ELS 1202 ENGLISH COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

PUNCTUATION MARKS

 A punctuation mark is a symbol such as a full stop or period, comma,

or question mark that you use to divide written words into
sentences and clauses.
 One of the main things that any editor or proofreader looks out for
while editing a piece of text is punctuation marks.

Importance of using punctuation marks correctly /

Why punctuation marks are important in Academic Writing?
We shall start by understanding why the correct use of punctuation
marks is important. Below are the reasons why using the correct
punctuation mark in the right place is so crucial. It is especially so in
the case of academic writing:
a) Right punctuation allows your readers the perceive the right
message of your text.
b) In academic writing, punctuation marks can help strengthen your
arguments and reasoning in the text form.
c) Missing punctuation marks or misused ones can completely alter the
meaning of the text or a sentence. In academic writing, an author
may be easily misunderstood when ambiguous sentences are used.
 E.g. Imagine texting your colleague ‘‘Let’s eat kids’’ without a
comma after ‘‘eat.’’ Here, you are implying that you eat kids,
not eat with the kids. The correct sentence here is ‘‘Let’s
eat, kids.’’ Thus, it is extremely important to look out for the
correct use of punctuation marks.
d) It helps emphasize pauses, thoughts, ideas, and even the tone and
emotion of the text.
e) Punctuation marks mainly serve the purpose to disambiguate
sentences. While literary or other types of writing will have a certain
degree of freedom for using punctuation marks, academic work needs
to be precise and correct.

Different Types of Punctuation Marks

 Now that we have understood the reason why punctuation is so
important, we shall now move on to discuss the different types
of punctuation marks out there. We will also provide you with
relevant examples so that you understand the differences. Let
us startwith;

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1) Periods (.)
 A period is one of the most commonly used punctuation marks
and is popularly known as a FULL STOP. As its name
suggests, it is mostly used at the end of a sentence to
denote that it has ended. It is placed after a declarative
sentence and a statement. It is also used after abbreviations.
For example:
End of a I worked from morning to evening.
sentence
After He is Dr. Jonathan of the Agribusiness
abbreviations dept.

2) Commas (,)
 The next most commonly known and used among the
punctuation marks is the comma. The comma denotes a small
pause or gap anywhere in the middle of a sentence to provide
more clarity. A comma can be used for various instances, like
grouping items, separating phrases, and so on. However,
misusing commas or overusing them can be a huge issue.
For example:
Incorrec 1. We will learn how to cut and paste children! ( horrific
t: meaning)
Correct 2. We will learn how to cut and paste, children!
Incorrec 1. I was ready to leave, but it started raining, so I called a
t: taxi, but it
was late, so I was late.
Correct 2. I was ready to leave when it started raining. So I called a
taxi, but
because it was late I was late too.
 There is no need for so many commas. Instead, you can break
down the sentence.

Other examples:
In lists: I need to buy coffee, blue band, and eggs from the
grocery store.
Direct He exclaimed, “Watch out!”

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speeches:
 There’s also a type of comma known as the ‘‘Oxford Comma.’’
This type of comma is mainly used when talking about three
items or more in a sentence. It is placed before the last
item that you listed. Without it, you may confuse your
audience.
For example:
 Incorrect: I love my parents, Mother Teresa and James Byaruhanga
Here, your audience might think that your parents are Mother Teresa
and James Byaruhanga.
 Correct: I love my parents, Mother Teresa, and James Byaruhanga.
Other examples:
 We need to choose between samples A, B, or C.
 The survey depended on the age, gender, and location of the
participants

3) Commas (,) vs. semicolons (;)

 One of the common punctuation errors in academic writing is
the use of commas and semi-colons. As mentioned above, a
comma separates items in a list but does not distinguish two
independent sentences from each other. For example:
 Thomas had never ridden on the back of a camel, he tried out of
curiosity.
 A semi-colon is the correct punctuation mark to use in place
of the comma as both clauses are independent, with the
second clause providing an explanation for the first. A
comma is only appropriate in this instance if conjunction follows
the comma. In which case, there would not be a need for a semi-
colon.
 Correct: Smith had never ridden on the back of a camel; he tried out
of curiosity.
OR
 Correct: Smith had never ridden on the back of a camel, so he tried
out of curiosity.
4) Exclamation marks (!)
 An exclamation mark is used at the end of a sentence that
either expresses surprise or exclamation and in a direct speech
that denotes that the speaker is either speaking loudly or
shouting.

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 It is also used when the author finds something amusing and is

usually written within brackets like this: (!)
Here are some examples:
Denoting surprise or Hi! How can I help you?
exclamation
Denoting a shout or The guard shouted, “Watch out!”
scream
Denoting amusement To think they would not recognize
me!
5) Question marks (?)
 The question mark is another punctuation mark that is used often,
and the meaning is well understood. It is used after a question is
asked in direct speech.
 E.g. When will you return home?

