3. When we go to the movies with my aunts, my Aunt Marlie always has to be reminded to be
quiet.

Rule 16 - Capitalize North, South, East, and West when used as sections of the country,
but not as compass directions

1. We lived in the Pacific Northwest for four years.

2. Our house is northwest of Fremont.

APOSTROPHE – ‘
Ownership or possession when the owner is singular or plural

My mother and father's home is in Florida. (They share the home--they share the
apostrophe.)
Davey's and Ella's toothbrushes are already packed. (Each person has a toothbrush--each
has an apostrophe.)
The girls' and boys' teams are both in the playoffs. (Both girls and boys have their own team-
-both have their own apostrophe.)
The girls and boys' team are excited about being in the playoffs. (One team of girls and boys
together--one apostrophe.)
.
For a singular noun that ends with an ‘s’ you have the option of adding ‘s or the ‘ only
Harris’s / Harris’ report

No apostrophe before Possessive Pronouns

The bank will revive its figures; The responsibility is theirs

Pronouns
Someone’s responsibility; everybody’s figures

Before Contractions
It is - it’s ; You are – you’re ; Do not – don’t ; I am – I’m ; He will – he’ll ; Who is – who’s ;
Should not – shouldn’t ; Did not – didn’t ; Could have – could’ve ; 2006 – ’06

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 Common Errors
Don’t use ‘after possessive pronouns or for plural nouns.;
Possessive pronouns – his, her, its, my, yours, ours
 His’ book ( x ) - his book
 The group made it’s decision ( x ) – The group made its decision
 A friend of your’s ( x ) – A friend of yours
 It’s raining outside ( contraction ) ; Its parts are broken – Possessive

No apostrophe for Plural nouns - The MNC’s are coming to our campus next week.

QUESTION MARK

No question mark before polite requests – Would you please sign this form. / May I please
have the report on Friday.

QUOTATION MARKS
Around a term to clarify its meaning or show its special usage
Net income is known as “the bottom line” / The president misused the term “effect” in his
speech

Around titles
The title changed from “Chairman” to “CEO”. / The report “Common Careers” shows the
careers that are preferred options for the youth today.

COMMAS

1. Independent Clause + (Ø) + Subordinate 2.Subordinate Conjunction Clause + (,) +

Conjunction Clause. Independent Clause

Maria screamed aloud in the room when When Frank leapt off the sofa to scream at
Frank leapt off the sofa to scream at the the umpire on the television, Maria
umpire on the television. screamed aloud in the room.

3.Independent Clause + (,) + Coordinating 4. Independent Clause + (Ø) / (,) +

conjunction + Subject verb phrase Coordinating conjunction + Verb Phrase.

And / but / so Grandmother Essie took a deep breath (,)

It rained heavily during the afternoon, but and blew out all ninety-seven candles on
we managed to go out anyway. her birthday cake.

5.To + verb phrase + ( , ) + main clause. 6.Independent Clause + (Ø) + to + verb

phrase
To see if her writing had improved, Leslie
peeked at the grade on the last page of her Leslie peeked at the grade on the last page
essay. of her essay to see if her writing had
improved,

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7. Conditionals – ‘If’ clauses 8.Prepositional phrase + (,) + main clause

Use a comma if the if clause is at the prepositional phrase – to, at, in, under, on
beginning of the sentence.
At midnight, you can hear Diana Ross
If I go to London, I will visit the Tower. crooning from the stereo.

Don’t use a comma if the if clause is at the

end of the sentence.

I will visit the Tower if I go to London.

9.Independent Clause + ( ,) + ‘example’ + (,) 10. Complete clause. ‘Example’ Transition

+ Details + (,) + Narrative

I can play quite a few musical instruments, My father loves going to restaurants which
for example, the flute, the guitar, and the serve exotic foods. For example / for
piano. instance, last week he went to a restaurant
which serves deep-fried rattlesnake.
I can play quite a few musical instruments,
for instance, the flute, the guitar, and the
piano.

I can play quite a few musical instruments,

e.g., the flute, the guitar, and the piano.

11. Clause + (,) Non essential information 12.Clause + Essential information + (Ø) +
clause + (,) + clause Clause

Use a comma in relative clauses before
who and which if the information is not
essential for the understanding of the
sentence.
Her brother, who lives in Chicago, came to
see her.
The Green party candidate who had the
least money lost the election.
My bicycle, which I've had for more than
ten years, is falling apart.
Ned Jones, who was elected as President
this year, inaugurated the clubhouse.
Don’t use a comma in relative clauses if
the information is essential for the
understanding of the sentence.
Her brother who lives in Chicago came to
see her.
The candidate who had the least money
lost the election.
The people who / that live on the island
are very friendly.
The man who / that phoned is my brother.
The camera which / that costs £100 is over

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 there.

The house which / that belongs to Julie is

in London.

13.Connecting word + (, ) + Clause

however, in fact, therefore, nevertheless, moreover, furthermore, still, instead, too

Meanwhile, the angry bees noticed Warren hiding in the bushes. Therefore, he didn't
say a word.

This restaurant has an exciting atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is rather bland.

I appreciate your hard work. In this case, however, you seem to have over-exerted
yourself.

If these connecting words appear in the middle of a sentence, they are enclosed in
commas.

The thief, however, was very clever.

