Capitalization and Punctuation Unit 5

Capitalization and Punctuation

Unit 5

Mechanics 1: Correct Sentences

Every sentence must begin with a capital letter and end with an end mark. Without capital letters and end marks, sentences run together. With them, a reader knows where one sentence ends and another begins.

Incorrect: we will join you later we are waiting for Cory

Correct: We will join you later. We are waiting for Cory.

Correct Sentences

• End marks tell whether you are making a statement (.), asking a question (?), giving a command (!), or showing strong feelings (!).

• Declarative: The trip is on Friday.• Interrogative: Are you going on the trip Friday?• Imperative: Buy your tickets early.• Exclamatory: What a wonderful day we will have on our

trip!

Mechanics 2: Proper Nouns and Adjectives

• Proper nouns name specific persons, places, and things. Always capitalize proper nouns. If a proper noun is two words, capitalize both words. If there are three or more words, capitalize only the important words.

Capitalizing Proper NounsPeople Queen Victoria Lewis Carroll

Places NorwayLake Ontario

Wisconsin AvenueGulf of Mexico

Things Rosetta Stone Mayflower Compact

Days, Months, and Holidays

MondayColumbus Day

JulyNew Year’s Day

Buildings and Companies

Langley Company Fogg Art Museum

Mechanics 2: Proper Nouns and Adjectives

• Proper adjectives are adjectives made from proper nouns. Like proper nouns, proper adjectives begin with capital letters. If a proper adjective is two or more words capitalize both of them.

• Example: Japan-Japanese cars • Example: South American-South American music.

Mechanics 3: Comma in a Series• An end mark tells the reader where to stop. A comma

(,) tells the reader where to pause. Commas help make the meaning of a sentence clear. Commas may also change the meaning of a sentence.

• Example: Beth, John, Paul, and I are in the same class.

• Example: Beth, John Paul, and I are in the same class.

Mechanics 3: Comma in a Series (Continued)

• Each of the examples on the previous slide contains a series. A series is a list of three or more items in a sentence. A comma is used after each item except the last. Conjunctions such as and or or is used before the last item.

• Do NOT use a comma if a sentence list only two items, for the sentence does not contain a series.

Mechanics 4: More Uses for Commas

• Words such as yes, no, and well are called introductory words when they begin a sentence. Always use a comma after an introductory word.

• Example: Yes, I play video games.• Examples: Well, I had not planned to go tonight.• Example: No, he will not be going with us today.

Direct Address• The name of the person who is spoken to or

addressed, is called a noun in direct address. Use a comma or commas to set of a noun in direct address from the rest of the sentence.

• Example: Mary, will you stay with us tonight? Direct Address

• TIP: The subject of a sentence is never the direct address. It is you or you understood.

Direct Address (Cont’d)• Place your books on the table, John.• Thank you, Bob, for doing such a good job.• Sometimes you may use introductory words and nouns

in direct address in the same sentence.• Yes, Mary, you are ready for the test.

Mechanics 5: Interjections

• An interjection is a word or words that show feeling or emotion.

Common InterjectionsHurray Hey Oh, no Well

Good Grief

Ah Oops Whew

Okay Oh Ouch Wow

Interjections • If an interjection shows strong feelings, it stands alone

and is followed by an exclamation point.• Example: Wow! That boat is big. • Example: You leave!

Interjections (Cont’d) • TIP: If you use an exclamation mark after the interjection,

the next word is capitalized, and the sentence should not end with another exclamation mark. If a comma is used after the interjection, then the next word is not capitalized and the sentence may end with any end mark punctuation, including an exclamation mark.

• Example: Oh, what a great day. • Example: Gee! We hate to see you leave.

Mechanics 6: Quotations

• In written conversation, a direct quotation gives a speaker’s exact words. Set it off with quotation marks (“) and capitalize the first words.

• Use a comma to set off a direct quotation from the other words in a sentence. Place the comma outside the quotation marks at the beginning of a quotation and inside the quotation marks at the end of a quotation.

Mechanics 6: Quotations (Con’t)

• Example: Hannah announced, “My aunt works in a fire tower.”

• Example: “Tell me what she does,” said Henry.

Quotations• If the quotation is a question or exclamation, place a

question mark or exclamation point, instead of a comma, inside the quotation marks.

• Example: “I know we can,” replied Hannah. “Let’s call my aunt.”

Quotations (Cont’d)• Example: “What a great job she had!” exclaimed Henry.• Sometimes a quotation is divided and each part is in

quotation marks. If the second part of the divided quotation continues the original sentence, begin it with a small letter. If it starts a new sentence, use a capital letter.

• Example: “Do you think,” asked Henry, “that we could see the tower?”

• Example: “I know we can,” replied Hannah. “Let’s call my aunt.”

Mechanics 7: Abbreviations

• An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word. An abbreviation usually begins with a capital letter and ends with a period. Use abbreviations only in special kinds of writing, such as addresses and lists.

• Initials are a special kind of abbreviation. An Initial most often stands for a person’s first or middle name. Some names have two initials.

• Example: E.B. White wrote Charlotte’s Web.

Common Abbreviations

Titles Mr. MisterMrs. Married WomanMs. Any Woman

Dr. DoctorJr. JuniorSr. Senior

Businesses Co. CompanyCorp. Corporation

Ltd. LimitedInc. Incorporated

Days Tues. Tuesday Wed. Wednesday

Months Fed. February Aug. August

Addresses Ave. Avenue Rte. Route

States CA California TX Texas

Mechanics 8: Titles

• There are special ways for writing the titles of books, poems, and other written works. Capitalize the first and last and all important words. Do NOT capitalize words such as a, in, and of the unless they begin or end the title.

• Examples: “The Ways of Trains” The Treasure Is the Rose

Titles

• When titles of books, magazines, newspapers, and movies are used in printed materials, they appear in italics: Prince Caspian. Because you cannot write in italics, in your writings you should always underline these titles.

• Example: My sister reads The Washington Post every morning.

• Example: Have you finished the book Mom’s Best Friend?

Titles

• Some titles are set off by quotation marks. Put quotation marks around the titles of short stories, articles, book chapters, and most poems.

• Example: I recited the poem “Take Sky.”• Example: My sister showed me the article “Wonder

Words.”

The End