LEARNING MODULE IN THE USE OF PUNCTUATION AND

CAPITALIZATION IN ENGLISH WRITING 7

Module No. 1 Module Title

Punctuation and Capitalization
No. of Units 17 Grade Level 7 Inclusive Date March 6, 2025

Module Overview

This module focuses on the proper use of punctuation, including apostrophes, comma
splices, semicolons and colons, commas in lists, and punctuation inside quotations. It also
focuses on the proper use of capitalization, including capitalizing the first word of a sentence,
proper nouns, random capitalization, neglecting titles and acronyms, and overcapitalizing
descriptive phrases.
Ignoring punctuation and capitalization rules can confuse and make writing seem
unprofessional. Mistakes like comma splices, misplaced apostrophes, and random capitalization
can change the meaning of sentences and reduce credibility. In school, these errors may lead to
lower grades, and in professional settings, they can weaken the impact of formal writing.
By learning and practicing these rules, students can avoid miscommunication and
present their ideas. This module will help them write with accuracy and professionalism,
ensuring their messages are understood as intended.

Terminologies

Punctuation is a set of symbols that separates and gives meaning to words.

Capitalization is the practice of using uppercase or capital letters in writing to indicate the
beginning of a sentence or to emphasize certain words.

Comma splices occur when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined with a comma.

Colon is a punctuation mark used to connect sentences, emphasize a word or phrase, or

introduce a quote or explanation.

Semicolon is a punctuation mark that represents a pause between a comma and a period.

Quotations are something that a person says or writes that is repeated or used by someone
else in another piece of writing or speech.

Comma in a list is a comma that is put between each item (list), except for the last item where
you use ‘and’.

Apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to indicate either possession or the omission of letters
or numbers.

“LET’S TAKE A LOOK!”

Before you proceed, I want you to look and read first the following sentences and answer by
yourself the next guide questions:

1. Which sentence uses a comma correctly?

Choose the sentence with the correct comma placement.

A. I took Angie, the one with the freckles to the movie last night.

B. I took Angie, the one with the freckles, to the movie last night.

C. I took Angie the one with the freckles, to the movie last night.

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 D. I took Angie, the one with the freckles, to the movie, last night.

2. Correct the following sentence: I love to swim, I go to the pool every day.

Choose the option that best reflects proper comma usage in each sentence.

A. I love to swim I go to the pool every day.

B. I love to swim; I go to the pool every day.

C. I love to swim, and I go to the pool every day.

D. I love to swim I, go to the pool every day.

LET’S GET STARTED!

What is a Punctuation?

Punctuation is the standardized way we use symbols in writing to make the meaning of a
sentence clear and signpost how a piece of writing is to be read.
DEFINITIONS, USES, AND EXAMPLE

1. Comma (,)

It is used to add a pause in a sentence, separate ideas, or organize lists.

Commas have a few different uses:

Direct Address: Used to address someone directly in a sentence.

Example:

 "John, please pass the salt."

This sentence directly addresses "John," meaning the speaker is speaking to him.

 Comma Usage: A comma is placed after "John" to separate the name from the rest of
the sentence. This helps clarify that "John" is being spoken to, rather than being part of
the sentence’s action.

When addressing another person by name, set off the name with commas.

 Mom, I can’t find my shoes!

 Cleo, there’s someone on the phone for you.
 Hello, Chester.

Without the comma, the sentence might be confusing. For example, "John please pass
the salt" could be misread as if "John" is the subject of "please pass," making the sentence
unclear. Using a comma for direct address ensures clarity and proper sentence structure.

 Separating Sentences: Used to separate two complete sentences joined by a

conjunction.

Example:

 “I wanted to go outside, but it started raining."

Comma Usage: The comma is placed before "but" to separate two independent clauses
(complete sentences).

Without the comma, the sentence may seem rushed or unclear. When two independent clauses
are joined by a coordinating conjunction (like "and," "but," or "so"), a comma is usually required
before the conjunction. This ensures clarity and smooth reading.

