Punctuation
Use end marks, commas, apostrophes and quotation marks correctly.
Punctuation marks are road signs for readers. You already end sentences with full stops; this lesson covers the marks learners most often misuse: end marks, commas, apostrophes and quotation marks.
Punctuation is the set of marks that separate, join and clarify parts of written language so that the reader follows the intended meaning.
Examples
- Are you coming to the wedding?
- Please bring chairs, plates, glasses and napkins.
- Mr Menon, our neighbour, is a retired pilot.
- The children's park has new swings.
- "I'll be there by six," said Tanya.
- It's raining, so the cat is licking its paws indoors.
How it works
End marks
A statement or polite request ends with a full stop, a direct question with a question mark, and a strong feeling with an exclamation mark. A reported question ends with a full stop.
She asked where I lived.
Commas
Use commas between items in a list, after an introductory phrase or clause, and around extra information that could be lifted out. Do not join two complete sentences with only a comma.
When the alarm rang, the workers rushed out.
Apostrophes
Add 's to a singular noun and to a plural not ending in s; add only an apostrophe to a plural ending in s. Apostrophes also mark missing letters, as in don't, but possessive pronouns such as its, yours, theirs never take one.
The doctors' room is on the first floor.
Quotation marks
Put the exact spoken words inside quotation marks and begin them with a capital letter. A comma, question mark or full stop that belongs to the speech goes inside the closing mark.
Mohit asked, "Is the library open?"
Quick reference
| Noun | Possessive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| boy (singular) | boy's | the boy's cap |
| boys (plural ending in s) | boys' | the boys' bicycles |
| woman (singular) | woman's | a woman's voice |
| women (plural without s) | women's | the women's team |
| James (name ending in s) | James's or James' | James's phone |
| it (pronoun) | its (no apostrophe) | the bird and its nest |
Common mistakes
✕Its time to leave.
✓It's time to leave.
It's is short for it is.
✕I missed the bus, I took an auto.
✓I missed the bus, so I took an auto.
A comma alone cannot join two complete sentences.
✕The mango's are ripe.
✓The mangoes are ripe.
A simple plural never needs an apostrophe.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Tap the word that needs an apostrophe.
This is Rahuls bat.
✓Rahuls
The bat belongs to Rahul, so it should be Rahul's.
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