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Punctuation Rules

Welcome to the Punctuation Rules at A-Z Worksheets where you can also learn the correct spelling of words and so much more. Scroll down real fast to see how much we have on our pages. Throughout our site we also recommend elementary education and homeschool software!

A-Z Worksheets aims to make basic skills like the correct spelling of words and the math facts easy to learn. Many of our downloadable practice worksheets are several pages long, meaning that the worksheets icon may have 3 printable worksheets and others may have a dozen. Choose even 3rd grade worksheets from our free printable English parts of speech worksheets, correct grammar definitions, and the principles of sentence structure. For each elementary education subject we offer our suggestions for teaching the topic of the web page and then our suggestions for teaching the subject in general. Our worksheets are below that. Our goal is to offer all that you need to teach the topic in one-stop convenience for you. Search for the topic you seek using our search bars. We also include related worksheets on many of our web pages so that you do not have so much searching to do. Graphics of worksheets are at the bottom of most of our pages.

Punctuation Rules and Punctuation Worksheets

Punctuation is the method of dividing text into sentences and parts of sentences by means of points and marks: comma ( , ); semicolon ( ; ); colon ( : ); period ( . ); question mark ( ? ); exclamation mark ( ! ); dash ( - ); parentheses ( ); brackets [ ] or { } and of late smiley faces :-), winking faces ;-) and not so happy faces, :-/

Marks of Punctuation

Comma - A comma is the mark of punctuation ( , ) that denotes the smallest degree of separation between parts of a sentence and frequently indicates that a list or a parenthend follows. Three or more nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, or adverbs should be separated by commas. The members of a compound sentence, when long and connected by conjunctions, should be separated by commas. A direct quotation should be set off with a comma. When reading, leave a short breath’s space at a comma to aid diction and reading comprehension.

Semicolon - A semicolon is the mark of punctuation ( ; ) that denotes the next degree of separation between parts of a sentence before introducing an example, between clauses of compound sentences joined by conjunctions, between the clauses of compound sentences when there is no conjunction or if the clauses are long. When reading, leave a more full breath’s space at a semicolon to aid diction and reading comprehension. When writing original sentences and when you have already used a comma and you come upon a list that you hadn't planned to use or add more punctuation than you had expected at the time of writing the comma simply return to that same comma and add the dot. Typing will require a strike and replacement. Strike the comma, and replace with the semicolon. – Barbara Beers, The Phonics Road

Colon - A colon is the mark of punctuation ( : ) that denotes a longer degree of separation, equal to that of a period, between parts of a sentence before an example, a list, a lengthy quotation, or after the introduction to a speech. The colon is also used between numerical combinations as with Bible chapter and verse; Gen. 3:15 or volume and page number; The Tribune 23:12. When reading, leave two breath’s space to aid diction and reading comprehension.

Dash - A dash is a straight, horizontal line placed where a sentence breaks off suddenly, where there is a change in meaning or construction, or where marks of parenthesis would be.

Parentheses - The marks of parenthesis are the marks of punctuation ( ) that set off unrelated words, phrases, or clauses that do not change the meaning of the sentence when omitted. Use marks of parenthesis in pairs.

Brackets - Brackets are marks of punctuation, either [ ] or { }, that include words, phrases, or clauses that describe what precedes them or corrects an error.

Period - The period is the mark of punctuation ( . ) that denotes the end of a declarative or imperative sentence and has the longest degree of separation and is used for a declarative and an imperative sentence. A period is used after every abbreviated word. When reading, leave two breath’s space at the end of a sentence to aid diction and reading comprehension.

Question Mark - The question mark is the mark of punctuation (?) that denotes the end of an interrogative sentence, which denotes that a question has been asked, and has the same degree of separation as a period. When reading, leave two breath’s space at the end of a sentence to aid diction and reading comprehension, and raise the pitch of the voice when reading out loud. Question Mark Worksheets

Exclamation Mark - The exclamation mark (exclamation point) is the mark of punctuation (!) that denotes the end of an exclamatory sentence, which shows emotion, and has the same degree of separation as a period. Interjections generally use the exclamation point (same thing as the exclamation mark), too. When reading, leave two breath’s space at the end of a sentence to aid diction and reading comprehension. When reading out loud, vary the voice's pitch to reflect the emotion indicated. Exclamation Mark Worksheets

Interjections - An interjection is a word, or phrase, that implies a sudden or strong feeling or emotion that is not a sentence, yet it is punctuated with exclamation marks.

Quotation Marks - The quotation mark is the mark of punctuation used in pairs “ ” that shows a verbatim passage from another speaker. When reading through quotation marks it can make better reading comprehension, or better listening comprehension, to pause at the first and closing quotation marks. When reading a quote out loud it is fine to add in the announcement "quote" or "open quote…. end quote", especially when there is a longer quote between quotation marks, which makes it more obvious that there is a change in speakers. This is not usually written in text, but only spoken when read.

Contractions – A contraction shows that one or more letters are missing from one or more words by using an apostrophe in their place. Usually the difference between an abbreviation and a contraction is that an abbreviation is only one word that is shortened and that a contraction has more than one word compressed or shortened.

Abbreviations - An abbreviation is a shortened word or title where an apostrophe shows missing letters. Again, usually, the difference between an abbreviation and a contraction is that an abbreviation is only one word that is shortened and that a contraction has more than one word compressed or shortened.

Apostrophe – An apostrophe is a comma suspended near the top of letters that is used show that one or more letters are missing in an abbreviation or to show possession.

