Punctuation

Punctuation I

Writing
Workshop

Adapted from: Focus on grammar An integrated

Name: skills approach third edition by Jay Maurer
Englishforeveryone.org
NNES LEARNING CENTER

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Capitalization
To capitalize is to use capital letters. Here we have some guidelines for capitalization in
order to use them:

1. Capitalize every word of every sentence. For example:

He is the most famous director in Hollywood right now. No doubt about it
Give it to me. It looks like mine.

2. Capitalize all proper nouns; for instance, names of individuals, objects, titles, and
places.
Francis Lloyd Mantel lives on More Street.
The class is reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
All names are proper nouns and must be capitalized. Other examples:

 Names of institutions, places, and geographical areas

She is a new faculty member at Universidad Central de Venezuela.
Her main office is in New Delhi, India.

 Names of historical events, days, months, and holidays

Martin Luther King Day is a school holiday.
Classes don’t meet until October.
 Names of languages and proper adjectives
He speaks Spanish and Italian fluently.
They teach Korean dances at the academy.

3. The first-person pronoun I is always capitalized even when it is in the middle of the
sentence.
It is I who sent you that letter.
They told me that I should call for an appointment.

4. Capitalize words such as father, mother, aunt, uncle, when used with proper nouns or
when addressing a particular person.
Aunt Bessie and Uncle Jesse just bought a country house.
Yes, Mom, I am going after dinner.

However, when these words are used with possessive pronouns, they are not proper
nouns and therefore are not capitalized.
My father is not at home
Their mother is not my aunt.

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Periods
The period has three primary functions:
1. To show that a sentence has ended
2. To show that an abbreviation has ended
3. as a decimal point
 To show that a sentence has ended
Example: we are going to the beach this weekend.
Activity: use periods to show that the following sentences have ended.
1. I must get a new car soon
2. If we don’t get any milk, we will not be able to eat our cereal
3. I don’t need to buy it
4. I like pears, apples, and bananas

 To show that an abbreviation has ended

Example: we are going shopping on State St. today.
Activity: use periods to show that the following abbreviations have ended.
1. I want to move to Boulder, CO when I get older.
2. She is on Carabobo St
3. NNES is between Bermudez Av and Carabobo St
4. Today is Oct 6th 2015

 As a decimal point
Example: the sneakers cost $42.00.
Activity: use periods as a decimal point in the following sentences.
1. The dentist charges 100000 Bs. for an office visit.
2. The baby weighed 75 pounds at birth. (1 pound is equal to 453.6 grams)

Question marks
They are used to end a question.

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Note: some sentences may seem like they are questions when they are actually statements
that appear like questions.
Activity: write a question mark when requires it for the bellow ones.
1. What time is it
2. Do you want another piece of candy
3. What do you like to do in your free time
4. Pedro asked if we are going to the mall today
5. It is 5:00
6. Maybe class ends at 3:30
7. I am not sure if we need more milk
8. The turkey is done cooking
9. I wonder what time it is
10. was the movie scary
11. It might be sunny tomorrow
12. Is it 7:00
13. You love painting
14. Was the trip long
15. I know who that guy is
16. It is possible that we will arrive early
17. You were playing soccer in the garden
18. Were you swimming in the pool
19. I go to class at 7:00
20. Do you go to French class at 7:00

Exclamation points
Exclamation points are used to show strong emotion.
Activity: write an exclamation point when requires it for the following ones.
1. Can we go now
2. Ouch! I hurt my knee

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3. What time is it
4. I am tired
5. Where are we going
6. I am so excited because today is my birthday
7. Good morning everyone
8. Does anyone know his name
9. Hooray! We are finally here
10. “Hey!” The man yelled, “Please, help me”
11. Do you know how to get to 12 street
12. Hey! That car is old
13. I am sleepy
14. Oh my God! The plane is going to crash
15. I just won the lottery
The colon
The colon can be used in the following seven ways:
1. Before a list that is introduced by a complete sentence
Example: the reporter interviewed the following people: the department heads, the
members of the faculty council, and the representative group of students.
2. To introduce the effect, logical consequence of an action
Example: there was only one way he could win: he had to cheat.
3. Before a quotation
Example: this is what Plato had to say about mathematicians: “I have hardly ever known
a mathematician who was capable of reasoning.”
4. After the salutation in a business letter or memo
Example: Dear Senator Harkin:

5. To separate chapter and verse in scripture

Example: The Sunday school class studied James 4:10
6. To separate hours from minutes
Example: our soccer game starts at 7:30.

