Punctuation
Correct use of apostrophes, commas, semicolons, colons, speech marks and other punctuation.
What is Punctuation?
Punctuation marks help the reader understand the structure and meaning of your writing. In the 11+ exam, you may be asked to add missing punctuation, correct errors, or punctuate a passage of dialogue.
Step-by-Step Method
Learn apostrophe rules
Contraction: it’s = it is. Possession: the dog’s bone (one dog), the dogs’ bones (multiple dogs).
Master comma usage
In lists (apples, bananas and oranges), after fronted adverbials (Quickly, she ran), to separate clauses.
Punctuate speech correctly
New speaker = new line. Punctuation goes INSIDE the speech marks. Use a comma before the closing speech mark if the sentence continues.
Know when to use colons and semicolons
Colon introduces a list or explanation. Semicolon links two related sentences.
Read aloud to check
If you pause naturally when reading, you probably need a comma or full stop there.
Worked Examples
Add apostrophes: “The girls shoes were muddy and Toms bag was torn.”
Working
- girls shoes – the shoes belong to the girl: girl’s shoes (one girl) or girls’ shoes (multiple girls).
- Toms bag – the bag belongs to Tom: Tom’s bag.
Punctuate: Come quickly shouted Mum The bus is leaving
Working
- Speech marks around the spoken words.
- Comma or exclamation mark before closing speech marks.
- New speaker = new line.
Add commas: “After the long tiring journey the family finally arrived at their destination.”
Working
- After fronted adverbial: “After the long, tiring journey,”
- Between adjectives: “long, tiring”.
Common Mistakes
Using apostrophes in plurals (e.g. “three apple’s” instead of “three apples”).
Apostrophes are for possession or contraction, NEVER for plurals.
Missing the comma after a fronted adverbial (e.g. “Carefully she opened the box”).
After a fronted adverbial (a word or phrase at the start that tells you how, when or where), use a comma: “Carefully, she opened the box.”
Putting punctuation outside speech marks.
Punctuation goes INSIDE the speech marks: “Hello,” she said. NOT “Hello”, she said.
Top Tips
- If you can replace the word with “it is”, use “it’s”. If you mean “belonging to it”, use “its”.
- For plural possession: “the dogs’ leads” (multiple dogs). For singular possession: “the dog’s lead” (one dog).
- Read your writing aloud. Natural pauses often indicate where commas should go.
- In dialogue, always start a new line when a different person speaks.
Ready to practise?
Put these techniques into action with our free practice papers.
Practise English Questions