Punctuation Rules:
1.
2.
3.
4.
A statement is followed by a period
A questions is followed by a question mark
An explanation is followed by an exclamation point
A request or an order is followed by either a period or an exclamation
point
5. An abbreviation is followed by a period
Commas:
6. Use commas to separate items in a series
7. Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives immediately before a
noun
8. Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, and yet when they join
independent clauses in a compound sentence
9. Use commas to set off participial phrases and adjective clauses that are
not essential to the basic meaning of the sentence. Do not use commas
with such phrases or clauses if they are essential to the meaning.
10. Use a comma after certain introductory elements
Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase
Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases
Use a coma after an introductory adverb clause
11. Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the sentence.
Appositives and appositive phrases are usually set off by commas
Words used in a direct address are set off by commas
Words such as well, yes, no, and why are followed by a comma when
they begin a sentence or remark
12. Use commas to separate items in dates and addresses
13. Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter and after the
closing of any letter.
Semicolons:
14. Use a semi-colon between the parts of a compound sentence if they
are not joined by and, but, or, nor, for or yet.
15. A semi- colon (rather than a comma) may be needed to separate the
parts of a compound sentence if there are commas within the parts.
Colons:
16. Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions such as
“the” following “and” as follows.
17. Use a colon between the hour and the minute when you write the
time,
18. Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.
Capitalization Rules:
1. Capitalize the first word in every sentence
2. Capitalize the pronoun I
3. Capitalize proper nouns
a. Names of persons
b. Geographical names
c. Names of organizations and business firms, institutions, and
government bodies
d. Special events and calendar items
e. Historical events and periods
f. Names of nationalities, races, and religions
g. Brand names of business products
h. Names of ships and planets, monuments, awards, and any other
particular place, thing or event
4. Capitalize proper adjectives
5. Do not capitalize names of school subjects, except languages and
course names followed by a number
6. Capitalize titles:
a. Capitalize the title of a person when it comes before a name
b. Capitalize words showing family relationship when used with a
person’s name, but not when preceded by a possessive
c. Capitalize a title used alone or referring to a high official
d. Capitalize first and last words of titles of books
e. Capitalize words referring to a deity
Rules for Subject/Verb agreement:
1. When a word refers to one person or thing, it is singular in number.
When a word refers to more than one, it is plural in number.
2. A verb agrees with its subject in number.
3. The number of a subject is not changed by a phrase following the
subject.
4. The following pronouns are singular: each, either, neither, one,
everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone,
somebody
5. The following pronouns are plural: both, few, many, several.
6. The pronouns all, any, most, none and some may be either singular or
plural
7. Subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
8. Singular subjects joined by or nor take a singular verb.
9. When the singular subject and a plural subject are joined by ( or or
nor) the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
10.Collective nouns may be either singular or plural
11.When the subject follows the verb, as in sentences beginning with
“there or here,” be careful to determine the subject and make sure the
verb agrees with it.
12.Words stating amounts are usually singular
13.The title of a book, organization or country usually takes a singular
verb
14.Don’t and doesn’t must agree with their subjects
15.A few nouns, though plural in form, take a singular verb
16.A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number and gender