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With the dawn of the Internet, the birth of Internet slang, and the growing use of SMS, many of us are starting to forget the fundamental aspects of English punctuation. Would you like to write a great paper for one of your classes or submit a polished, impeccably written proposal to your boss? If so, proper punctuation is a must. Consider this article a crash course in English punctuation, and see Step 1 below to get started.

Part 1
Part 1 of 8:
Using Proper Capitalization

  1. 1
    Always start a sentence with a capital letter. Unless you're an avant-garde poet or you're starting a sentence with a brand name like "wikiHow" or "iPod," you will need to capitalize the first letter of every sentence.
    • Here is an example of proper capitalization at the beginning of a sentence:

      She invited her friend over after school.

  2. 2
    Use capital letters to start proper nouns and titles. In addition to starting sentences, capital letters should also occur at the start of proper nouns and titles. Proper nouns are the names of specific people, places, and things. Titles, which are a type of proper noun, are the names of works of art (books, movies, plays, etc.), institutions, geographical areas, and much more. Titles can also be honorifics (Her Majesty, Mr. President, etc.).[1]
    • Titles and proper nouns consisting of more than one word should have every word capitalized, except for small words and articles like "the," "an," "and," etc. The first word of a title should always be capitalized (with the above "brand name" exception).[2]
    • Here are a few examples of capital letters being used for proper nouns and titles:

      Genghis Khan quickly became the most powerful man in Asia, if not the world.

      In her opinion, Queen Roberta's favorite museum in the world is the Smithsonian, which she visited during her trip to Washington, D.C., last year.

  3. 3
    Use capital letters for acronyms. An acronym is a word (or a "coined" word) formed from the first letter of every word in a long proper noun or title. Acronyms are frequently used to shorten long proper nouns that would be awkward to reprint in their entirety every time they are mentioned. Sometimes the letters of an acronym are separated by periods.
    • Here is an example of acronyms made from capital letters:

      The CIA and the NSA are just two of the USA's many intelligence agencies.

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Part 2
Part 2 of 8:
Using End-of-Sentence Punctuation Marks

  1. 1
    Use a period (full stop) to end declarative sentences and statements. Also after initials, as in Alfred D. Smith. Every sentence contains at least one punctuation mark -- the one at its end. The most common of these sentence-ending punctuation marks is the period (".", also called a "full stop"). This simple dot is used to mark the end of a sentence that is declarative. Most sentences are declarative. Any sentence that states a fact or describes or explains an idea is declarative.


  2. 2
    Use a question mark to end questions. The question mark ( "?" ) used at the end of a sentence denotes an interrogative sentence -- basically, a question. Use this punctuation mark at the end of any question, query, or inquiry.

      What has humanity done about the growing concern regarding global warming?

  3. 3
    Use an exclamation point to end exclamatory sentences. The exclamation point ("!", also called an "exclamation mark" or "shout mark") suggests excitement or strong emphasis. The exclamation point is used to end exclamations -- short expressions of intense emotion that are often only one word long.

      I can't believe how difficult the exam was!

      Eek! You scared me!

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Part 3
Part 3 of 8:
Using Commas

  1. 1
    Use a comma to indicate a break or pause within a sentence. The comma (",") is a very versatile punctuation mark. There are dozens of situations that might require the use of a comma. One frequent case is the appositive -- a break within a sentence that supplements and adds information to the subject.[3]
    • Here is an example of commas being used to create a break in a sentence:


  2. 2
    Use a comma when listing three or more items in a series. A common use of commas is to separate items that are being listed in a sequence. Usually commas are written between each of the items and between the second-to-last item and a subsequent conjunction.[4]
    • However, many writers omit the comma before the conjunction (called a serial comma or "Oxford comma"),[5] as conjunctions like "and" will signal the end of the list even without the final comma.
    • Here are two examples of commas used in listed series -- one with an Oxford Comma and one without.

      The fruit basket contained apples, bananas, and oranges.


