Punctuation and

Capitalization
Ana Lucía Chaves Barquero
 Independent Clauses
• An IC is a clause can stand on its own, by itself. It does not
need to be joined to any other clauses, because it has all
the necessary information to be a complete sentence.
• Independent clauses have three components:
• They have a subject
• They have an action or predicate
• They express a complete thought - something happened or was
said.
 Independent Clauses
• An independent clause can be as simple as a subject and a verb:
• Jim reads.
• Jim is the subject. Reads is the action or verb. A complete thought was expressed -
something was said, and the reader now knows that Jim likes to read.

• Independent clauses can also be joined to other independent clauses, if

the independent clauses are related. However, they MUST be joined
using the proper punctuation.
• Jim read a book; he really enjoyed the book.
• The first clause is an independent clause. Jim is the subject, read is the action, book is the object.
• The second clause is an independent clause. He is the subject, enjoyed is the action and the book is the object.

Write 5 examples.
 Dependent Clause
• A DC is a clause that does not express a complete thought.
• A clause can be dependent because of the presence of a:
• Marker Word
• Before, after, because, since, in order to, although, though, whenever, wherever, whether, while, even though, even if.
• Conjunction
• FANBOYS

• Dependent clauses MUST be joined to another clause, in order to avoid creating a

sentence fragment.
• Because I forgot my homework.
• What?
• This is a sentence fragment.
• We have a "because" but not a "why" or anything accompanying and following what happened "because" they forgot.
 Sentence Fragments
• Fragments are incomplete sentences. They are are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the
main clause. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the
main clause. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence.
• Examples
• Fragment: Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.
Possible Revision: Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.
• Fragment: Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game. Leaving her team at
a time when we needed her.
Possible Revision: Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game, leaving her
team at a time when we needed her.
• Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well.
Possible Revision: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well.
• Fragment: The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed
amendments should be passed.
Possible Revision: Because the current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands, we believe the proposed
amendments should be passed.
 Dependent Clause (cont.)
• Because I forgot my homework, I got sent home.
• Here, the error is corrected. "I got sent home" is an independent clause.
• "I" is the subject, "got" is the verb, "sent home" is the object.
• A complete thought is expressed.
• Dependent clauses can become more complex if we add subjects, objects,
and modifying phrases:
• Jim, who likes books, read a book.
• Jim is the subject.
• "Who likes to read" is a dependent clause that modifies Jim. It contains "likes" which is a verb.
• Read is a verb.
• A book is the object.

Write 5 examples.
 Run-ons and Comma Splices
• A complete sentence (also known as an independent clause) is a sentence that can stand on its own.
• A run-on sentence, or a comma splice, occurs when two complete sentences are written together
with no punctuation or with only a comma to separate them.
• Look at the sentences below. They are examples of run-on sentences and comma splices.
• She walked the dog he fed the cat.
• She walked the dog, he fed the cat. [comma splice]
• I’ve always wanted to go to Reno it’s wonderful there.
• I’ve always wanted to go to Reno, it’s wonderful there. [comma splice]
• My father designs and installs wind turbines he travels all over the Saudi Arabia as an energy consultant.

• Notice that we have two ideas in two independent clauses:

My father installs and designs wind turbines.
He travels all over Saudi Arabia as an energy consultant.
 How to fix a run-on
1. You can insert a period to make the two complete sentences separate.
• Example: She walked the dog. He fed the cat.
2. You can insert a semi-colon. Only use a semi-colon if the two sentences are
closely related.
• Example: I’ve always wanted to go to Reno; it’s wonderful there.
3. You can add a word such as and or therefore after inserting a comma or a
semi-colon.
• These words will need a comma before the word: and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so.
• Words such as however, nevertheless, therefore, finally, etc. will need a semi-colon and a comma.
• Example: She walked the dog, and he fed the cat. I’ve always wanted to go to Reno; however, I
haven’t gone yet.
 Period
• It is placed at the end of sentences or statements thought
to be complete and after many abbreviations.
• As a sentence ender: Jane and Jack went to the market.
• After an abbreviation: Her son, John Jones Jr., was born on Dec. 6,
2008.
 Question mark
• To indicate a direct question when placed at the end of a
sentence.
• When did Jane leave for the market?
• Why?
 Exclamation point
• It is used when a person wants to express a sudden outcry
or add emphasis.
• Within dialogue: "Holy cow!" screamed Jane.
• To emphasize a point: My mother-in-law's rants make me furious!
 Comma
• The comma is used to show a separation of ideas or elements within the structure of a
sentence.
• Additionally, it is used in numbers, dates, and letter writing after the salutation and closing.
• Direct address: Thanks for all your help, John.
• Separation of two complete sentences: We went to the movies, and then we went out to lunch.
• Separating lists or elements within sentences: Suzi wanted the black, green, and blue dress.