 Oxford Comma: Placed before the last item in a list for clarity.

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Example:

 "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas."

Oxford Comma Usage: The comma before "and" in the list ("oranges, and bananas") is
called the Oxford comma.

It helps avoid confusion. Without it, "oranges and bananas" could be misread as a single
group rather than two separate items. The Oxford comma is optional in some styles but
recommended for clarity in formal writing. Using it ensures better readability and avoids
ambiguity.

2. Colon (:)

It is used to introduce a list, explanation, or quote, and to connect two independent

clauses when the second one clarifies or completes the first. It helps to add more detail or
emphasize information in a sentence.

Example:

 There are three types of muscle in the body: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.
Colon Usage: The colon (":") is used to introduce a list that explains or expands on the
information before it.

It signals that what follows will clarify or specify the statement before the colon.

A colon should come after an independent clause (a complete sentence). In this case,
"There are three types of muscle in the body" is a complete thought, and the colon introduces
the specific types of muscles. Using the colon improves clarity and organization in writing.

Colons are often used with lists, as in the example above. They can also be used to signal
further clarification.

 We have two options here: stay and fight, or run like the wind.

One might silently read the above sentence in this way:

 We have two options here (and they are as follows): stay and fight, or run like the wind.
When should you use a colon?

There are many times when a colon might be used in your writing: Here are a few.

 Lists

Colons are most often used to introduce lists.

 Taylor Swift has written a few songs about John Mayer: “Dear John,” “The Story of
Us,” and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve.”
 Nouns or noun phrases

Colons can be used before a noun or a noun phrase.

 The movie had everything I wanted: action and suspense.

 Quotes

Colons can introduce a quotation.

 He ended with the immortal words of Neil Young: “Rock and Roll can never die.”
 Examples

A writer may use colons to illustrate their point by providing certain examples.

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  There is one big reason we don’t talk about Bruno: His premonitions frightened the
family.
 Numbers

Colons are used to separate units of time and ratios.

 11:11 a.m.
 2:1
 Titles and subtitles

A colon can be used to separate a movie, book, or another piece of work’s title from its
subtitle.

 Colonoscopy: The Best Punctuation Puns

3. Semicolon (;)

It links two closely related independent clauses, showing a connection between them
without using a period. It helps combine sentences that are closely tied in meaning.

Example:

 "I wanted to stay up late; I was too tired."

 Semicolon Usage: The semicolon ( ";" ) connects two related independent clauses
(complete sentences) without using a conjunction like "and" or "but."

It shows a close relationship between the two thoughts while keeping the sentence
smooth and concise. Use a semicolon when the clauses are closely related but could stand
alone as separate sentences. This improves readability and avoids unnecessary conjunctions.

 Use semicolons instead of coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions (that’s your ands, buts, and ors) can also link two independent
clauses. But you shouldn’t use a semicolon and a conjunction. That means that when you use a
semicolon, you use it instead of the ands, buts, and ors; you don’t need both.

Here’s a hint: You know how you can use a comma and an and to link two related ideas? Think
of the semicolon as a replacement for the comma + and.

 I saw a magnificent albatross, and the sun was setting right behind it.
 I saw a magnificent albatross; the sun was setting right behind it.

A semicolon can replace a period or a comma and a coordinating conjunction to

demonstrate contrast between independent clauses instead of agreement. This is part of the
same rule, but the conjunction in question is but instead of and.

 I wanted to go for a run; the weather was too cold.

4. Quotations ( “” )

Quotations are words, phrases, or sentences taken directly from a source and repeated
exactly as they were originally written or spoken. They are often enclosed in quotation marks ("
") to indicate that they are someone else's words. Quotations are used in writing and speech to
support arguments, provide evidence, or reference someone else's ideas.

Example:

 Sarah said, "I will finish my homework before dinner."

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 In this sentence, the quotation marks (" ") indicate the exact words spoken by Sarah.
This is called direct speech, where a person's words are quoted exactly as they were said. The
phrase Sarah said introduces the quotation, making it clear who is speaking.

