SSC Programme

Unit 12
Punctuation, Capitalization

Objectives

After the completion of this unit, you would be able to-

• know punctuation.
• know different types of punctuation marks.
• learn the rules for using punctuation marks.
• use punctuation marks.
• learn the rules for using capitalization.
• use capitalization.

Overview:
Lesson 1: Punctuation
Lesson 2: The Rules of Punctuation
Lesson 3: Capitalization

Answer Key

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Lesson 1: Punctuation

Punctuation means the right use of putting in points or stops in writing. We cannot do
without punctuation marks in writing. They show you when to slow down or stop, and they tell
you when you need to change directions or where you are going. When you use punctuation
marks correctly, your readers will have no trouble finding their way through what you have
written.
Observe the following two excerpts, one punctuated properly and the other is not:
a. you silly idiot get off my head will you if you dont ill bash you when I get up from here
you see if i dont.
b. You silly idiot! Get off my head, will you? If you don’t, I’ll bash you – when I get up
from here. You see if I don’t!.
Obviously, the second, punctuated version is easier to read, for it suggests where the speaker
would pause or emphasize his words to get the necessary impact.
Sometimes punctuation is vital in showing the meaning intended by a writer. For example:
Woman without her man is a savage.
Woman! Without her, man is savage.
In this pair of sentences, one can see how the punctuation affects the whole meaning.
The purpose of punctuation is to make the act of reading your sentences easier, to make the
movement of the eye across the page smooth. The purpose of punctuation is not to draw attention
to itself – you want the reader to pay attention to what you have written, not to the placement of
commas.

Exercise:

Choose the correct options:

1. Which one is correctly punctuated?
a. Spain is a beautiful country; the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean.
b. Spain is a beautiful country, the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean.
2. Which sentence is properly punctuated?
a. She always enjoyed sweets, chocolate, marshmallows and toffee apples.
b. She always enjoyed: sweets, chocolate, marshmallows and toffee apples.
3. Which one is properly punctuated?
a. Sarah's uncle's car was found without its wheels in that old derelict warehouse.
b. Sarah's uncle's car was found without its wheels in that old, derelict warehouse.
4. Which of the following is correctly punctuated?
a. We decided to visit Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy's mountains.
b. We decided to visit: Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy's mountains.

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5. Which one is correctly punctuated?

a. It is a fine idea, let us hope that it is going to work.
b. It is a fine idea; let us hope that it is going to work.
6. Which of the following is properly punctuated?
a. Sorry to disturb you – could I speak to you for a moment?
b. Sorry to disturb you, could I speak to you for a moment.
7. Which of the following is properly punctuated?
a. It was my father, who took me to school yesterday, not my uncle.
b. It was my father who took me to school yesterday, not my uncle.
8. Which one is correctly punctuated?
a. Long ago, in a distant country, there lived a beautiful princess named Dido.
b. Long ago in a distant country, there lived a beautiful princess, named Dido.
9. Which one is correctly punctuated?
a. Having lost all of my money, I went home.
b. Having lost all of my money – I went home!
10. Which one is correctly punctuated?
a. “Can you believe,” Hasan asked me, “that it has been almost five years since we've
seen each other?”
b. Can you believe, Hassan asked me, that it has been almost five years since we've
seen each other?

Answers: 1 – a 2–a 3–b 4–a 5–b 6 – a 7 – b 8 – a 9 – a 10 – a

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 English Two

Lesson 2: The Rules of Punctuation

The Full Stop/Period (.)

1. Most commonly it divides sentence from sentence. Put a Full Stop/Period at the end of a
sentence. For example –
I am going to cinema tonight. The movie begins at nine. Would you like to come
with me?
Note that the full stop is replaced by a question mark at the end of a question. Similarly,
an exclamation mark ends an exclamation.
2. Put a full stop after most abbreviations: Mr. Wood, Mrs. Moore, Nov. 12, A.M. Hon.,
F.R.C.S. , etc.
But, do not put period after some abbreviations: FBI, NBC, JFK, min, NFL, UMW, lb,
kg, AL, CA, etc
3. Put a period inside quotation marks: He said, “Do not smoke here.”