6) Colons (:) and semicolons (;)

 A colon is a mark used after a word to introduce an
explanation, example, or another phrase that explains the first
one.
Here are some examples:
a) There were three variants: green, blue, and red.
b) We did not go to the fair: we were already late.
 A semicolon serves the purpose between a period and a
comma. It is used as a pause which is a little stronger than a
comma but not as definitive as the period. It is used where two
clauses are related to one another and can be written in one
sentence.
For example:
 We experimented for three days; it was successful.
 A lot of times, people tend to confuse semicolons and colons with
each other. However, please pay attention to such mistakes.
For example:
 Incorrect: He bought the following food items; burger and coke.
 However, this sentence is wrong because the phrase ‘‘burger and
coke’’ is a dependent clause. Therefore, the correct sentence
would be:
 Correct: He bought the following food items: burger and coke.

7) Apostrophes (‘).

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 The use of apostrophes in English isn’t entirely logical, so it is no

wonder people get confused, especially with possessives and
possessive pronouns.
 The basic rule is to remember that the apostrophe signals
contraction or adoption (the dropping of letters). So ‘isn’t’ = ‘is
not’, ‘it’s’ = ‘it is’ (avoid such verbal contractions, incidentally, in
formal essays).
 In the case of possessives, in the sixteenth century you could still
write ‘The King his throne’, which becomes ‘The King’s throne’ –
so you can think of a possessive apostrophe + s as a contraction.
 The common mistake – is to write: ‘The dog bit it’s master’
(wrong) for ‘The dog bit its master’ (correct). The easiest way
to remember the rule is to think of the possessive ‘its’ as
paralleling ‘his’ or ‘their’ – taking no apostrophe.
 The greengrocer’s apostrophe (apple’s, melon’s) – apostrophe + s
for a plural – is only for those wanting a career in fruit.
 Conventions for possessives vary to some extent, but the following
are fairly common rules:
 Plurals use apostrophe + s : the elephant’s trunk Marx’s
thought Cass’s dog
 Except for multiple-syllable words ending in s: Descartes’
philosophy [but some systems would still write Descartes’s] ...
and plural nouns ending in s: poets’ metaphors.

8) Hyphens (-)
 Use hyphens with compound numbers from twenty-one to
ninety-nine and with fractions used as modifiers.
 Hyphens are used to form compound words and to join prefixes,
suffixes, and letters to words.
EXAMPLES:
 Forty-two applicants
 Two-thirds majority (Two-thirds is an adjective modifying
majority.)
 Three-fourths empty (Three-fourths is an adverb modifying
empty.)
 Two thirds of the voters (Two thirds is not being used as an
adjective here because thirds is a noun being modified by two.)
 Use hyphens in a compound adjective only when the adjective
comes before the word it modifies. However, some compound
adjectives are always hyphenated, such as well-balanced. Look up

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compound adjectives in the dictionary if you are unsure whether or

not to hyphenate them.
EXAMPLES:
 A well-liked author
 A world-renowned composer
 an author who is well liked
 a composer who is world renowned
 Use hyphens with the prefixes ex-, self-, and all-; with the suffix -
elect; and with all prefixes before a proper noun or proper
adjective.
EXAMPLES:

all-star non- senator-elect anti-Semitic

European

ex-mayor self-control pro-Ugandan all-star

Wrapping up: Are punctuation marks really important?

 Now that we know what punctuation marks are and why they are
important, you can understand why the academic field is so stern
about them.
 The wrong punctuation marks can completely alter the meaning of
your sentence or even convey the wrong message.
 Therefore, make sure to learn about punctuation marks and use them
appropriately.

CAPITALIZATION RULE
 Capitalization also referred to as use of UPPER CASE in computer
language
 When a word is capitalized, it usually signifies importance.
 Below is a list of instances and examples of when words need to
be capitalized.

WHEN TO CAPITALIZE?
1) The First Word of a Sentence: The first Letter/ character/word of a
sentence should always be capitalized.
Examples:
 It is easy to take care of turtles.
 The house on the corner is for sale.

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2) Proper Nouns: Proper nouns, which include the names of people

and places, should always be capitalized.
Examples:
 I always find time to email Joshua.
Joshua is the name of a person.
 Last holiday we went to Bushenyi for three weeks
Bushenyi is the name of a palce

3) Given Titles as Part of Proper Names: Capitalize the title when

it directly refers to the individual. In most instances, you do not
capitalize the title if it is used after the name as a description.
Examples
 I enjoy listening to Professor Benon’s lectures.
 “Professor” is capitalized because it is a part of Benon’s title.
 Professor, when is the paper due?
 “Professor” is capitalized because the professor is being
addressed directly.
 Sarah, a professor at our faculty, gives interesting lectures.
 “Professor” is not capitalized because it describes Sarah and is
written after her name.
4) Titles: Capitalize the first and last words in a title. Also capitalize
nouns and verbs within a title. Prepositions and articles are not
capitalized unless they are the first or last word of the title.
Examples:
 To Kill a Mockingbird
 “To” is the first word of the title. “Kill” is capitalized because it
is a verb. The word “a” is not capitalized because it is an article.
“Mockingbird” is capitalized because it is a noun.
 The Catcher in the Rye
 “The” is the first word of the title, so it is capitalized.
“Catcher” is capitalized because it is a noun. The word “in” is
not capitalized because it is a preposition. The word “the” is not
capitalized because it is an article. “Rye” is capitalized because
it is a noun.

