The document summarizes punctuation and capitalization rules in four categories: end marks, abbreviations, capitalization, and punctuation marks (periods, commas, semicolons, apostrophes, hyphens, quotation marks, parentheses, and dashes). It provides examples and explanations of how and when to use each punctuation mark according to standard English grammar rules.

1. Punctuation Rules (Eng 1)
http://www.sta.cathedral.org/lowerschool/form1/eng1javwww/grammar/punctrules.html
Here is a summary of punctuation and capitalization rules, organized to
help you organize and remember them. I have highlighted words to help you
recall each rule. Sometimes I have gathered them into subgroups.
Five End-Mark Rules
1. A statement is followed by a period.
2. A question is followed by a question mark.
3. An exclamation is followed by an exclamation point.
4. An imperative sentence is followed by either a period or an
exclamation point.
5. An abbreviation is followed by a period.
Four Rules for Irregular Abbreviations (See "Notes" on p. 739-740 of your
textbook)
1. A two-letter state abbreviation, used only before a zip code,
has no periods and has both letters of the abbreviation in
upper case (caps). [Bethesda, MD 20816]
2. Abbreviations for government agencies and some other
widely used abbreviations again use all capital letters and no
periods. [CIA, NAACP]
3. Abbreviations for metric units of measure customarily use
no periods but are lower case. [cc, ml, km]
4. When an abbreviation with a period ends a sentence, the
second period is not necessary, but a question mark or
exclamation point would follow the period required by the
abbreviation. [This is Sam, Jr. (but) Is this Sam, Jr.? ]
Seven Capitalization Rules
1. Capitalize the first word in every sentence.
2. Capitalize the pronoun I.
3. Capitalize the interjection O.
4. Capitalize proper nouns.
o people's names

2. o geographical names
o special events
o historical events/periods
o nationalities, races, religions
o brand names
o ships, planets, awards, specific places, things, events
5. Capitalize proper adjectives.
6. Do not capitalize the names of school subjects except
languages and course names followed by a number.
7. Capitalize titles.
o title before a name
o title of high official
o family relationship when used with or in place of person's name
o first and all important words of publication titles, movies, songs, works of art
o words referring to the Deity (other than those of ancient mythology)
Three Colon Rules
1. Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions
like as follows or the following. A colon says "note what
follows." A colon suggests equality.
2. Use a colon before a statement that expands or clarifies a
preceding statement.
3. Use a colon in conventional situations. between hours and
minutes in time after the salutation of a business letter
Three Rules for Italics/Underlining
1. Use underlining (italics) for titles of books, periodicals,
works of art, films, record albums, television series, trains,
ships, aircraft, spacecraft, and so on. (Titles of major works)
2. Use underlining (italics) to indicate words referred to as
words, letters referred to as letters, numerals referred to as
numerals.
3. Italicize foreign words.
Four Semicolon Rules
1. Use a semicolon between independent clauses in a sentence if
they are not joined by and, but, or, nor, for, yet.
2. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by such
words as for example, for instance, that is, besides,

3. accordingly, moreover, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise,
therefore, however, consequently, instead, hence. (In other
words, between independent clauses joined by transitional
words that are not conjunctions.)
3. Use a semicolon to separate the independent clauses of a
compound sentence if either of the independent clauses
contains potentially confusing commas.
4. Use semicolons instead of commas to separate a list of items
which themselves contain commas. (The "Upgrade Rule")
Four Apostrophe Rules Possessives
1. To form the possessive case of a singular noun, add an
apostrophe and an s. Do not use apostrophes to form the
possessives of the personal pronouns.
2. To form the possessive case of a plural noun ending in s, add
only the apostrophe. Contractions
3. Use an apostrophe to show where letters have been omitted
in a contraction.
4. Use an apostrophe and s to form the plural of letters,
numbers, and signs, and for words referred to as words. N. B.
such letters, numbers, signs, or words as words would be in
italics
Four Hyphen Rules
1. Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line. Divide
words only between syllables, and make sure at least two
syllables end up on the second line.
2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to
ninety-nine.
3. Use a hyphen with fractions used as adjectives.
4. Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex-, self-, and all- and with
the suffix -elect.
Ten Quotation Rules

4. 1. Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation-a person's
exact words. How to punctuate and capitalize a quotation
2. A direct quotation begins with a capital letter.
3. When a quoted sentence is divided into two parts by an
interrupting expression such as he said or Mother asked, the
second part begins [read that as continues] with a small letter.
(Split quotation)
4. A direct quotation is set off from the rest of the sentence by
commas or by a question mark or exclamation point. Where
to place end marks in a quote
5. A period or comma following a quotation should be placed
inside the closing quotation marks.
6. A question mark or an exclamation point should be placed
inside the closing quotation marks if the quotation is a
question or exclamation. Otherwise it should be placed
outside. Special placement of quotes
7. When you write dialogue (two or more persons having a
conversation), begin a new paragraph each time you change
speakers.
8. When a quotation consists of several sentences, put quotation
marks only at the beginning and at the end of the whole
quotation, not around each sentence in the quotation.
9. Use single quotation marks to enclose a quotation within a
quotation. Conventional uses
10. Use quotation marks to enclose titles of chapters,
articles, short stories, poems, songs, and other parts of books
or magazines. (Minor works or parts of works)
Eight Comma Rules
Multiple items (to separate or join)
1. Use commas to separate items in a series.
2. Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that come
before a noun.

5. 3. Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet when it
joins independentclauses.
Parenthetical and interrupter words
4. Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a
sentence.
a. non-essential participle phrases or subordinate clauses
b. non-essential appositives or appositive phrases
c. words used in direct address
d. parenthetical expressions
5. Use a comma after yes, no, or any mild exclamation such
as well or why at the beginning of a sentence.
6. Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause.
a. always follow an introductory participle phrase with a comma
b. always follow an introductory adverb clause with a comma
c. put a comma after multiple prepositional phrases that begin a
sentence; do not put a comma after a single introductory
prepositional phrase unless to omit the comma would cause
confusion
Conventional situations
7. Use commas in certain conventional situations.
a. items in dates and addresses
b. after the salutation of a friendly letter and the closing of any letter
8. Do not use unnecessary commas.
Parentheses & Dashes Rules
1. Use parentheses to enclose material added to a sentence but
not of major importance. (An understated interruption) Place
a space outside the parentheses (before the first unless it
begins a sentence and after the last unless it ends a sentence),
but do not place a space after the opening parenthesis or
before the closing parenthesis.
2. Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought or speech.
(Use dashes to enclose an overstated interruption?)
a. Do not put a space on either side of an em-dash (the type of dash
we are discussing here).

6. b. To type an em-dash on a Macintosh computer, hold down the
Option and Shift keys and press the Hyphen key. If your
typewriter or printer cannot make an em-dash, use two hyphens in
a row (without spaces) to indicate an em-dash.

7. b. To type an em-dash on a Macintosh computer, hold down the
Option and Shift keys and press the Hyphen key. If your
typewriter or printer cannot make an em-dash, use two hyphens in
a row (without spaces) to indicate an em-dash.