  3. 3
    Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives describing a noun. Sometimes consecutive adjectives are used to describe a single subject with multiple qualities. This use of commas is similar to using them to separate items in a series, with one exception: it is incorrect to place a comma after the final adjective.
    • Here are examples of correct and incorrect comma usage when it comes to separating adjectives:

      CORRECT: The powerful, resonating sound caught our attention.

      INCORRECT: The powerful, resonating, sound caught our attention.

  4. 4
    Use a comma to separate a larger geographical area from a smaller one located within it. Specific geographical places or areas are usually named by starting with the smallest location's name and then proceeding to the larger area. For instance, you might refer to a specific city by naming the city itself, followed by the state or province it is in, followed by the surrounding country. Each geographic name (except the last) is followed by a comma. Note that a comma is used after the last (largest) geographical area if the sentence continues.[6]
    • Here are two examples of correct comma usage when it comes to naming geographical areas:

      I am originally from Hola, Tana River County, Kenya.

      Los Angeles, California, is one of the largest cities in the United States.

  5. 5
    Use a comma to separate an introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence. An introductory phrase (which is usually one or more prepositional phrases) briefly introduces the sentence and provides context but is not part of the sentence's subject or predicate. Therefore, it should be separated from the main clause by a comma.
    • Here are two examples of sentences with introductory phrases separated from the rest of the sentence by commas:

      After the show, John and I went out to dinner.


  6. 6
    Use a comma to separate two independent clauses. Having two independent clauses in a sentence simply means that you could split the sentence into two shorter sentences while preserving the original meaning. If your sentence contains two independent clauses that are separated by a conjunction (such as and, as, but, for, nor, so, or yet), place a comma before the conjunction. [7]
    • Here are two examples of sentences containing independent clauses:



  7. 7
    Use a comma when making a direct address. When calling one's attention by saying his/her name at the start of a sentence, separate the person's name from the rest of the sentence with a comma. Note that this comma is somewhat rare in writing, because this is something normally done while speaking. It's more common for a writer to employ other methods to indicate who is speaking to whom.[8]
    • Here is an example of a direct address:

      Amber, could you come here for a moment?

  8. 8
    Use a comma to separate a direct quotation from the sentence introducing it. A comma should occur after the word immediately preceding a quotation that is being introduced with context or a description. On the other hand, it is not necessary to use a comma before an indirect quote (where you are paraphrasing someone's words without quoting them exactly). Additionally, a comma is usually not necessary if you are not quoting an entire statement, but only a few words from it.[9]
    • Here is an example of a direct quotation that requires a comma:


    • Here is an example of an indirect quotation that does not require a comma:


    • Here is an example of a partial direct quotation, which, due to its brevity and its use within the sentence, does not require a comma:


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Part 4
Part 4 of 8:
Using Colons and Semicolons

  1. 1
    • Here's an example of a semicolon being used correctly:


  2. 2
    • Here's an example of semicolons being used correctly in a list whose meaning might otherwise be ambiguous:


  3. 3
    Use a colon to introduce a list. Be careful, however, not to use a colon when stating an idea that requires naming a series of items. The two are similar, but distinct. Often the sentence-ending words "the following" or "as follows" will call for the use of a colon when they are followed by new, explanatory information.[12]
    • Here's an example of a colon being used correctly in this fashion:




      In this case you would simply omit the colon.
  4. 4
    Use a colon to introduce a new concept or example.[13] Colons can also be used after a descriptive phrase or explanation to imply that the next piece of information will be the thing being described or explained. It can help to think of this as introducing a list containing only one item.
    • Here's an example of a colon being used properly in this way:

      There's only one person old enough to remember that wedding: grandma.

  5. 5
    • Here's an example of colons being used in this way to subdivide lengthy titles:


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Part 5
Part 5 of 8:
Using Hyphens and Dashes

  1. 1
    Use a . The purpose of this hyphen is to make the word easier to read. For instance, if you were to leave the hyphen out of the word re-examine, it would be reexamine, where the double "e" could be confusing.[15] Many words do not require a hyphen to separate the prefix from the word, such as restate, pretest, and undo. Let a dictionary be your guide for when to use the hyphen after a prefix.
    • Here's an example of good hyphen usage:

      Cara is his ex-girlfriend.