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7. To show ratios
Example: pour the milk and water at a 3:1 ratio.
Activity: fill in the missing colons.
1. I gave you the spray bottles for one reason to clean the windows.
2. You will need the following ingredients milk, sugar, flour, and eggs.
3. Johann set the alarm clock for 6 00.
4. My father ended every conversation the same way “don’t give up.”
5. Dear Mr. Kurasu of the Kiragowa Corporation
6. Mix the oil and vinegar at a 1 2 ratio.
7. I have invited the following people to my party Kevin, Amy, and Keeley.
8. There is only one way to make it to the top hard work
9. The soldier shouted before leaving to war “we shall return victorious!”

Semicolon
The semicolon has three primary functions:
 To combine two closely related complete sentences (independent clause) which are
not joined by a conjunction
 To separate complete sentences (independent clauses) that are joined by a
conjunctive adverb
 To separate items in a list when commas alone would be confusing

1. To combine closely related complete sentences (independent clause) which are not
joined by a conjunction.
Example: the man was wet; he was standing in the rain without an umbrella.
In this example, there are two complete sentences (independent clauses)
The man wet (independent clause)
He was standing in the rain without an umbrella (independent clause)
These clauses are separated by a semicolon.
Activity: use a semicolon in the appropriate place to combine the following independent
clauses.
1. I am hot I am wearing a sweater and a jacket.
2. The president was very popular he easily won the election.

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3. I cannot buy a new car I do not have much money.

2. To separate complete sentences (independent clauses) that are joined by a
conjunctive adverb
Example: Jane likes fruits; however, she does not like apples.
Jane likes fruits (independent clause)
She does not like apples (independent clause)
The clauses are separated by a semicolon and the conjunctive adverb “however”.
Activity: use a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb to combine the following independent
clauses.
1. I am wearing a sweater and a jacket _____________ I am cold.
2. The old dog is blind ________________ it is deaf.
3. Mix all the ingredients ____________ put the batter in the oven.
3. To separate items in a list when commas alone would be confusing.
Example: the school specializes in three fields of study: economics, the study of the
economics; philosophy, the study of thought; and anthropology, the study of mankind.
Activity: use a semicolon in the appropriate place to separate items in a list in the following
sentences.
1. The answers to the test are: 1, A 2, D 3, F and 4, B.
2. The group was composed of three young people: Mary, who was 32 years old Javier,
who was 28 years old and Ming, who was 17 years old.
3. On the trip, we drove through Tampa, Florida Wichita, Kansas and Fresno, California.

Linking words and Phrases

Here is a list of common linking words and phrases according to each category:
 To show contrast: but, in spite of, despite, even though, although, however
 To show addition: In addition, and, also, furthermore
 To show reason and result: as a result, because (of), so, therefore
 To introduce an example: for example, such as
Exercise using linking words and phrases. Write the correct word (linking word or phrase)
to complete the texts.

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a. Mary, who is 21, says “Some people disapprove of the number of mature students. I
consider it is a positive aspect, (1) _________ I think they have a lot to offer. My
university experience is a lot richer (2) _________ of some of the older friends I
have made. I think it is wonderful that people can study when they are older, (3)
_________ though they might have been away from education from a long time.
One friend, who is in his forties, had always wanted to study philosophy, (4)
_________ he sold his business to pay for the course.”
b. Peter, who is 41, expresses “I was not expecting the college to be so encouraging, to
honest. For (5) _________, they were very encouraging (6) _________ my lack of
qualifications. They were (7) _________ very flexible about family commitments,
which helped a lot. (8) _________, studying alongside young people really helped
me. As a (9) _________, I completed mu studies with no problems (10) _________
now, in my forties, I have got a degree. Amazing!”

Commas
Introducer commas follow any element that comes in front of the first in dependent clause
in a sentence.
Words: Therefore, I plan to quit smoking.
Phrases: As a result, I feel terrible right now.

