A Capital Idea! The Uses and Rules of Capital Letters.

A Capital Idea!The Uses and Rules of Capital

Letters

A Capital Idea! Capitalize the first word of

every sentence. Capitalize the personal

pronoun I. Capitalize the names of

historical events and religions. Many Jewish people died during the Holocaust.

A Capital Idea! Capitalize a word showing a

family relationship when the word is used before or in place of a person’s name. We expect Uncle Fred and Aunt Helen soon.

Both Mom and Dad work at the hospital.

A Capital Idea!

Do not capitalize a word showing a family relationship when a possessive comes before the word. We asked Pedro’s mother and his aunt Celia to be chaperones.

A Capital Idea! In titles capitalize the first,

last, and all important words. The Declaration of Independence

The Empire Strikes BackUnimportant Words:

Articles (a, an, the)Conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet)Prepositions (by, for, on, with)

A Capital Idea! Capitalize names of specific

people, places, and locations. My sister Sarah, who used to live in

South America, now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Don’t capitalize directions. They moved up north, to the eastern portion of Kentucky.

A Capital Idea! Capitalize names of days of the

week, months, and holidays. Thanksgiving is on the third Thursday

in November.

Don’t capitalize the names of

seasons.This fall I will start the eighth

grade and in the spring I will graduate.

A Capital Idea!

Capitalize the names of countries, nationalities, and languages. Sweden……………………Swedish England……………………English Spain…….Spaniards ……Spanish

Capitalize the title of a person when the title comes before a name. President Carter Principal Smith Dr. Rogers

PunctuationPunctuation

The apostrophe is used:The apostrophe is used: To create possessivesTo create possessives To show contractionsTo show contractions To create some plural formsTo create some plural forms

Apostrophe – Possessives and Apostrophe – Possessives and PluralsPlurals

Singular Nouns:Singular Nouns: Add an Add an ‘ s‘ s to the end of the word to the end of the word

A boy’s cap—A baby’s toy—Leon’s pencilA boy’s cap—A baby’s toy—Leon’s pencil If the noun ends in If the noun ends in ss you can just add the you can just add the ‘‘

Dr. Rogers’ cat—the Princess’ crownDr. Rogers’ cat—the Princess’ crown Plural Nouns:Plural Nouns:

First pluralize the noun First pluralize the noun Cat – cats, brush – brushes, girl – girls Cat – cats, brush – brushes, girl – girls

Then add the apostrophe Then add the apostrophe The cats’ hair was all over my new sweater.The cats’ hair was all over my new sweater.The girls’ dresses were all the same.The girls’ dresses were all the same.

To watch out for irregular plurals like To watch out for irregular plurals like the the word children. To make this plural word children. To make this plural possessive we must add an possessive we must add an ‘ s‘ s..It was the It was the children’schildren’s favorite game. favorite game.

Apostrophe - ContractionsApostrophe - Contractions A contraction is a shortened form of a word, A contraction is a shortened form of a word,

number, or word group.number, or word group. I amI am I’mI’m 19991999 ’99’99 We areWe are We’reWe’re of the clockof the clock o’clocko’clock

Be sure not to confuse possessives with Be sure not to confuse possessives with contractionscontractions PossessivesPossessives ContractionsContractions

Its nest is over there.Its nest is over there. It’s Friday. It’s Friday. {It {It is}is}Whose is this backpack.Whose is this backpack. Who’s your server. Who’s your server.

{Who is}{Who is}

ColonsColons A colon {A colon {::}} comes at a point in the sentence where comes at a point in the sentence where

the sentence could come to a complete stop the sentence could come to a complete stop You will need these items for your test.You will need these items for your test.

(What comes next? A list of items you need)(What comes next? A list of items you need) You will need these items for your testYou will need these items for your test:: pencil, ruler, pencil, ruler,

calculator, and paper.calculator, and paper.(The colon announces that a list is about to follow)(The colon announces that a list is about to follow)

The items needed for the test are pencil, ruler, calculator, The items needed for the test are pencil, ruler, calculator, and paper.and paper.(There is no colon because the sentence can’t stop before (There is no colon because the sentence can’t stop before the list)the list)

Also, use a colon anytime you see the words Also, use a colon anytime you see the words the the followingfollowing or or as followsas follows..

SemicolonsSemicolons

Use a semicolon {Use a semicolon {;;} between two } between two independent ideas that are related to independent ideas that are related to each other.each other.Uncle Ray likes sweet potatoes.Uncle Ray likes sweet potatoes.Aunt Janie prefers peas and carrots.Aunt Janie prefers peas and carrots.Uncle Ray likes sweet potatoesUncle Ray likes sweet potatoes;; Aunt Aunt

Janie prefers peas and carrots.Janie prefers peas and carrots.

