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2.1 Using Capital letters, commas, full stops, linking words and transitions to organize your writing

Capital letters

We use capital letters: 

  • at the beginning of a sentence
  • with names
  • wit Mr/Mrs/ Miss/ Ms
  • with cities/countries/nationalities/states
  • with school subjects
  • wuth streets/roads/avenues
  • with the word I

Use of commas

When writing a description, don't forget to use a comma: 

  • after an introductory phrase or clause.

For example: According to Wilbur, good friends who write well are not easy to find.

  • before and after a parenthetical phrase or clause.

For example: Wilbur, E.B. White’s famous pig, laments that it is difficult to find a good friend who writes well.

  • to separate two independent clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor or, so, yet).

For example: Charlotte promised Wilbur she will save his life, and she ponders long and hard how to do so.

  • to separate items in a series.

For example: The Other animals in the farmyard, the rat, the geese, and the sheep, are amazed at Charlotte’s masterful plan to save Wilbur.

  • before a quotation when an introductory phrase with a word like say or reply precedes the quotation. (More on punctuation of quotes)

For example: Wilbur says, “It’s not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer” (White 184).

Full stops

Full stops are an important punctuation mark, without which language would become incomplete and difficult to comprehend.

Write a full stop: 

  • At the end of a sentence

The main use of full stop is to mark the end of a sentence that is a complete statement. It indicates a long pause before a new or fresh sentence begins. Full stops, primarily, mark the end of a thought. In the absence of full stops, each sentence will run into the next and the reader will have a tough time segregating two or more sentences. This would also create confusion for the reader or speaker. 

For example, My name is Carlos and I am a doctor. 

She went to the market. She bought many apples and bananas .

  • After initials

Full stops also appear after initials of a person, for example, U.S. (United States), U.K. (United Kingdom), W.B. Yeats (William Butler Yeats) and so on. 

  • After abbreviations

It is a common practice to use full stops or periods to mark abbreviations. For instance, ‘Prof.’ for professor, a.m. for ante meridian, p.m. for post meridian, etc. for et cetera and so on. Full stops can be used after the first letter of each abbreviated word, for instance, B.B.C. (British Broadcasting Corporation). It can also be used after a selected group of letters from a word, for instance, St. (street), Mr. (Mister).

  • At the end of commands

Full stops mark the end of a sentence that is a command, that is, that tells someone to do something. For instance, ‘Open the door.’ ‘Pick up the eraser from the floor.’

  • At the end of indirect questions

Full stops are used at the end of sentences that are indirect questions, for instance, ‘I wondered why she bunked the class.’ ‘He asked me why I missed the concert.’ In such cases, instead of a question mark, full stops are used.

  • In websites

Full stops or periods are also used in website addresses, for instance, ‘www.mbarendezvous.com’ and so on. Websites will not work if you do not put the full stop at the appropriate places in a website address.

Linking words

We use and to join similar ideas. Charlie likes reading and watching TV.
we use but to join two opposite ideas. We like listening to classical music, but we can't play an instrument.  
we use or to show that there is a choice or alternative  Do you want to eat cemitas or hamburgers?   
we use because to give a reason for something    I went to my hotel room early because I was tired.
We use so as a subordinating conjunction to introduce clauses of result  I got here late. It was a long journey, so I’m really tired now.

Transitions

Transitions are words that organize your writing and speaking, words like first, next, then, after that, and finally.  Using transitions improves your writing and speaking because it organizes your ideas into sections and gives them an order.

  • We often use transitions in English when we give instructions, describe a process, or tell stories.

For example: First, I break the eggs. Then, I heat the butter in a pan. Next, I add the eggs. Finally, I eat the omelette with toast.

  • We use a comma after "first", "next", "then" and "finally" when they introduce the sentence that describes the action.

For example: First, I will make a cup of tea.