  2. 2
    Use hyphens when creating compound words from several smaller words. If you've ever written about anything that's gold-plated, radar-equipped, or one-size-fits-all, you've used a hyphen in this way. To build a long, descriptive word out of two or more component words, use hyphens to separate the "pieces" from each other.[16]
    • Here's an example of a hyphen used to build a compound word:


  3. 3
    Use a hyphen when writing numbers out as words. Separate the two words of any number under one hundred with a hyphen. Be careful with spelling out numbers above one hundred — if the number is used as an adjective, it is completely hyphenated, since all compound adjectives are hyphenated. (This is the one-hundredth episode). Otherwise, a hyphen should occur only if a number lower than 100 is embedded within a larger number, e.g., He lived to be one hundred twenty-one.
    • Don't use "and" when writing numbers, as in "The amount is one hundred and eighty." This is a common error in the US and Canada, where the "and" is usually omitted. Elsewhere in the English-speaking world, however, the "and" can be included.

      There are fifty-two playing cards in a deck.

      The packaging advertised one thousand two hundred twenty-four firecrackers, but it contained only one thousand.

  4. 4
    Use a dash when making a brief interruption within a statement. The dash ("--" or "—") is slightly longer than the hyphen and is used to convey a sudden change of thought, an additional comment, or a dramatic qualification within a sentence. It can also be used to add a parenthetical statement for further clarification, but this should still be relevant to the sentence.[17] Otherwise, use parentheses. Keep in mind that the rest of the sentence should still flow naturally as if the dashed material were not there.
    • To judge whether a dash is appropriate, try to remove the words between the dashes. If the sentence appears disjointed or does not make sense, you may need to revise it instead of using the dashes.
    • There should be spaces before and after a dash in British English.
    • Here are two examples of proper dash usage:

      An introductory clause is a brief phrase that comes — yes, you guessed it — at the beginning of a sentence.

      This is the end of our sentence — or so we thought.

  5. 5
    Use a hyphen to split a word between two lines. Though this use is not as common today, the hyphen ("-") was once a common punctuation mark on typewriters, used when a long word had to be split between two lines.[18] This system is still seen in some books, but the justification capacity of computer word processing programs has made this rarer.
    • Here's an example of a hyphen being used to split a word that's cut into two pieces by a line break:

      No matter what he tried, he just couldn't get the novel's elec-
      trifying surprise ending out of his head

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Part 6
Part 6 of 8:
Using Apostrophes

  1. 1
    Use the apostrophe together with the letter s to indicate possession. The apostrophe (" ' ") has a variety of uses for conveying the concept of possession. Be aware of the difference in using an apostrophe with singular or plural nouns. A singular noun will use the apostrophe before the "s" ('s), whereas the plural version of that noun will use the apostrophe after the "s" (s').[19] This use comes with several stipulations discussed below.
    • Be mindful of nouns that are always considered to be plural, such as children and people. Here you should use 's even though the nouns are plural.
    • Also be aware of pronouns that are already possessive and do not require apostrophes, such as hers and its. (It's means it is or it has). Their is possessive without apostrophe or s, except as a predicate adjective, where it becomes theirs.
    • Here is an example of an apostrophe used to show possession with a singular noun:

      The hamster's water tube needs to be refilled.

    • Here is an example of an apostrophe used for showing possession with a plural noun:


    • Here is an example of an apostrophe used for showing possession with a plural noun that doesn't end with "s":

      These children's test scores are the highest in the nation.

  2. 2
    Use the apostrophe to combine two words to make a contraction. Contractions are shortened combinations of two words. For example, cannot becomes can't, "it is" becomes "it's", you are becomes you're, and "they have" becomes they've. In every contraction, the apostrophe replaces the letters that are omitted from one or both words.[20]
    • Be sure to use the possessive pronoun your and the contraction you're appropriately. It is a common mistake to interchange them.
    • Here is an example of apostrophes used for a contraction of it is and a singular noun with possession, while correctly being omitted for possessive pronouns (hers, theirs, its):

      Friends of hers explained that it's her idea, not theirs, to refill the hamster's water tube and change its bedding.