14.Clause + item 1 + (, ) + item 2 + (Ø) + 15.Coordinate Adjective series

and + item 3
Use a comma if the adjectives give similar
My computer needs more RAM, a faster kinds of information and no comma if
Pentium processor and a colour printer. different.

It was a cold, windy morning.

He was a clever, young man.

16. Independent Clause + ( ,) + ing verb / 17. ing verb / Past tense verb + phrase + , +
past tense verb + phrase Independent Clause.

William collapsed on the sofa, dreading
the moment when he would have to open
his credit card statement.
Violet ripped open the plastic, startled by
the explosion of color that burst from the
bag of candy.
Celebrating the grade of A on her essay,
Cristina skipped down the hall.
Knocked to the ground by the puppy’s
leaping, Jason greeted Goliath, his Great
Dane.

18. (The / A / An) + noun phrase + (,) + 19. Independent clause + (,) + (The / A / An) +
Independent Clause. noun phrase

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A powerful swimmer, Stephen jumped into Yvonne flirted with Joseph, the cutest
the pool to save Cassandra’s calculus book young man at the food court.
before it sank.

20.Semi colons

Semi-Colon with Lists

Use a semi-colon in lists if a comma is already used to further separate an item of the
sequence.

We have business partners in Edmonton, Canada; Waterford, Ireland; Brisbane,

Australia; and Durban, South Africa.

Semi-Colon with Main Clauses

Use a semi-colon between two main clauses if they are not separated by and, or etc.

The rain stopped; the sun came out again.

Use a semi-colon between two main clauses if the second one starts with an adverb that
has to be enclosed in commas

He didn't feel well; in fact, he had a very high temperature.

NO COMMAS

Not before “is”

An eighteen-year old in California,(x) is now considered an adult.

Not between 2 verbs or verb phrases

We laid out our music and snacks,(x) and began to study.
I turned the corner,(x) and ran into a patrol car.

Not before main clause + subordinate clause phrase

The cat scratched at the door, (x) while I was eating

Not between 2 noun clauses

The music teacher from your high school, (x) and the football coach from mine are
married.

With essential elements such as clauses beginning with that. (relative clauses).
The book that I’m reading now is interesting.
The report that was approved was circulated among the team.
The book that I borrowed from you is excellent.

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 No comma with ‘such as’
I can play quite a few musical instruments, such as the flute, the guitar, and the piano.

Don’t use a comma if the two parts of a sentence are separated by and or but.
She ran down the stairs and opened the door and saw her boyfriend.

Other Situations

Dates, Addresses
Comma before the year if the date is given as follows: month, day, year. - April 16, 2003

Don’t use a comma if only two elements of the date are given - I was born in May 1972.

Comma to separate parts of an address in a sentence - His address is 46 Baker Street,

London, NW2 2LK, Great Britain.

Names - Comma if the sentence starts with a direct address - Greg, can I talk to you for a
second?

Comma with salutations in private letters - Dear Francis,

‘Please’ - Comma if “please” is at the end of a request. - Send me a mail, please.

Don’t use a comma if “please” is at the beginning of a request. - Please send me a mail.

‘Yes / No’ - Use a comma after “yes” and “no”. - Yes, I can help you.

HYPHEN

Put a hyphen in a compound adjective before Put a hyphen between spelled out numbers
a noun and fractions
We hired a first – class management team / Seventy – two; three – fourths
Our new team is first class

No hyphen if it is a proper noun No hyphen if it is an adverb

General Motors Ali presented a poorly written proposal

No hyphen before a Compound noun

Income tax form; real estate agent; data processing centre

SEMI COLON

Insert between 2 independent clause sentences to show the link between the two sentences
 I ordered juice, toast and bacon; eggs with sausages were sent instead
 Work when you play; play when you work
 She has outstanding leadership qualities; consequently, the company promoted her very quickly.

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 Insert between 2 independent clauses without conjunctions
The president was eager to proceed with the plans; the board still had some reservations

Series with commas

Among the guests were Henry Brown, our attorney, Lisa Hart Wilder; and Edith Grimms, our
new controller

Commas / Semi colons

You can substitute a semi colon for a comma and a conjunction (FANBOYS)
Please sign the documents, and we will process them. / Please sign the documents; we will
process them.

Use commas to separate items in a list, unless the items have internal punctuation, in which
case use semicolons instead of commas.

Remember to check your grammar, especially tenses; your spellings, especially tricky words
such as ‘separate’; and your punctuation, especially the use of semicolons.

COLONS
Before a list of points – the topic sentence

The advantages for X are as follows:

We have used the following word processing packages: WordPerfect, Microsoft Word,
Multimate and Xywrite.

DASH
Use the dash to set off a distinct interruption (about change in tone) new or unfinished
thoughts, or to emphasise non essential information with commas.
These three books – on speaking, interviewing and negotiating – are very useful.

HYPHEN
1. Fractions (whether nouns or adjectives): two-thirds, four-fifths, one-sixth, etc.
2. Some titles - vice-president, director-general, under-secretary, secretary-general, attorney-
general, lieutenant-colonel, major-general, field-marshal
3. Adjectives formed from two or more words - a 70-year-old judge, state-of-the-art message,
value-added tax (vat).
4. Separating identical letters: -book-keeping, co-operate, re-emerge, re-entry
5. Nouns formed from prepositional verbs: bail-out, build-up, call-up, get-together, lay-off,
pay-off, round-up, set-up, etc.