Punctuation and Capitalization Rules: Top 15 Key Points
Proper punctuation and capitalization are crucial for clear and effective writing in English. This guide covers the top 15 key points about punctuation and capitalization rules.
| No. | Key Point | Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Period (.) | Indicates the end of a sentence. Used after statements and indirect questions. | "He went to the store." "I wonder what time it is." |
| 2 | Comma (,) | Separates items in a list, clauses, or provides a pause for clarity. | "She bought apples, oranges, and bananas." "Before we leave, check the doors." |
| 3 | Question Mark (?) | Placed at the end of a direct question. | "What is your name?" "Are you coming with us?" |
| 4 | Exclamation Mark (!) | Expresses strong emotion or emphasis. | "That was amazing!" "Watch out!" |
| 5 | Colon (:) | Introduces a list, explanation, quotation, or elaboration. | "She has three hobbies: gardening, reading, and painting." |
| 6 | Semicolon (;) | Links independent clauses without a conjunction or separates items in a complex list. | "She is a great teacher; her lessons are always engaging." |
| 7 | Apostrophe (') | Indicates possession or forms contractions. | "John's book is on the table." "It's a beautiful day." |
| 8 | Quotation Marks (" " or ' ') | Enclose direct speech, quotations, or titles. | "She said, 'I'll be there soon.'" "Have you read 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?" |
| 9 | Capitalization of Sentences | The first word of a sentence is always capitalized. | "It is time to go." |
| 10 | Capitalization of Proper Nouns | Proper nouns, including names, places, and organizations, are capitalized. | "I saw Alice yesterday." "We went to Paris last summer." |
| 11 | Hyphen (-) | Joins words in compound adjectives or written-out numbers. | "A well-known author." "Twenty-five students attended." |
| 12 | Dash (—) | Indicates a break in thought or adds emphasis. Longer than a hyphen. | "She was going to confront him — but decided against it." |
| 13 | Ellipsis (...) | Indicates omitted words or a trailing off in thought. | "I'm not sure... maybe tomorrow." "He said he would handle it, but..." |
| 14 | Parentheses (()) | Encloses additional information or clarifications. | "He finally answered (after taking a long pause)." |
| 15 | Capitalization in Titles | Capitalize the main words in titles of books, articles, and movies. | "The Great Gatsby" "A Brief History of Time" |