• Whether to add a final comma before the conjunction in a list is a matter of debate.
This final comma, known as an Oxford or serial comma, is useful in a complex series of
elements or phrases but is often considered unnecessary in a simple series such as in
the example above. It usually comes down to a style choice by the writer.
 Semicolon
• The semicolon (;) is used to connect independent clauses.
It shows a closer relationship between the clauses than a
period would show.
• John was hurt; he knew she only said it to upset him.
 Colon
• A colon (:) has three main uses.
• The first is after a word introducing a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series.
• He was planning to study four subjects: politics, philosophy, sociology, and economics.
• The second is between independent clauses when the second explains the first, similar to
a semicolon:
• I didn't have time to get changed: I was already late.
• The third use of a colon is for emphasis:
• There was one thing she loved more than any other: her dog.
• A colon also has non-grammatical uses in time, ratio, business
correspondence and references.
 Dash (–) & Hyphen(-)
• These marks are often confused with each other due to their appearance but they are
very different.
• A dash is used to separate words into statements. There are two common types of
dashes: en dash and em dash.
• En dash: Twice as long as a hyphen, the en dash is a symbol (-) that is used in writing or printing to
indicate a range, connections or differentiations, such as 1880-1945 or Princeton-New York trains.
• Em dash: Longer than the en dash, the em dash can be used in place of a comma, parenthesis, or
colon to enhance readability or emphasize the conclusion of a sentence. For example, She gave him
her answer – No!
Whether you put spaces around the em dash or not is a style choice. Just be consistent.
• A hyphen is used to join two or more words together into a compound term and is not
separated by spaces. For example, part-time, back-to-back, well-known.
 [Brackets]
• Brackets are the squared off notations ([ ]) used for
technical explanations or to clarify meaning. If you
remove the information in the brackets, the sentence will
still make sense.
• He [Mr. Jones] was the last person seen at the house.
 {Braces}
• Braces ({}) are used to contain two or more lines of text
or listed items to show that they are considered as a unit.
• They are not commonplace in most writing but can be
seen in computer programming to show what should be
contained within the same lines. They can also be used in
mathematical expressions.
• For example, 2{1+[23-3]}=x.
 (Parenthesis)
• Parentheses ( ( ) ) are curved notations used to contain
further thoughts or qualifying remarks.
• However, parentheses can be replaced by commas without
changing the meaning in most cases.
• John and Jane (who were actually half brother and sister) both
have red hair.
• John and Jane, who were actually half brother and sister, both
have red hair.
 Apostrophe
• An apostrophe ( ' ) is used to indicate the omission of a letter or letters from a
word, the possessive case, or the plurals of lowercase letters. Examples of the
apostrophe in use include:
• Omission of letters from a word: I've seen that movie several times. She wasn't the only
one who knew the answer.
• Possessive case: Sara's dog bit the neighbor.
• Plural for lowercase letters: Six people were told to mind their p's and q's.
• It should be noted that, according to Purdue University, some teachers and
editors enlarge the scope of the use of apostrophes, and prefer their use on
symbols (&'s), numbers (7's) and capitalized letters (Q&A's), even though they
are not necessary.
 “Quotation marks”
• Quotations marks (" ") are a pair of punctuation marks used primarily to
mark the beginning and end of a passage attributed to another and
repeated word for word.
• They are also used to indicate meanings and to indicate the unusual or
dubious status of a word.
• "Don't go outside," she said.
• Single quotation marks (' ') are used most frequently for quotes within
quotes.
• Marie told the teacher, "I saw Marc at the playground, and he said to me 'Bill started
the fight,' and I believed him.
 Ellipsis
• The ellipsis is most commonly represented by three periods (. . .).
• The ellipsis is used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or
words.
• Ellipses are frequently used within quotations to jump from one phrase to another, omitting
unnecessary words that do not interfere with the meaning.
• Students writing research papers or newspapers quoting parts of speeches will often employ
ellipsis to avoid copying lengthy text that is not needed.
• Omission of words: 
• She began to count, "One, two, three, four…" until she got to 10, then went to find him.
• Within a quotation: 
• When Newton stated, "An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion..." he developed
the law of motion.
 British vs. American English
• There are a few differences between punctuation in British and
American English. The following charts details some of those
differences:
 Capitalization Rules
Adapted from Straus, J. (2012). Capitalization Rules. The Blue
Book of Grammar and Punctuation.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/capital.asp
 Rule 1
• Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence.
• Examples:
• He said, "Treat her as you would your own daughter."
• "Look out!" she screamed. "You almost ran into my child."
 Rule 2
• Capitalize proper nouns.
• Example:
• Golden Gate Bridge
 Rule 3
• Capitalize a person's title when it precedes the name.
Do not capitalize when the title is acting as a
description following the name
• Examples:
• Chairperson Petrov
• Ms. Petrov, the chairperson of the company, will address us at
noon.
 Rule 4