5. Place punctuation marks inside quotation marks

In American English, punctuation marks are typically placed inside quotation marks, with
some exceptions. In British English, punctuation marks are placed outside the quotation marks
unless they are part of the original quotation. The following rules and examples focus on
American English.

 Using commas with quotation marks

Place a comma inside the quotation marks at the end of a quoted phrase.

 “Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house,” my father said.

Because you want to attach the speaker to their dialogue, use a comma rather than a period to
end the quote inside the quotation marks.

 “Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house.” my father said.
 Breaking up a quote with commas

If you’re breaking up a quotation, place a comma after the first part of the quote (inside
quotation marks), followed by a comma and space before the second part (outside the quotation
marks). Place both parts of the quote within their own set of quotation marks.

 “My goodness,” said my father, “take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house.”

Here, commas distinguish the spoken words from the rest of the sentence. The commas
separate the direct speech of the father (“My goodness,” at the beginning, and “take off your
dirty shoes before coming into the house” at the end) from the reporting clause (“said my
father”).

You can skip the comma before or after the quote for short quotes or phrases within a sentence
if they flow naturally.

 My father said my shoes were “too dirty” to wear into the house.
 Using periods with quotation marks

Place the period inside the quotation marks when a quotation comes at the end of a sentence.
The quotation can be introduced with a transitional phrase followed by a comma, helping
separate the spoken words from the rest of the sentence.

 Before I entered the house, my father said, “Take off your dirty shoes.”

Using a period elsewhere inside quotation marks is correct if your quoted material includes
multiple sentences. Place a comma inside the quotation mark if using a reporting clause after
the quote.

 “I just mopped the floors. Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house,” said
my father.
 Using colons with quotation marks

Colons are typically placed outside quotation marks unless they are part of the quoted material.

 When I was growing up, my father must have said this a thousand times: “Take off your
dirty shoes before coming into the house.”

When a colon is part of the quoted material, place it inside the quotation marks to indicate that
what follows it elaborates on or continues the thought introduced before the colon.

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  “Here’s what I want you to do: Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house,
try your best to keep the entryway clean, and use the mop when you make a mess,” my
father said.
 Using semicolons with quotation marks

As with a colon, place a semicolon outside quotation marks regardless of whether it’s before or
after a quotation.

 My father said, “Take off your dirty shoes before you come into the house”; they weren’t
even dirty to begin with.

Use a semicolon inside quotation marks when it’s part of the quoted material.

 “Take off your filthy shoes before coming into the house; helping keep the house clean is
up to all of us,” said my father.

6. Comma in a List

A comma in a list is used to separate three or more items in a sentence, making it

clearer and easier to read. It prevents confusion by distinguishing each item.

Example:

She packed her bag with books, pencils, a notebook, and a water bottle.

Commas separate items: books, pencils, a notebook, and a water bottle. The final comma
before "and" (Oxford comma) is optional but helps avoid confusion. When you have a list that
contains more than two elements, use commas to separate them.

X Julie loves ice cream books and kittens.

 Julie loves ice cream, books, and kittens.

The comma before the and in a list of three or more items is optional. See below, under “Serial
comma,” for more information. Your list might be made up of nouns, as in the example above,
but it could also be made up of verbs, adjectives, or clauses. Imagine, for a moment, that you
have just finished doing three chores. The chores were:

 Cleaning the house and garage

 Raking the lawn

 Taking out the garbage

If you were to list these three chores in a sentence, you would write:

 I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn, and took out the garbage.
 I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn and took out the garbage.

7. Comma Splices

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are incorrectly
joined by just a comma, without a coordinating conjunction or proper punctuation. This creates a
grammatical error.

Example:

X I love to read, I spend hours in the library.

Why is This Incorrect?

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 "I love to read" and "I spend hours in the library" are both complete sentences.

A comma alone cannot correctly join them.