  3. 3
    Use a single quotation mark within a regular quotation to indicate a quotation within a quotation. Single quotation marks, which look almost identical to apostrophes, are used to separate quotations from other quotations which surround them. Use these carefully: always make sure every quotation mark used to start a quote is paired with a corresponding one at the end of the quote.[21]
    • Here is an example of a quote-within-a-quote:


  4. 4
    Don't use an apostrophe with an s to make a singular noun into a plural noun. This is a very common mistake. Remember that apostrophes are not used to show the simple pluralization of a noun.
    • Here are examples of correct and incorrect apostrophe usage:

      CORRECT - apple → apples

      INCORRECT - apple → apple's

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Part 7
Part 7 of 8:
Using Slashes

  1. 1
    Use the slash to separate and from or, when appropriate. Slashes ( " / " ) in phrases like and/or suggest that the options described are not mutually exclusive.
    • Here is an example of good "and/or" usage:


  2. 2
    Use the slash when quoting lyrics and poetry to denote a line break. Slashes are especially useful when it is impractical to recreate the original formatting of a poem or song. When using slashes in this way, be sure to include spaces before and after the slashes.[22]
    • Here is an example of slashes used to mark line breaks in a song:


  3. 3
    Also use the slash to replace the word and when joining two nouns. By replacing and with a slash, you suggest that there is equal importance in both options listed. Use these replacements in moderation to place greater emphasis where and may not do so, as well as to avoid confusing the reader. You can also do the same for or, as in his/her.[23] However, you should not use the slash to separate independent clauses.
    • Here are examples of how to use and how not to use a slash in this way:



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Part 8
Part 8 of 8:
Using Miscellaneous Punctuation Marks

  1. 1
    Use the double quotation mark ( " ) to enclose a direct quotation derived from either a spoken or written source. Generally speaking, quotation marks are used to denote that the information is a quote. In other words, whether you're recreating someone's verbal speech or simply re-writing something that they wrote elsewhere, you'll use quotation marks.[24]
    • Below are two examples of quotation mark usage:



  2. 2
    Use parentheses to clarify. Parentheses are often used to explain something that can't be deduced from the rest of the sentence.[25] When using parentheses ( " ( ) " ), be sure to include the sentence's period after the closing parenthesis, except in the case that an entire sentence is within parentheses. Note that sometimes parentheses and commas can be used interchangeably.
    • Here is an example of parentheses used for clarification:


  3. 3
    Use parentheses to denote an afterthought. Parentheses can also be used to contain information that is supplementary to the sentence they are part of. In this case, the line between using parentheses and starting a new sentence instead can be somewhat murky. A good general rule is to use parentheses for short additions and quips, not complex ideas.
    • Here is an example of parentheses used for an afterthought. Note that the period (full stop) follows the last parenthesis — not before the first. Also note that replacing the parentheses with a comma may not be entirely suitable here, while a period or a semicolon may work:


  4. 4
    Use parentheses for personal comments. One additional usage of parentheses is to contain the writer's direct comments to the reader. Usually, the comments contained in parentheses refer to the preceding sentence. As above, the shorter and simpler the better. If you have to expound at great length or reference several disparate pieces of your writing, it's usually best to start a new sentence.
    • Here is an example of parentheses used for a personal comment:

      Most grammarians believe that parentheses and commas are always interchangeable (I disagree).

  5. 5
    Use brackets to signify an editor's note in a regular piece of writing. You can also use brackets ( " [ ] " ) to clarify or to revise a direct quote. Brackets are often used to encompass the word "sic" (Latin for thus), indicating that the previous word or phrase was presented "as is," retaining an error in the original version.[26]
    • Here is an example of brackets used for clarity in a direct quote. (Note that the original quote was, "It was absolutely devastating!")

      "'[The blast] was absolutely devastating!' said Susan Smith, a local bystander at the scene of the incident.