• Capitalize the person's title when it follows the name on

the address or signature line.
• Example:
Sincerely,
Ms. Haines, Chairperson
 Rule 5
• Capitalize the titles of high-ranking government officials
when used before their names. Do not capitalize the civil title
if it is used instead of the name.
• Examples:
• The president will address Congress.
• All senators are expected to attend.
• The governors, lieutenant governors, and attorneys general called for a special
task force.
• Governor Fortinbrass, Lieutenant Governor Poppins, Attorney General
Dalloway, and Senators James and Twain will attend.
 Rule 6
• Capitalize any title when used as a direct address.
• Example:
• Will you take my temperature, Doctor?
 Rule 7
• Capitalize points of the compass only when they
refer to specific regions.
• Examples:
• We have had three relatives visit from the South. Go south
three blocks and then turn left.
• We live in the southeast section of town. Southeast is just an
adjective here describing section, so it should not be
capitalized.
 Rule 8
• Always capitalize the first and last words of titles of publications
regardless of their parts of speech.
• Capitalize other words within titles, including the short verb forms Is,
Are, and Be.
• 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.
• Examples:
• The Day of the Jackal
• What Color Is Your Parachute?
• A Tale of Two Cities
 Rule 9
• Capitalize federal or state when used as part of an official agency name or
in government documents where these terms represent an official name.
If they are being used as general terms, you may use lowercase letters.
• Examples:
• The state has evidence to the contrary.
• That is a federal offense.
• The State Board of Equalization collects sales taxes.
• We will visit three states during our summer vacation.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been subject to much scrutiny and criticism lately.
• Her business must comply with all county, state, and federal laws.
 Rule 10
• You may capitalize words such as department, bureau,
and office if you have prepared your text in the
following way:
• Example:
• The Bureau of Land Management (Bureau) has some jurisdiction over
Indian lands. The Bureau is finding its administrative role to be
challenging
 Rule 11
• Do not capitalize names of seasons.
• Example:
• I love autumn colors and spring flowers.
 Rule 12
• Capitalize the first word of a salutation and the first word
of a complimentary close.
• Examples:
• Dear Ms. Mohamed:
• My dear Mr. Sanchez:
• Very truly yours,
 Rule 13
• Capitalize words derived from proper nouns.
• Example:
• 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 14
• Capitalize the names of specific course titles.
• Example:
• I must take history and Algebra 2
 Rule 15
• After a sentence ending with a colon, do not capitalize
the first word if it begins a list.
• Example:
• These are my favorite foods: chocolate cake, spaghetti, and artichokes
 Rule 16
• Do not capitalize when only one sentence follows a
sentence ending with a colon.
• Example:
• I love Jane Smiley's writing: her book, A Thousand Acres, was
beautiful.
 Rule 17
• Capitalize when two or more sentences follow a
sentence ending with a colon.
• Example:
• I love Jane Smiley's writing: Her book, A Thousand Acres, was
beautiful. Also, Moo was clever.
 Punctuate and capitalize the
following sentences:
• 1. i need some butter garlic
onions and milk
• 7. On my last day they gave me
• 2. he left his daughters library some cards some presents and
book james and the giant peach best wishes for the future
in the fruit shop
• 8. betting on the lottery which is
• 3. They filmed cleopatra in Egypt popular in britain brings riches
• 4. why wasnt she happy to get to the few and some say poverty
the job to the many

• 5. jasmin chloe and harvinder are • 9. would you please think about
missing this

• 6. boys will be boys he said • 10. She went to get a drink didnt
 Answers
• 1. I need some butter, garlic, onions and milk.
• 2. He left his daughter’s library book, James and the Giant Peach, in the fruit shop.
• 3. They filmed Cleopatra in Egypt.
• 4. Why wasn’t she happy to get the job?
• 5. Jasmin, Chloe and Harvinder are missing.
• 6. “Boys will be boys,” he said.
• 7. On my last day, they gave me some cards, some presents and best wishes for the future.
• 8. Betting on the lottery, which is popular in Britain, brings riches to the few and some say
poverty to the many.
• 9. Would you please think about this?
• 10. She went to get a drink, didn’t she?
• 11. Have you been to the dentist recently?
• 12. The women’s cloakroom is on the right.