Ways to Fix a Comma Splice:

1. Use a period: I love to read. I spend hours in the library.

2. Use a semicolon: I love to read; I spend hours in the library.

3. Use a conjunction: I love to read, so I spend hours in the library.

When you want to join two independent clauses, you need a conjunction or
a semicolon; a comma alone isn’t strong enough to join them. This kind of mistake is called
a comma splice.

X We were out of milk, I went to the store.

You can fix a comma splice by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to a
semicolon.

 We were out of milk, so I went to the store.

 We were out of milk; I went to the store.

Or you can simply write the two independent clauses as separate sentences.

 We were out of milk. I went to the store.

8. Apostrophe

The apostrophe is a busy little punctuation mark. It looks like this: ’

Apostrophes’ jobs include:

 Creating possessive nouns (Jim’s house, the Kelleys’ car)

 Combining words into contractions (don’t, she’ll, weren’t)

And more casually, apostrophes are used to shorten words (government becomes gov’t and the
1970s becomes the ’70s) and in quotes to show the speaker has shortened a word, for
example: We looked and found nothin’.

Remember:

 Most of the time, they are not used to pluralize nouns.

 Don’t use them when you’re referring to a decade numerically (correct: the 1990s,
incorrect: the 1990’s)
 Don’t use them when the last letter follows an apostrophe (correct: don’ts, incorrect:
don’t’s)
 Don’t use them when describing a group of people (correct: the Chens are coming to
dinner, incorrect: the Chen’s are coming to dinner)
 The only time an apostrophe is used to pluralize a noun is when the noun being
pluralized is a lowercase letter. For example: Mind your p’s and q’s.

I ACHIEVE!

Instructions: Upon learning the topic, let us write and put your new knowledge to the test,
kindly answer the following questions below.

Activity 1.1: Comma Usage Exercise

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Insert correct commas in each sentence.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentences:

1. I wanted to go to the park but it started to rain.

2. She studied for the test so she got a high score.

Activity 1.2: Colon Usage Exercise

Insert colons where necessary in the following sentences:

1. We need the following ingredients eggs, flour, sugar, and milk.

2. I have a favorite hobby painting.

Bonus Challenge:

Write your sentence using a colon correctly!

_________________________________________________________________________

Activity 1.3: Semicolon Usage Exercise

Insert semicolons where necessary in the following sentences:

1. I have a big test tomorrow I need to study all night.

2. On our trip, we visited Paris, France Rome, Italy and Berlin, Germany.

Bonus Challenge:

Write your sentence using a semicolon correctly!

_________________________________________________________________________

Activity 1.4: Punctuation Quotation Marks Exercise

Insert the missing punctuation marks in the following sentences:

1. “Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house.” my mother said.

2. Before I entered the house, my father said, “Take off your dirty shoes ”

Bonus Challenge:

Write your sentence using quotation marks correctly!

_________________________________________________________________________

Activity 1.5: Comma Splices Exercise

Identify and correct the comma splices in the following sentences:

1. I went to the park, I forgot my jacket.

2. Sarah plays the piano beautifully, she practices every day.

Activity 1.6: Commas in a List Exercise

Circle the sentence that correctly uses commas in a list:

a) I bought apples bananas oranges and grapes.

b) I bought apples, bananas, oranges, and grapes.

c) I bought apples bananas, oranges, and grapes.

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“LET’S TAKE A LOOK!”

Encircle the letter of the incorrect capitalization.

1. We usually relax and enjoy a nice meal on sunday afternoons.

2. She want to visit the philippines one day.

Rewrite each sentence with the correct capitalization.

3. the dog ran fast in the park.

______________________________.

4. birds flew across the sky.

______________________________.

LET’S GET STARTED!

“What is a CAPITALIZATION?

Capitalization is the practice of using uppercase or capital letters in writing to indicate

the beginning of a sentence or to emphasize certain words or types of words within a sentence.

DEFINITIONS, USES, AND EXAMPLE

1. Capitalizing The First Letter of Sentence

The first letter of the first word is capitalized, and all other letters and words that follow
are in lowercase, except for proper nouns. This is just a basic rule to make sentences clear and
standard in written communication.