Uncle Ray likes chicken; Uncle Ray likes chicken; Aunt Aunt Janie likes to Janie likes to rollerblade.rollerblade.

The English House of The English House of CommasCommas

Use a comma {Use a comma {,,} to separate items in a } to separate items in a series or group of three or more things.series or group of three or more things.My favorite uses of the Internet are sending My favorite uses of the Internet are sending

emailsemails,, surfing the Web surfing the Web,, and using chat and using chat rooms.rooms.

Use a comma before conjunctions (and, Use a comma before conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, and so)but, or, nor, for, yet, and so)The class was bored with the reviewThe class was bored with the review,, but but

looked forward to the game at the end.looked forward to the game at the end.


Use a comma before introductory Use a comma before introductory elementselementsYesYes,, you may borrow my bicycle. you may borrow my bicycle.When you go to the storeWhen you go to the store,, could you could you

please buy some bananas?please buy some bananas?Beginning the new school yearBeginning the new school year,, Zelda Zelda

felt nervous.felt nervous.


Use a comma to separate two or Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that come before a more adjectives that come before a noun.noun.A white dwarf is a tinyA white dwarf is a tiny,, dense star. dense star.

If you can insert the If you can insert the words words butbut or or andand between the between the adjectives it needs a comma.adjectives it needs a comma.


Use a comma or commas when the Use a comma or commas when the interruption or additional information in the interruption or additional information in the sentence adds more specific details, but sentence adds more specific details, but doesn’t affect the meaning when removed.doesn’t affect the meaning when removed. Tiger WoodsTiger Woods,, my hero my hero,, is the best golfer. is the best golfer. My sisterMy sister,, listening to her radio listening to her radio,, did not hear me. did not hear me.

The people whistled and cheered.The people whistled and cheered.(Does not provide enough (Does not provide enough

meaning)meaning)The peopleThe people waiting for Michael waiting for Michael

VickVick whistled and cheered.whistled and cheered.


Use commas for the following:Use commas for the following:Separate datesSeparate datesClarify address informationClarify address informationBefore and after a quoteBefore and after a quote

““Our wedding is on JuneOur wedding is on June,, 23 in the 23 in the college chapelcollege chapel,,” Maurice shouted” Maurice shouted,, “in “in DenverDenver,, Colorado.” Colorado.”

Quotation MarksQuotation Marks

Use quotation marks {Use quotation marks {“ ““ “} to show a } to show a person’s exact words.person’s exact words. ““When the bell rings,When the bell rings,”” said Mrs. Camp, said Mrs. Camp, ““leave leave

the room quietly.the room quietly.”” Punctuating Quotation Marks:Punctuating Quotation Marks:

Commas and periods should be placed inside Commas and periods should be placed inside the closing quotation marks.the closing quotation marks.““The Van Gogh exhibit begins over thereThe Van Gogh exhibit begins over there,,” ”

said the museum guide.said the museum guide.Darnell replied, “I’m ready to see some Darnell replied, “I’m ready to see some

great works of artgreat works of art..””

Quotation MarksQuotation Marks

Question marks and exclamation points Question marks and exclamation points should only be placed inside the quote, should only be placed inside the quote, when the quote is a question or when the quote is a question or exclamation.exclamation.

““How far have we comeHow far have we come??” asked the ” asked the exhausted man.exhausted man.

{The quotation is a question}{The quotation is a question}Who said, “Give me liberty or give me Who said, “Give me liberty or give me

death”death”??

{The sentence, not the quotation, is a {The sentence, not the quotation, is a question}question}


Use quotation marks for the Use quotation marks for the following:following:Short Stories – Short Stories – “The Medicine Bag”“The Medicine Bag”Poems – Poems – “The Raven”“The Raven”Songs – Songs – “The Star-Spangled Banner”“The Star-Spangled Banner”Chapters in books – Chapters in books – “The Myths of “The Myths of

Greece”Greece”Articles in magazines or newspapers – Articles in magazines or newspapers –

“Rooting for the Braves”“Rooting for the Braves”


Underline or Underline or italicizeitalicize the following: the following:Books – Books – Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry FinnPlays – Plays – Romeo and JulietRomeo and JulietNewspapers – Newspapers – The Atlanta Journal The Atlanta Journal

ConstitutionConstitutionMovies – Movies – Napoleon DynamiteNapoleon DynamiteTelevision Shows – Television Shows – The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsArt – Art – Mona LisaMona Lisa

The Importance of Correct The Importance of Correct PunctuationPunctuation

Dear John,Dear John,I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, and thoughtful. People who are not like you generous, kind, and thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be yours?yours?GloriaGloria

Dear John,Dear John,I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, and thoughtful people, who are not like you. generous, kind, and thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?Yours,Yours,GloriaGloria

A Capital Idea! The Uses and Rules of Capital Letters.

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