Dependent clauses: Because I have a chronic cough, my doctor recommended that I quit
immediately.
Direct quotations: “Stop smoking today”, she advised.

Coordinator commas are together with a coordinating conjunction, a comma links

coordinate (equal) elements in a sentence.

Compound sentence with 2 independent clauses: she has a good job, yet she is always
broke.
Series of three or more items: I like apples, bananas, and oranges.
Words: Cecile speaks English, Spanish, French, and Creole.
Phrases: a nurse has to work at night, on weekends, and on holidays.

Inserter commas are used before and after any element that is inserted into the middle of
an independent clause.
Words: My uncle, however, refuses to quit smoking.
Phrases: My father, on the other hand, has never smoked.

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Nonrestrictive phrases and clauses: My uncle, who celebrated her fiftieth birthday, enjoys
an occasional cigarette.
Tag commas are used when adding certain element to the end of the sentence.
Words: my uncle believes in drinking a daily glass of wine, too.
Phrases: he swims for an hour a day, for example.
Tag questions: it isn’t logical, is it?
Direct quotations: he laughs and he says, “I will outlive all of you.”

Exercise: add commas wherever they are necessary, and write at the end the function of the
comma (introducer, coordinator, inserter, or tag).

1. The advertising industry which is one of the largest industries in the United States
employs millions of people and spends billions of dollars. ____________
2. Advertising is essential to the free enterprise system yet it can sometimes be very
annoying. ____________
3. Every minute of the day and night people are exposed to ads on television on
billboards in the newspapers and in magazines. ___________
4. Because Americans are exposed to so much advertising they have become immune to
it. _____________
5. As a result advertisers have to make louder commercials use brighter colors and hire
sexier models to catch the public’s attention. ____________

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Combining sentences using and or but

Use and to combine two sentences if you want to add information. It’s common, but
not necessary, to use a comma before and.
My cousin loves salsa, and he is a great dancer.
Use but to combine sentences if you want to show a difference or contrast. It’s
common, but not necessary, to use a comma before but.
My cousin loves salsa, but I love reggae.
Activity: Write and or but according to each combination.
1. My sister in law has long hair. She is very pretty.
2. We look alike. We wear the same clothes.
3. My cousin lives near the airport. His parents don’t.
4. We look alike. We wear completely different clothes.
Connecting words and ideas with and or in addition
Remember that and connects two sentences and makes them one sentence.
I like fruits and I also like vegetables.
You can also use and to connect words in a series. Notice the use of the comma in the
example below.
I like apples, pears, bananas, and pineapples.
Be careful! Don’t use a comma to separate only two words. I like apples, and oranges. X
I like apples and oranges.
In addition connects the ideas in one sentence with the ideas in the next sentence.
Use comma after in addition.
I like fruits. In addition, I like vegetables.
Activity: Connect the following words and ideas with and or in addition.
 The people eat a lot of vegetables in Spain, Italy, _______ France.
 In the U.S., many restaurants serve big portions. _______, there are lots of fatty
foods.
 There are five or six great Italian restaurants near the hotel. _______, there are two
restaurants where the menu has dishes from Mexico, Thailand, India, ______ even
Indonesia!
 She loves pasta, ______ I want to invite her to my favorite Italian restaurant.
 Raw carrots taste great, _____ they are good for you.
 This restaurant has great food. _______, the service is excellent.

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The Sentence
In formal English a sentence must have a subject and a verb that shows a person,
number, and time. Only one type of sentence has no subject: an imperative sentence. In
imperative sentences, the subject you is understood.
Word groups that contain a subject or a verb but are not sentences are called fragments.

Look at the sentences. The complete subjects are underline once and the complete verb
twice.

Sherry and her friends are students.

They are spending a year studying in Spain in an exchange program.
All of the students in the program arrived a month ago.
Sherry`s sister Martha has received three letters from her.
The letters were written over a period of three months.
Write soon.
Are exchange programs good learning experiences?