  6. 6
    Use braces to denote a numeric set in mathematics. Less commonly, braces ( " { } " ) can also be used in regular writing to indicate a set of equal, independent choices.
    • Here are two examples of brace usage. Note that the second is exceedingly rare:

      The set of numbers in this problem is: { 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 }


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Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    I have so many problem with articles (The , A / An). How can I master them?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Keep practicing. Read a lot of English text and pay attention to how they are used. A/An are very easy to distinguish - they're the same thing, the 'n' is just added if the article comes before a word that starts with a vowel sound (eagle, angry, honest, Indian, etc.). For explanation and examples of the different uses of A/An and The, check out
  • Question
    How do I use [sic] properly?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can use it immediately after an error in a quotation (commonly a misspelling). This is something most people are relatively unlikely to ever need to use; it's mainly used by journalists or authors when they quote writing that contains an error and want to make clear that the error was present in the original source, not made by the current writer/publication. For example: A statement released by the Trump campaign said, "We need too [sic] make America great again."
  • Question
    What about this sign: ~ ?
    Top Answerer
    Known as a "tilde," the ~ symbol is often used in a mathematical context to indicate approximation or proportionality.
  • Question
    How do I interpret the meaning of "Have had a look. Will do. Will send a detailed reply to Fred"?
    Top Answerer
    It means, "I looked at it. I will do as you have suggested. I will respond to Fred in detail."
  • Question
    How can I punctuate last names to show ownership?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you want to show ownership for one person, you would add an " 's" at the end of the name (e.g., John Doe's house). If you'd like to show ownership for more than one person, you'd add an "s' " (e.g., the Does' house).
  • Question
    Is it proper to say "The cookbook on the shelf has many good vegetarian recipes in them"?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, the "them" at the end of your sentence refers to the cookbook, a single object. So "them" should become "it."
  • Question
    How do I punctuate the title of a book in a sentence?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    In a title, capitalize the first word and all other main words. Do not capitalize prepositions.
  • Question
    Is this correct: "I, John Smith, received a call today from the store."?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. Always use commas to separate phrases that are extra information. In other words, if the sentence still makes sense without the phrase, commas should be used to separate it from the rest of the sentence, just as you have done.
  • Question
    How would I punctuate "There was a huge traffic jam on the motorway it stretched for miles it took us three hours to airport this left us feeling exhausted"?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    "There was a huge traffic jam on the motorway. It stretched for miles. It took us three hours to get to the airport. This left us feeling exhausted." or "There was a huge traffic jam on the motorway; it stretched for miles. It took us three hours to get to the airport. This left us feeling exhausted." A better way to write it: There was a miles-long traffic jam on the motorway. It took us three hours to get to the airport and left us feeling exhausted.
  • Question
    Which punctuation is correct at the end of an exclamatory question?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    A question mark followed by an exclamation point.
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      • Try to distinguish between the punctuation rules of different languages in order to avoid using punctuation incorrectly.
      • Keep in mind that punctuation should be used to enhance writing and create a more "intelligent" appearance. The whole point of punctuation is to increase clarity.
      • While using English punctuation appropriately may help your writing to flow more smoothly, don't overdo it. It's better to err by omission than to include superfluous, even confusing apostrophes, commas and other marks.
      • Do not use punctuation just because it seems more intellectual.

      About This Article

      wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 182 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 4,036,041 times.
      106 votes - 82%
      Co-authors: 182
      Updated: January 21, 2021
      Views: 4,036,041
      Article SummaryX

      To use English punctuation correctly, remember to always capitalize the first letter of a sentence, as well as the names of specific people, places, and things. Also, make sure you end a sentence with a period unless the sentence is a question, in which case you should end it with a question mark. If there's a break or pause in a sentence, insert a comma. You'll also want to put a comma in between items in a list if there are more than 3. If there's a quote or dialogue in a sentence, put a quotation mark at the beginning and end of the sentence. To learn how to use other punctuation, such as colons, semicolons, or hyphens, keep reading the article!

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