WRITING

WORKSHOP
CLASS 1
 • CAPITAL LETTERS: we use them to mark the beginning of a
sentence and with proper nouns, such as names(people &
places),titles, nationalities, languages, days of the week
and months of the year.

PUNCTUATION EX: Dr. David James is the consultant at Leeds City Hospital.
MARKS They are planning a long holiday in New Zealand.
Can she speak Japanese?
The next meeting of the group will take place on Thursday.
• FULL STOP or PERIOD: we use full stops to mark the end of a sentence, in initials for personal names, and
after an abbreviations.
EX: J. R. R. Tolkien
David A. Johnston.
Etc. (etcetera) - Dr. (doctor) – Prof. (professor)

• COMMAS: we use commas for several reasons, first to separate a list of similar words or phrases.
Sometimes we use a comma before “and” when the last two elements are not inclusive to each other. This
is call “Oxford comma”
• EX: It is important to write in clear, simple, accurate words.
We brough bread, cheese and fruit with us.
I am taking art history, Russian literature, microeconomics, and macroeconomics next semester.
• COMMAS: we also use them to separate words that mark where the voice would make a pause or when
we change the subject. We also use commas when we give additional information.
EX: They were very friendly and invited us to stay in their home. (same subject)
It was an expensive hotel, but we decided it was worth the money. (different subject)
The ambulance, which arrived five minutes later, took them to the hospital.

• We also use commas in conditional (IF) sentences.

EX: If you need help, please let me know.

• Finally, we use commas in short answers.

EX: Do you like cats? – Yes, I do.
• QUESTION AND EXCLAMATION MARKS: we use question marks when we want to ask
about something. We use exclamation marks in informal writing English when we want to
emphasise something or when we want to make an exclamation.
EX: Did you like the book? – What do you think about?

Listen to me! – Do not dare to talk to me in that way! – Be gone!

• We use these marks only at the end of a sentence and we do not use a full stop after
them.
• PARENTHESIS: similar to commas, we use them (in pairs) to give additional information
about something.
EX: The President (and his assistant) travelled in a private jet.

• QUOTATION MARKS: we use them to quote, when we want to make clear that the
information that follows has been quoted or reproduced.
EX: “The best investments today,” according to Smith, “are commodities and emerging-
market stocks.”
• COLON: its most common use is when we want to introduce a list of different elements.
EX: The bookstore specializes in three subjects: art, architecture, and graphic design.

• SEMICOLON: its most common use is inside a list of internal commas.

EX: The new store will have groceries on the lower level; luggage, housewares, and electronics on
the ground floor; men’s and women’s clothing on the second floor; and books, music, and stationery
on the third floor.

https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/index.html
Write about your routine – food – music – sport – etc.