These word groups are fragments:

Sherry sitting and writing a letter. (No verb)

Were taking the train to Barcelona. (No subject)

Such an exciting year. (No subject)

Activity: On the line next to each of the word groups, write sentence if the group is a
sentence. If the word group is not a sentence, write fragment and explain why by writing
no subject, no verb, or no subject and no verb.
1. Sherry at the library doing research. ____________________
2. All afternoon. ____________________
3. Akiko and Lisa were at home. ____________________
4. Has been an exciting year. ____________________
5. A worthwhile experience meeting students from many nations.________
6. They would do it again. ____________________
7. Akiko waiting at the bottom of the stairs. ____________________
8. Think about this question ____________________

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A topic sentence
A common way of organizing a composition or other piece of writing in English is
to begin with a topic sentence. A topic sentence is a general sentence that covers the
content of the entire paragraph. All the supporting examples and details of the paragraph
must fit under this sentence. It is usually the first sentence in the paragraph. Look at this
example from an essay:

For me a dog is a better pet than a cat. When I come home from work, for example,
my dog comes to meet me at the door. He is always glad to see me. My cat, on the other
hand, could not careless whether I am at home or not, as long as I keep filling her food dish.
Another good thing about a dog is that you can teach him tricks. Cats, however, cannot be
bothered to learn anything new. The best thing about a dog is that he is a great companion. I
can take my dogs on hikes and walks. He goes everywhere with me. As we all know, you
cannot take a cat for a walk.

The topic sentence for this paragraph is “For me, a dog is a better pet than a cat.”
This sentence tells the reader what to expect in the paragraph: some reasons why the writer
considers a dog a superior pet.

Read the paragraph and circle the best topic sentence for the paragraph.

For one thing, you should always remove your shoes when you enter to a Japanese
home, and you should have them pointing toward the door. Another suggestion is to make
sure that you bring a gift for your Japanese hosts, and to be sure to wrap it. A third
recommendation is to be appreciative of things in a Japanese house, but not too
appreciative. Finally, remember that when you sit down to eat, you do not have to accept
every kind of food that you are offered, but you are expected to finish whatever you do put
on your plate.

Choices

a. Visiting a Japanese home is very enjoyable.

b. Taking a gift is very important when you visit a Japanese home.
c. There are a number of things to keep in mind when you visit a Japanese home.
d. When you visit a Japanese home, be sure not to eat too much.

Explain your choice.

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Informal Vs formal language

When writing any text, essay, paper, among others, you want to communicate to
your reader that you have thought carefully about your ideas. If you write in an informal
style that reminds the reader of a casual conversation, your reader may not take your ideas
as seriously.

Informal language to edit How to make language more formal

Generalizations Be more specific
Criminals are dangerous. Violent criminals can be dangerous.
Americans are overweight. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight.
Vague language Use more specific word
School is a big thing in my life. School is an important part of my life.
They arrested some people at the They arrested some protesters at the
march. march.
Using “you” instead of a specific Replace “you” with a specific person
person/group or group
When you work with a patient who is When nurses work with a patient who is
very ill, you need to be patient. very ill, they need to be patient.
Informal words and expressions Use more formal words
My sister was under the weather. My sister was very ill.
Phrasal verbs used in conversations Replace with one-word verb
I looked up information about nursing
I researched information about nursing
positions. positions.
Contractions Remove the contraction
Many patients don’t listen to theirMany patients do not listen to their
doctors. doctors.
Join the fragment to a complete
Incomplete sentences (fragments)
sentence
I chose to attend a CUNY college.
I chose to attend a CUNY college
Because is near my house.
because it is near my house.

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Exercise 1. Identify the different types of informal language in the following paragraph.
Exercise 2. Follow the instructions to make the language more formal.

Americans disagree whether the death penalty is a bad idea or not. Some people
don’t think that the death penalty is humane, while many conservatives believe that it’s fair
punishment for killing someone, even if the murderer is under 18 years old… I believe the
death penalty is a good way to stop kids from killing each other. Nobody would commit a
crime. When you find out that guys you know have been fried for a crime.

Informal language to edit How to make language more formal

Generalizations Be more specific

Vague language Use more specific word

Using “you” instead of a specific person/group Replace “you” with a specific person or group

Informal words and expressions Use more formal words

Phrasal verbs used in conversations Replace with one-word verb

Contractions Remove the contraction

Incomplete sentences (fragments) Join the fragment to a complete sentence

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