Hyphen – A hyphen is a short dash used to join compound words, to divide syllables as in music or the end of a line when the rest of the word is carried to the next line.

See our Punctuation Rules Reference List and Punctuation Worksheets below.

Diagramming sentences is easier when you can tell the difference between a simple sentence, compound sentences and complex sentences. Compound-complex sentences are easier to recognize, too. Get familiar with the conjunction list to more easily recognize these sentence forms. What is a coordinating conjunction, a correlative conjunction, or a subordinate conjunction?

When diagramming sentences; quotation marks can stay with the words, phrases, or clauses being diagrammed. When diagramming clauses with quotations, follow the diagramming format.

Question marks frequently indicate an inverted sentence construction. Diagramming a question is easier if you rearrange the question in the normal subject-verb-object order (S-V-O).

"Did he go there?" (V-S-O)

"He did go there." (S-V-O)

The second sentence is easier to recognize the normal sentence diagram form. Another help with diagramming sentences is to learn the punctuation rules because they frequently define phrases and clauses. Good sentence construction is also easier when you understand the capitalization rules since capitalized words frequently show the subjects and objects in a sentence, even capitalized adjectives mean that a noun or pronoun follows. There are examples on our punctuation worksheets.

The normal rules of English grammar only capitalize words that are used as nouns or are used in noun phrases and noun clauses, as with book titles. Only the first letter is capitalized except for the use of emphasis. Today's computer related words frequently capitalize another letter, but that is usually some form of a compound of two words where the interior capitalization emphasizes the second or third words. We do not speak of imaginary words, commercial words, or catalog numbers in this study.

Beyond Punctuation Rules

Teaching grammar can be quite simple; it is basically a name game with grammar definitions and such as punctuation rules. Writing itself is the best way to learn to write! Good reading is the best way to learn the punctuation rules. Seeing the punctuation rules well used is the best model. You can use creative writing prompts to encourage original writing. Grammarly has a feature that suggests similar words that can improve anyone’s writing success, prompting the writer with more specific or descriptive words.

Our Sentence Construction worksheets are designed to teach sentence structure quickly. Choose them according to subject, linking verb, predicate, action verb, adjective, adverb, preposition and conjunction. Most of our free printable worksheets make teaching the punctuation rules easier since they have the definitions at the top of the page with practice learning the concept below and can be used as free teacher worksheets or even free homeschooling worksheets.

Quickly read our short and free Grammar Definitions Ebook as an overview of the grammar lessons taught on this website. Our worksheets compliment these definitions. It is easy to read which means that in two hours you or your students can have a good understanding of the names we use in English grammar even if you are learning English as a second language (ESL). We also offer the same free Grammar Definitions Ebook repeated in alphabetical order for easy reference which makes it a double-glossary in one booklet that you can print or read from an ereader. This makes it easy to find the details of such as the punctuation rules.

After that, choose the worksheets that describe the English parts of speech that you want to study. See the second column of our English grammar lessons web pages to see a column of proper grammar definitions listed in a learning order. This means that if you quickly take a few pages from each, you will have a good understanding of the rules of English grammar. For a deeper understanding of the grammar definitions use more worksheets from the same subject of interest. If you want to check your work you can use Grammarly.

When a student sees sentence construction as simple sentences expanding to become compound sentences and complex sentences, English grammar lessons begin to make logical sense. English grammar lessons are simply exercises in learning the use of a word in a sentence and being able to name and define that use. Words like “personal” as with personal pronouns, and “relative” with relative pronouns still have the same meanings as in other uses. Subject Verb Agreement is similar. Agreement means agreement!

Say it! Write it! Repeat it!

You can offer as many A-Z Worksheets List of Conjuncctions as needed till your students understand their English grammar lessons, but don’t tarry too long since there is so much that cross-teaches the same rules of English grammar throughout the years. Also, reading good literature can give a good foundation in correct grammar over time since it models the way that we use our words well.

Teaching grammar can be quite simple; it is basically a name game. From our Pre-K-Worksheets to any of our free teacher worksheets all throughout; keep your students writing! Grammarly has text enhancements to suggest better words to use which can improve anyone’s writing success!

Grammar and writing can be taught quickly and we’ve seen this quick sort of success in many students, especially those at the fourth grade level or higher! To wit, remember that the Harvey Grammar of old was ONE little 120 page book! A tiny book! The principles are simple even if the book and testing companies change the names – head noun? Determiners?

English Parts Of Speech And Sentence Structure
Free Teacher Worksheets!

We also recommend that you use these products for English grammar lessons. Phonics Road by Barbara Beers has a DVD set to train the teacher or parent to teach writing, composition and grammar. We love how it teaches correct grammar and sentence construction together! The Writing Road To Reading has excellent technical information for teaching spelling, writing and reading lessons and has an excellent scope and sequence in the appendix. It has a section for teaching sentence construction that is scripted so you get an idea of what to say to your students. Sound Beginnings by Julia Fogassy is a condensed version of Spalding phonics that we have found most helpful in that it cuts out the academic fluff. Andrew Pudewa’s Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) has professional creative writing ideas and some free online writing courses.

We would also like to recommend the Reading Pen for older students as it voices the word it scans and has a giant spelling dictionary of 600,000 vocabulary words which would enhance any reading comprehension activities especially in the sciences where one understands how to say a word better when he hears it spoken. The definition of vocabulary words is right there with the correct spelling of words and the English parts of speech as well. The best reading comprehension activities teach more vocabulary words! You can buy the Reading Pen by Wizcom here.

Free List of Punctuation Rules And Worksheets

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