Examples:

"The children are playing outside in the park after school."

Capitalize the first letter: The "T" in "The" is capitalized because it’s the first word of
the sentence. Only the first word of the sentence is capitalized, as is typical in standard English
sentence structure.

In this example, no proper nouns are mentioned, so just the first word is capitalized.

Incorrect: "she loves reading books."

Correct: "She loves reading books."

In this case, "she" is the first word, so it needs to be capitalized as "She."

Incorrect: "it’s going to rain later."

Correct: "It’s going to rain later."

The first word, "it’s," needs to begin with a capital letter so it should be “It’s”. The first word of a
sentence is always capitalized, regardless of whether it's a pronoun, contraction, or full word.

2. Capitalizing Proper Noun

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 Proper nouns refer to a specific person, place, or thing and are always capitalized.

 Days, Month, and Holidays

Days, months, and holidays are always capitalized as these are proper nouns.

Examples:

 “She have a meeting on Monday.”

Monday capitalized because it's a day of the week (a proper noun).

 “My favorite holiday of the year is Christmas.”

“Christmas" is correctly capitalized because it is a proper noun referring to the specific holiday.

 The names and titles of people, entities, or groups

“President George Washington, played a crucial role in shaping the nation's

government.”

"President" is capitalized when referring to a specific officeholder (in this case, George
Washington), as it is a formal title. "George Washington" is the name of a specific person, so it
is always capitalized.

 Continents, regions, countries, states, provinces, counties, cities, and towns

“South America has many countries and different cultures.”

"South America" is capitalized because it is a proper noun, referring to a specific place, which in
this case is a continent.

 The names of schools, colleges, and universities

“The campus of Harvard University is known for its historic architecture.”

"Harvard University" capitalized as part of the proper noun. “Harvard" is the name of the
university. "University" is part of the official name of the institution.

 Street names

"Many tourists visit Fifth Avenue to see the iconic landmarks and stores."

"Fifth Avenue" is capitalized because it is a proper noun, referring to the specific name of a
famous street in New York City.

3. Random Capitalization

Certain words in construction documents, correspondence, and other documents are written
with seemingly-random capitalization of initial letters.

Example:

"We Played football on a Rainy Day."

Why is this incorrect?

Played" should not be capitalized in the middle of a sentence and should be in

lowercase. Similarly, "rainy" and "day" don't need to be capitalized because they are not proper
noun.

Common nouns like "day," "football," or "rainy" are not capitalized unless they appear at the
start of the sentence.

The correct version should be: “We played football on a rainy day".

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 "The Quick brown fox Jumps over the lazy Dog."

Why is this incorrect?

It has incorrect capitalization because it randomly capitalizes words that shouldn’t be

capitalized. “Quick", "Jumps", and “Dog” should not be capitalized since they are in the middle
of the sentence and are not proper nouns.

The correct version should be: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

4. Capitalization The Title and Acronyms

 Capitalizing Title

Major words are capitalized and most minor words are lowercase. Capitalizing titles
follows a convention in English to highlight important words and give them emphasis. Example:

Examples:

“The book The Lord of the Rings is a classic fantasy novel."

The words "The Lord of the Rings" are capitalized because they are the title of a specific work
(a book).

"Many consider The Great Gatsby to be a classic of American literature."

“The Great Gatsby" is capitalized because it is the title of a specific work, which follows the rules
for title capitalization.

 Capitalizing Acronyms

acronyms and initialisms are written in all capital letters to distinguish them from
ordinary words.

Example:

"She got a job offer from IBM after graduation."

“IBM” is capitalized because it is an acronym. It’s a standard convention for acronyms and
initialisms to be written this way to maintain clarity and recognition.

"The FBI is investigating the robbery."

“FBI” is capitalized because it is an acronym, which stands for Federal Bureau of Investigation.

5. Overcapitalizing in Descriptive Phrases

Having more capital than is needed to operate or develop. This might involve
capitalizing words that don’t necessarily need to be capitalized

Example:

"The Mysterious Journey through the Dark Forest was full of Danger and
Wonder."