The Comma (,)

Whenever the sense demands that the reader or speaker should make a slight pause, a comma
should be used. The function of a comma is to slow the reader down, briefly – to make the reader
pause. The omission of a comma can allow phrases and clauses to crash into one another, thereby
confusing the reader. Using the comma is, unlike most other punctuation, a matter of taste rather
than rule, but here to help you are samples of all the common uses of comma.
1. To separate items in a list:
We bought some shoes, gloves, a jersey, handkerchiefs, and a scarf.
2. To separate adjectives or adverbs when several are used:
The children were noisy, mischievous, inquisitive, unruly, and altogether
something of a nuisance.
The snow fell silently, densely, almost unnoticed, in an even whiteness which
soon covered the whole landscape.
3. To separate parts of date and addresses:

23rd July, 2016. Monday, 15 August, 2016.

James Roberts Esq.,

Woodstock Manor,
Ancoats Road,
Wolverton,
Surrey.

4. Use a comma to separate introductory phrases and clauses from the independent clause,
particularly if the phrase or clause is long:
Although he had never played a guitar, he somehow managed to make beautiful
music.

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5. In pairs, to enclose words used ‘in apposition’ – words which follow a noun to tell you
more about it:
This vase, a fine specimen of its kind, is now my property.
John Maxwell, Chairman of our company, has just arrived.
The dodo, a curious bird, is now extinct.
6. In pairs, to enclose words or phrases like: ‘however’, ‘well’ ‘by the way’, ‘to speak
plainly’:
He admitted, however, that he was wrong. (However, he admitted that he was
wrong.)
You told me, by the way, that you still had it.
7. To separate or enclose names of people being spoken to:
Please, Brother, will you help me?
Try to do it now, Rakib.
Thank you, Sir, for your advice.
David, will you please listen to me.
8. To separate words spoken as direct speech from the rest of a sentence:
My brother said, “That is just as it should be.”
“That is just as it should be,” said my brother.
9. In letters, after Dear Sir, Dear Mr. Jonh, etc., and after Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely,
etc.
10. In all other cases, to separate parts of a sentence wherever a slight pause seems desirable.
Observe the following examples:
If it is fine tomorrow, I should like to go cycling.
Although we tried hard to win the game, we lost five runs.
My friend Hasan, whom you met last week at my party, has married today.
When I saw how ill he looked, I decided not to tell him of our plans, but he asked
me about them, saying how interested he was, and so I had no alternative.
In such cases as these, the modern way is to use as few commas as are needed to show the
meaning clearly. Do not scatter your commas everywhere.

The Inverted Comma or Quotation Mark (“”)

These enclose all quotations or quoted speech-words written down exactly as spoken:
My sister said, “I cannot see how you can eat so much.”
The poem begins: “I wandered lonely as a cloud…”
Some modern usages prefer to use single quotation marks: ‘____’, but you are advised to use
double quotation marks: “____”.

The Semicolon (;)

Rules of Semicolons:
1. This is useful in longer sentences if you want to present several ideas which, though
separate, might properly belong in one sentence:
You could wait for him here; on the other hand I could wait in your place; this would
save your valuable time.

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I have not read any of his novels; I know his plays, though.
2. Use a semicolon to join two sentences when the second sentence begins with a
transitional word or phrase (also known as a conjunctive adverb).
Our appetite for new cars, the latest style of jeans, and a new brand of hairspray keeps
growing; therefore, our economy keeps growing.
3. Use a semicolon to link two independent clauses:
To give a good party, you must consider the lighting; no one feels comfortable under the
bright glare of fluorescent.

The Colon (:)

A colon simply means as follows. It will help you to think of the colon as having the meaning of
‘namely’ or ‘to state in detail’.
Rules for Colon:
1. Use a colon when making a list:
There are four ingredients necessary to make a good party: music, lighting, food, and
personality.
For camping you need; a tent, groundsheet, sleeping bag, and cooking equipment.
2. It introduces a quotation or a statement given as an example or enlargement of what has
just been mentioned:
The poem begins: “Earth has not anything to show more fair.”
His house became what one might expect after years of neglect: a battered, decrepit
wreck.

