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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. A Capital Idea!  In titles capitalize the first, last, and all important words.  The Declaration of Independence  The Empire Strikes Back Unimportant Words : Articles (a, an, the) Conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet) Prepositions (by, for, on, with)

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. Punctuation The apostrophe is used: To create possessives To create possessives To show contractions To show contractions To create some plural forms To create some plural forms

10. Apostrophe – Possessives and Plurals Singular Nouns: Singular Nouns: Add an ‘ s to the end of the word Add an ‘ s to the end of the word A boy’s cap—A baby’s toy—Leon’s pencil A boy’s cap—A baby’s toy—Leon’s pencil If the noun ends in s you can just add the ‘ If the noun ends in s you can just add the ‘ Dr. Rogers’ cat—the Princess’ crown Dr. 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 the word children. To make this plural possessive we must add an ‘ s. It was the children’s favorite game.

11. Apostrophe - Contractions A contraction is a shortened form of a word, number, or word group. A contraction is a shortened form of a word, number, or word group. I amI’m I amI’m 1999’99 1999’99 We areWe’re We areWe’re of the clocko’clock of the clocko’clock Be sure not to confuse possessives with contractions Be sure not to confuse possessives with contractions PossessivesContractions PossessivesContractions Its nest is over there.It’s Friday. {It is} Whose is this backpack.Who’s your server. {Who is}

12. Colons A colon { : } comes at a point in the sentence where the sentence could come to a complete stop A colon { : } comes at a point in the sentence where 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) You will need these items for your test : pencil, ruler, calculator, and paper. You will need these items for your test : pencil, ruler, calculator, and paper. (The colon announces that a list is about to follow) The items needed for the test are pencil, ruler, calculator, and paper. The items needed for the test are pencil, ruler, calculator, and paper. (There is no colon because the sentence can’t stop before the list) Also, use a colon anytime you see the words the following or as follows. Also, use a colon anytime you see the words the following or as follows.

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

14. The English House of Commas Use a comma {, } to separate items in a series or group of three or more things. Use a comma {, } to separate items in a series or group of three or more things. My favorite uses of the Internet are sending emails, surfing the Web, and using chat rooms. My favorite uses of the Internet are sending emails, surfing the Web, and using chat rooms. Use a comma before conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, and so) Use a comma before conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, and so) The class was bored with the review, but looked forward to the game at the end. The class was bored with the review, but looked forward to the game at the end.

15. The English House of Commas Use a comma before introductory elements Use a comma before introductory elements Yes, you may borrow my bicycle. Yes, you may borrow my bicycle. When you go to the store, could you please buy some bananas? When you go to the store, could you please buy some bananas? Beginning the new school year, Zelda felt nervous. Beginning the new school year, Zelda felt nervous.

16. The English House of Commas Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that come before a noun. Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that come before a noun. A white dwarf is a tiny, dense star. A white dwarf is a tiny, dense star. If you can insert the words but or and between the adjectives it needs a comma.

17. The English House of Commas Use a comma or commas when the interruption or additional information in the sentence adds more specific details, but doesn’t affect the meaning when removed. Use a comma or commas when the interruption or additional information in the sentence adds more specific details, but doesn’t affect the meaning when removed. Tiger Woods, my hero, is the best golfer. Tiger Woods, my hero, is the best golfer. My sister, listening to her radio, did not hear me. My sister, listening to her radio, did not hear me. The people whistled and cheered. (Does not provide enough meaning) The people waiting for Michael Vick whistled and cheered.

18. The English House of Commas Use commas for the following: Separate dates Clarify address information Before and after a quote “Our wedding is on June, 23 in the college chapel,” Maurice shouted, “in Denver, Colorado.”

19. Quotation Marks Use quotation marks {“ “} to show a person’s exact words. Use quotation marks {“ “} to show a person’s exact words. “When the bell rings,” said Mrs. Camp, “leave the room quietly.” “When the bell rings,” said Mrs. Camp, “leave the room quietly.” Punctuating Quotation Marks: Punctuating Quotation Marks: Commas and periods should be placed inside the closing quotation marks. Commas and periods should be placed inside the closing quotation marks. “The Van Gogh exhibit begins over there,” said the museum guide. “The Van Gogh exhibit begins over there,” said the museum guide. Darnell replied, “I’m ready to see some great works of art.” Darnell replied, “I’m ready to see some great works of art.”

20. Quotation Marks Question marks and exclamation points should only be placed inside the quote, when the quote is a question or exclamation. Question marks and exclamation points should only be placed inside the quote, when the quote is a question or exclamation. “How far have we come?” asked the exhausted man. “How far have we come?” asked the exhausted man. {The quotation is a question} {The quotation is a question} Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death”? Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death”? {The sentence, not the quotation, is a question}

21. Punctuation Use quotation marks for the following: Use quotation marks for the following: Short Stories – “The Medicine Bag” Short Stories – “The Medicine Bag” Poems – “The Raven” Poems – “The Raven” Songs – “The Star-Spangled Banner” Songs – “The Star-Spangled Banner” Chapters in books – “The Myths of Greece” Chapters in books – “The Myths of Greece” Articles in magazines or newspapers – “Rooting for the Braves” Articles in magazines or newspapers – “Rooting for the Braves”

22. Punctuation Underline or italicize the following: Underline or italicize the following: Books – Huckleberry Finn Books – Huckleberry Finn Plays – Romeo and Juliet Plays – Romeo and Juliet Newspapers – The Atlanta Journal Constitution Newspapers – The Atlanta Journal Constitution Movies – Napoleon Dynamite Movies – Napoleon Dynamite Television Shows – The Simpsons Television Shows – The Simpsons Art – Mona Lisa Art – Mona Lisa

23. The Importance of Correct Punctuation Dear John, I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, and thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for 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 yours? Gloria Dear John, I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, and thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For 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? Yours,Gloria