Words like "Mysterious," "Danger," and "Wonder" don’t need to be capitalized, making the
phrase feel a bit forced or overly dramatic.

Avoiding overcapitalization, the sentence becomes easier to read and more in tune with
standard writing conventions.

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The correct way: "The mysterious journey through the dark forest was full of danger and
wonder."

"The Lion Roared Loudly in the Jungle."

In this sentence, "Lion," "Roared," and "Jungle" are unnecessarily capitalized. Only proper
nouns or the beginning of a sentence should typically be capitalized.

The corrected version would be: "The lion roared loudly in the jungle."

"The Teacher Gave Us an Important Lesson About History."

In this case, "Teacher," "Important," and "History" are overcapitalized.

The corrected version should be: “The teacher gave us an important lesson about history."

6. Capitalizing “I”

"I" is always capitalized to give it special emphasis and clarity. This is a rule of English
grammar, and it helps distinguish the individual speaking or writing from other parts of the
sentence.

Examples:

"I enjoy reading books in my free time."

In this sentence, "I" refers to the person speaking or writing.

“She told me that I should visit the museum tomorrow."

The word "I" is capitalized in this sentence because it is a pronoun referring to the speakers. So,
even though "I" is in the middle of the sentence, it still gets capitalized as a rule of English
grammar.

I ACHIEVE!

Instructions: Upon learning the topic, let us write and put your new knowledge to the
test, kindly answer the following questions below.

Activity 2.1: Capitalization in the First Letter of a Sentence

Instructions: Read the sentences below. Rewrite each sentence with the correct capitalization.

1. the cat slept under the table.

2. my friend likes to paint landscapes.

3. she always arrives early to school.

Activity 2.2: Capitalization of Proper Noun

Instructions: Encircle the letter of the incorrect capitalization of the proper noun.

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 1. We visit our grandmother in texas every summer.
2. My school organizes a parade on thanksgiving.
3. They went to france last year for vacation.

Activity 2.3: Correcting Random Capitalization

Instructions: Encircle the letter of the incorrect capitalization.

1. She Loves watching Movies at Night.

2. We Played Soccer in the Afternoon.
3. My Father enjoys Reading Newspapers every Morning.

Activity 2.4: Capitalization in Titles and Acronyms

Instructions: Encircle the letter of the incorrect capitalization.

1. We met dr. roberts at the hospital.

2. She is a member of the world health organization.
3. I received a letter from mr. thompson last week.

Activity 2.5: Overcapitalization in Descriptive Phrases

Instructions: Encircle the letter of the incorrect capitalization.

1. The Tall Building stood against the Skyline.

2. She bought a Bright Yellow dress for the Party.

3. The Quiet Forest was filled with Birds and Butterflies.

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Punctuation Answer Key :

Activity 1.1: Comma Usage Exercise

Exercise: Insert commas where necessary in the following sentences:

Corrected: I wanted to go to the park, but it started to rain.

Corrected: She studied for the test, so she got a high score.

Activity 1.2: Colon Usage Exercise

Exercise: Insert colons where necessary in the following sentences:

Corrected: We need the following ingredients: eggs, flour, sugar, and milk.

Corrected: I have a favorite hobby: painting.

Bonus Challenge:

The recipe requires three main ingredients: eggs, sugar, and flour.

Activity1.3: Semicolon Usage Exercise

Exercise: Insert semicolons where necessary in the following sentences:

Corrected: I have a big test tomorrow; I need to study all night.

Corrected: On our trip, we visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Berlin, Germany.

Bonus Challenge:

I was tired; however, I still finished my homework.

Activity 1.4: Punctuation Quotation Marks Exercise

Exercise: Insert the missing punctuation marks in the following sentences:

Corrected: “Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house,” my mother said.

Corrected: Before I entered the house, my father said, “Take off your dirty shoes.”

Bonus Challenge:

"I can't believe it's already 5 PM," she said, glancing at the clock.