The Note of Interrogation/Question Mark (?)

Any word, group of words, or sentence forming a question must be followed by this mark.
Rules for question mark:
1. Use a question mark at the end of a question sentence.
Can you tell me your name?
Wherefore art thou, Romeo?
2. If the question is a quotation, put quotation marks after the question mark.
He asked, “May I go now?”
“How do I look?” she asked.
3. If the question is not part of the quotation, put the question mark after the quotation
marks.
Do you believe in “death for death”?
What do you think of “No new taxes”?
Note: The Question Mark is not used after an indirect question. For example –
He asked me whether I had written my assignment.

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The Note of Exclamation/Exclamation Mark (!)

Exclamation Marks are used for emphasis! Excitement! Surprise! For example –
Stop!
Get lost!
Wow, what a fine picture!

Dash ( _____ )
Dashes are a kind of optional punctuation – some people use them, others don’t. Often you can
use a comma or parenthesis instead of dashes. Dash is used –
1. To indicate an abrupt stop or change of thought; as –
If my father were alive – but why lament the past.
2. To resume a scattered subject or to show flattering speech; as –
Friends, companions, relatives – all deserted him.
“Yes – well – I would – only you see – it’s not easy.”

The Hyphen (-)

A hyphen separates compound words. In etymological evolution, two words may be separate,
then joined by a hyphen, then joined altogether. For instance, week and end to week-end, and
then finally to weekend. A hyphen is shorter than a dash.
Rules for Hyphen:
1. If the pair of words forms an adjective that comes before the noun, use a hyphen.
Well-known bird
First-class work
2. If the adjective pair comes after the noun, you don’t need to use a hyphen.
His crimes are well known.
His work is always first class.
3. Use a hyphen for fractions acting as adjectives;
He drank one and two-thirds cans of Coca-Cola.
But not fractions acting as noun:
Two thirds of the people have gone home.
4. Use a hyphen to differentiate certain words:
He recollected his memories of 1971.
He re-collected the money.
She recovered from the flu.
She re-covered the sofa.

The Apostrophe ( ’)
The apostrophe is used to show ownership.
Rana’s father has come.
Mother’s office …

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Rules for Apostrophe:

1. The apostrophe is used to show the omission of a letter or letters; as –
Don’t e’er I’ve
2. To form plural of letters and figures, apostrophe is used; as –
Dot your i’s and cut your t’s.
You need to write 2 t’s in the word ‘written’.
3. If the plural noun doesn’t end in –s, add an apostrophe and –s. For example-
The women’s freedom
The bacteria’s
The committee’s decision
4. If the plural ends in –s, just add an apostrophe.
The babies’ wears
The politicians’ promise
5. If the word is a proper noun that ends in –s, add an apostrophe and an –s.
Yeats’s poem
Ross’s riddle
Chris’s crisis

The Parenthesis/Bracket ( )
Use parenthesis to enclose extra materials (explanation, asides, etc.) that are not basic to the
meaning of the sentence but that would otherwise interrupt the flow of the sentence.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Democrat, New York) was the only person to be
elected President four times.
He gained from Heaven (it was all he wished) a friend.

The Asterisk ( * )
Asterisk is used to draw some special attention; and two or more asterisks are used to denote that
some words or phrases or clauses have been intentionally left out.
Punctuation* is very important in writing.
The woman*** at last confessed the crime.

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Lesson 03 : Capitalization

Rules for Capitalization:

