Elementary School

1. Capitalization and
Punctuation
Unit 5

2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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.

5. Capitalizing Proper
Nouns
People Queen Victoria Lewis Carroll
Places Norway
Lake Ontario
Wisconsin Avenue
Gulf of Mexico
Things Rosetta Stone Mayflower Compact
Days, Months, and
Holidays
Monday
Columbus Day
July
New Year’s Day
Buildings and
Companies
Langley Company Fogg Art Museum

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Mechanics 5: Interjections
• An interjection is a word or words that show feeling or
emotion.
Hurray Hey Oh, no Well
Good
Grief
Ah Oops Whew
Okay Oh Ouch Wow

13. 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!

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Mechanics 6: Quotations (Con’t)
• Example: Hannah announced, “My aunt works in a fire
tower.”
• Example: “Tell me what she does,” said Henry.

17. 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.”

18. 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.”

19. 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.

20. Common Abbreviations
Titles Mr. Mister
Mrs. Married Woman
Ms. Any Woman
Dr. Doctor
Jr. Junior
Sr. Senior
Businesses Co. Company
Corp. Corporation
Ltd. Limited
Inc. Incorporated
Days Tues. Tuesday Wed. Wednesday
Months Fed. February Aug. August
Addresses Ave. Avenue Rte. Route
States CA California TX Texas

21. 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

22. 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?

23. 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.”

24. The End