Activity 1.5: Comma Splices Exercise

Incorrect: I went to the park, I forgot my jacket.

o Corrected: I went to the park, and I forgot my jacket. (or) I went to the park; I forgot my jacket.

Incorrect: Sarah plays the piano beautifully, she practices every day.

o Corrected: Sarah plays the piano beautifully, and she practices every day. (or) Sarah plays the
piano beautifully; she practices every day.

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Activity 1.6: Commas in a List Exercise

Exercise: Circle the sentence that correctly uses commas in a list:

Correct Answer: b) I bought apples, bananas, oranges, and grapes

Capitalization Correct Answer:

Activity 2.1: Capitalization in the First Letter of a Sentence

1. The cat slept under the table.

2. My friend likes to paint landscapes.

3. She always arrives early to school.

Activity 2.2: Capitalization of Proper Noun

1. We visit our grandmother in Texas every summer.

2. My school organizes a parade on Thanksgiving.

3. They went to France last year for vacation.

Activity 2.3: Correcting Random Capitalization

1. She loves watching movies at night.

2. We played soccer in the afternoon.

3. My father enjoys reading newspapers every morning.

Activity 2.4: Capitalization in Titles and Acronyms

1. We met dr. roberts at the hospital. → Dr. Roberts

2. She is a member of the world health organization. → World Health Organization

3. I received a letter from mr. thompson last week. → Mr. Thompson

Activity 2.5: Overcapitalization in Descriptive Phrases

1. The Tall Building stood against the Skyline. → tall building, skyline

2. She bought a Bright Yellow dress for the Party. → bright yellow, party

3. The Quiet Forest was filled with Birds and Butterflies. → quiet forest, birds, butterflies

15 | P u n c t u a t i o n a n d C a p i t a l i z a t i o n
What is punctuation?

Grammarly’s complete punctuation guide. (n.d.). https://www.grammarly.com/punctuation

Punctuation: everything you need to know. (2022, September 16). Punctuation: The Best Guide to Using Punctuation
Marks | Grammarly Blog. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/punctuation/

Comma

Grammarly. (2023, July 1). Rules for using commas, with examples | Grammarly. Rules for Using Commas, With
Examples | Grammarly. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/comma/m

Grammarly. (2023c, July 1). Rules for using commas, with examples | Grammarly. Rules for Using Commas, With
Examples | Grammarly. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/comma/

Direct address

Jackie. (2024, January 6). Punctuation marks names, rules, examples, and pictures. ESL Activities.
https://www.eslactivity.org/punctuation-marks/

Separating sentence

Comma rules. (n.d.). Style and Grammar | Academic Writing | Writing Resources | Brandeis University.
https://www.brandeis.edu/writing-program/resources/students/academic/style-grammar/comma-rules.html

Oxford comma

Malnik, J. (2024, December 11). Oxford comma: is it necessary? Writer. https://writer.com/blog/oxford-comma/

Colon

O’Reilly, A. (2023, April 25). When to use a Colon: Grammar Rules with examples | Grammarly. When to Use a
Colon: Grammar Rules With Examples | Grammarly.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/colon-2/

16 | P u n c t u a t i o n a n d C a p i t a l i z a t i o n
O’Reilly, A. (2023b, April 25). When to use a Colon: Grammar Rules with examples | Grammarly. When to Use a
Colon: Grammar Rules With Examples | Grammarly.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/colon-2/

Semicolon

Grammarly. (2024, December 5). When to use a semicolon, with examples | Grammarly. When to Use a Semicolon,
With Examples | Grammarly. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/semicolon/

Dictionary.com. (2022b, February 18). What are semicolons (and how do you use them? Thesaurus.com.
https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/semicolon/#:~:text=You%20can%20think%20of%20a,sentences%20like%20a
%20period%20does

Quotation

Direct speech and reported speech. (n.d.). STLCC. https://stlcc.edu/student-support/academic-success-and-

tutoring/writing-center/writing-resources/reported-speech-and-direct-speech.aspx

Quotation Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary. (n.d.).