WHEN NOT TO CAPITALIZE?

1) Names of Seasons: Do not capitalize the names of seasons (winter,
spring, summer, or fall).
Examples: (winter, summer, semester…. Are seasons)

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 My favorite season is winter.

 In Kabale, it is too hot in the summer.
 I am enrolled in year one for the 2023/2024 semester two.
2) Directions: Do not capitalize the names of directions (north, east,
south, or west). An exception to this rule is if the direction is
pertaining to a specific place.
Examples:
 Kabale is southwest of Uganda
 Here, “southwest” is used to tell the direction of “Kabale”
and is not capitalized.
 Gulu is in the North.
 Here, “North” is the name of a specific place.
3) The First Word in a List of Common Nouns after a Colon: Do not
capitalize the first word after a colon when introducing a list of
common nouns.
 Joseph plays three instruments: the piano, the drums, and the
guitar.
 In this sentence, “the piano” is a common noun and is the
first word of the list after the colon.

ACTIVITY/QUIZ - I
Place the correct punctuation at the end of each sentence, question, or
quotation.

1. Sierra left her job at the firm last week

2. What time is it in Kigali

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3. “You should take her on a date”

4. The house is on fire
5. When did you read “Success is Counted Sweetest”
6. Jeffrey wondered when his girlfriend would come home
7. “I want you to work the desk on Friday” said Dr. Rajab
8. How was your day
9. Edward asked, “Do you want ice cream”
10. I hope you return to the Writing Center
11. After dropping the Josephine, Jack wondered what his mother would say
12. “Can you cover my shift on Tuesday” Stephanie questioned
13. Vanessa just started reading “The Tell-Tale Heart”

Answer Key for Activity I

1. week.
2. Moscow?
3. date.”
4. fire!
5. Sweetest”?
6. home.
7. Friday,” said Dr. Rajab.
8. day?
9. cream?”
10. Center!
11. say.
12. Tuesday?” / questioned.
13. Heart.”

Activity 2
Directions: Capitalize words as necessary in the following sentences.
1. my mother is a beautiful singer.
2. my friend courtney goes to school in campbell.
3. the meeting with mayor wilson was a success.
4. wilson, the mayor of our city, gave an inspirational speech.
5. trevor always looks forward to summer when he will have time to
practice with his band.
6. we drove west for two hours before reaching the ski lodge.
7. my grandparents live in the south on canyon lake.
8. after karate practice, steve had three things to do: stretch, take a shower,
and go to bed.

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Answer Key for Activity 2

1. My mother is a beautiful singer.
2. My friend Courtney goes to school in Campbell.
3. The meeting with Mayor Wilson was a success.
4. Wilson, the mayor of our city, gave an inspirational speech.
5. Trevor always looks forward to summer when he will have time to
practice with his band.
6. We drove west for two hours before reaching the ski lodge.
7. My grandparents live in the South on Canyon Lake.
8. After karate practice, Steve had three things to do: stretch, take a
shower, and go to bed.

Activity 3
Directions: In the following titles, capitalize words as needed.
1. my name is memory
2. a company of swans
3. gone with the wind
4. the night thoreau spent in jail

Answer Key for Activity 3

1. My Name Is Memory
2. A Company of Swans
3. Gone with the Wind
4. The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail
Punctuation Exercise

Directions: Punctuate the following sentences appropriately (most

are purposely fused sentences). Some sentences may be punctuated
in several ways; however, try to use a variety of punctuation marks.

1. Summer unlike fall is a much more relaxed time at Fisk.

2. The parking lots are not as full students can find spaces that are closer
to their classes.

3. The Rec Center which is usually very busy in the evenings is like a
ghost town.

4. One of the bad points about summer school is the length of classes the
semester is short the classes are long.

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5. In summer classes students usually do not get much of a break work

must be done almost every day in order to stay on track.

6. Reading assignments taking tests and writing papers these activities

seem to pile up one on top of the other.

7. However summer classes have good aspects as well they allow

students to get to know their instructors even better.

8. Small class size long class periods and daily class meetings can create
a productive congenial environment that may help students earn
better grades than they do in fall and spring semesters.

Directions: Write sentences using the following types of

punctuation.

1. a colon to relate two independent clauses

2. a dash to show a break in thought or to emphasize a parenthetical

element

3. a semicolon to separate elements that themselves contain commas

4. a comma so set off a nonrestrictive clause or phrase

END

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