1. Capitalize the first word of every sentence and of every sentence within quotation. For
example,
A voice from my left side said, “How can I help you?”
But do not capitalize quoted words that are not a complete sentence. For example,
A voice from my left side asked if I wanted “cream, sugar, or dessert.”
2. Capitalize the names of days, months, and holidays. Do not capitalize the seasons of the year
(fall, spring, summer, and winter). For example,
Wednesday May Memorial Day
3. Capitalize the names of specific people, institutions, religions, and places, including the
names of cities, states, regions of a country, and countries and their languages.
The famous poet from Ireland, Seamus Heaney, spoke at Richland College in Dallas, Texas,
in Fannin Building. Living half of each year in the East while he teaches at Harvard
University, he rarely travels to the Southwest. He spoke about the roots of the Catholic and
Protestant conflict.
4. Do not capitalize directions. For example,
Turn east at the stop light.
5. Capitalize people’s titles (and their abbreviations).
Mr. Heaney was introduced by Professor Jerry McElveen.
6. Capitalize the names of specific courses.
Elizabeth has entered into the undergraduate programme. She is going to take History 101,
and Political Science 201.
7. Capitalize the first word, the major words, and the first word after a colon in a title. Do not
capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, or, for), and prepositions under
five letters long (of, by, on) within titles.
Beauty and the Beast (movie title)
“The Last Laughs: The Best and Worst of 1992” (essay title)
No Jacket Required (album title)
“Another Day in Paradise” (song title)
Sports Illustrated (magazine title)

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Exercises

Exercise A:
Use appropriate punctuation and capitalization marks in the following passage:
i came here yesterday from my village he said why did you come i asked my mother sent me to
you with this letter he replied how is your mother i have not seen her for a long time I said.
Exercise B:
Use appropriate punctuation and capitalization marks in the following passage:
why do you not go asked the eldest of the girls and the mistress of the house Do you find your
payment too little Then turning to her sisters she said Give him another dinner By Allah sweet
ladies replied the porter You have paid me well enough my ordinary pay is but a few coppers It
is about you that my heart is troubled How is it that you lived alone in this house with no man to
attend you
Exercise C:
Rewrite the following sentences using appropriate punctuation and capitalization.
1. yes sir i will do it as soon as i can.
2. the girl who is standing there is his sister
3. they offer us a variety of food
4. how is your mother now
5. you may of course speak to us anytime you wish
6. would you like to go along with me hassan asked
7. you said you could play didn’t you
8. she has made an outstanding result said his teacher
9. i come here regularly
10. you should work hard otherwise you will not succeed in life

Exercise D:
Rewrite the following sentences with appropriate punctuation and capitalization:
1. The following are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow.
2. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Mamun replied All the members of
my family are poor spellers. Why not me?
3. Though Palash said he would arrive on the 9:20 flight, he came instead on the 10:30 flight.
4. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
5. What are you doing next weekend
6. Ruth was invited to the party but she was ill so Jane went instead of her
7. Is it any use expecting them to be on time
8. A textbook can be a wall between teacher and class
9. Mother had to go into hospital she had heart problems
10. We will be arriving on Monday morning at least I think so

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Answer Keys:
Exercise A:
“I came here yesterday from my village,” he said. “Why did you come?” I asked. “My mother
sent me to you with this letter,” he replied. “How is your mother? I have not seen her for a long
time,” I said.

Exercise B:
“Why do you not go?” asked the eldest of the girls and the mistress of the house, “Do you find
your payment too little?” Then, turning to her sisters, she said, “Give him another dinner.” “By
Allah, sweet ladies,” replied the porter , “You have paid me well enough; my ordinary pay is but
a few coppers. It is about you that my heart is troubled. How is it that you lived alone in this
house with no man to attend you?”

Exercise C:
1. Yes sir I will do it as soon as I can.
2. The girl who is standing there is his sister.
3. They offer us a variety of food.
4. How is your mother now?
5. You may, of course, speak to us anytime you wish.
6. Would you like to go along with me Hassan asked.
7. You said you could play, didn’t you?
8. “She has made an outstanding result”, said his teacher.
9. I come here regularly.
10. You should work hard otherwise you will not succeed in life.

Exercise D:
1. The following are the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.
2. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied, “All the members of
my family are poor spellers. Why not me?”
3. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9:19 flight, he came instead on the 10:36 flight.
4. Several countries participated in the airlift: Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
5. What are you doing next weekend?
6. Ruth was invited to the party, but she was ill, so Jane went instead of her.
7. Is it any use expecting them to be on time?
8. A textbook can be a ‘wall’ between teacher and class.
9. Mother had to go into hospital: she had heart problems.
10. We will be arriving on Monday morning – at least, I think so.

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