https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/quotation#:~:text=1,of%20writing%20or%20a%20speech

Ellis, M. (2024, October 14). How to Use quotation Marks: Rules and Examples | Grammarly. How to Use Quotation
Marks: Rules and Examples | Grammarly. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/quotation-
marks/

Comma in list

Do I need to use a comma with list items? (n.d.). The Grammar Guide.
https://prowritingaid.com/grammar/1008085/Do-I-need-to-use-a-comma-with-list-items

Comma splices

Grammarly. (2023a, June 1). Comma Splice—Learn how to avoid it | Grammarly. Comma Splice—Learn How to
Avoid It | Grammarly. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/comma-splice/

Comma splices. (n.d.). Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

https://www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/punctuation/comma-splices.html#:~:text=Comma%20splices
%20occur%20when%20two

What is capitalization in grammar? (n.d.). https://www.scribbr.com/frequently-asked-questions/capitalization-grammar/

Grammarly. (2023, April 25). Capitalization: The days of the week and the months | Grammarly. Capitalization: The
Days of the Week and the Months | Grammarly.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/capitalization-the-days-of-the-week-the-months/
#:~:text=Capitalization%3A%20Days%20of%20the%20week%2C%20months%20of%20the%20year%2C,your
%20writing%20always%20looks%20great%3F

17 | P u n c t u a t i o n a n d C a p i t a l i z a t i o n
Random capitalization: a risk of misinterpretation. (2019, November 14). Higher Logic, LLC.
https://www.csiresources.org/blogs/kevin-obeirne-pe-fcsi-ccs-ccca-cdt1/2019/11/14/random-capitalization-a-risk-of-
misinterpretation#:~:text=Design%20professionals%20and%20specifiers%20often,random%20capitalization%20of
%20initial%20letters.

Overcapitalized. (2025). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/overcapitalized

Capitalization of proper and common nouns | AJE. (n.d.). https://www.aje.com/arc/editing-tip-capitalization-proper-

and-common-nouns/

Abbreviation: definition and examples. (2022, September 16). Abbreviation Rules | Grammarly.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/acronyms-abbreviations/abbreviations/#:~:text=Typically%2C%20acronyms%20and
%20initialisms%20are,as%20a%20series%20of%20letters.

Source:

Commas Quiz: Grammar Practice Test! Trivia. (2024). ProProfs. https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?

title=commas-quiz_1

Comma Practice Test Questions. (2018, October 18). Test Prep Review.
https://www.testprepreview.com/modules/commas.htm

https://www.oasisacademyjohnwilliams.org/uploaded/John_Williams/Curriculum/English/KS3_Punctuation.pdf

https://www.openschool.bc.ca/pdfs/wotr/Punctuation.pdf

https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/languageartsworksheets/free-grammar-worksheets/capitalization-worksheets/

Capitalization Worksheets | K5 Learning. (2020). K5 Learning. https://www.k5learning.com/free-grammar-

worksheets/capitalization

Englishlinx.com | Capitalization Worksheets. (2024). Englishlinx.com. https://englishlinx.com/capitalization

Capitalization Worksheets. (2025). Teach-Nology.com.

https://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/language_arts/capitial

Questionnaire References:

Benavides, C. (2022, December 22). Punctuation quiz. SCRIBD.

https://www.scribd.com/document/613792436/Punctuation-Quiz?
fbclid=IwY2xjawIQRiFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWHUB-tiCRvqUOmu-
r6OXx7r6ae9RMJwWVAXeJKn1GRxZ0gtF9TSKvpa1A_aem_etWxzD8Dr4btg0MPUs5FQw

18 | P u n c t u a t i o n a n d C a p i t a l i z a t i o n
Capitalization Quiz | Writing Center. (n.d.). PHSC. https://writing
center.phsc.edu/resources/test-yourself/capitalization-quiz

19 | P u n c t u a t i o n a n d C a p i t a l i z a t i o n