GED Language Arts: Capitalization and Punctuation Concepts
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Overview
This chapter covers capital letters and punctuation in GED editing questions: capitalizing proper nouns and titles, using apostrophes to show ownership, placing commas in lists and around extra information, and choosing the right end marks, colons, and semicolons.
Capitalize the names of specific people, places, companies, schools, days, months, and languages, along with titles used as part of a name, such as Ms. Rivera. Do not capitalize general words like manager, office, or store, seasons like fall, or school subjects like biology unless they are languages, such as Spanish.
To show that one owner has something, add an apostrophe and s (the customer's order). For a plural that already ends in s, add only an apostrophe (the students' coats). For a plural that does not end in s, add an apostrophe and s (the children's party). Its, the possessive of it, never takes an apostrophe.
Use commas to separate three or more items in a list, after an introductory clause, and around extra information such as an appositive (Mr. Lopez, our new safety director, will lead) or a which clause (commas on both sides when it is in the middle of the sentence). A colon can introduce a list after a complete sentence. A semicolon joins two complete sentences, often before however. Questions end with a question mark.
Key concepts
Proper nouns
Names of specific people, places, organizations, days, months, and languages. They are capitalized; general nouns are not.
Memory tipAsk: is this the name of one particular thing? If yes, capitalize it.
Possessive apostrophes
Singular owner: add 's (customer's). Plural owner ending in s: add ' only (students'). Plural not ending in s: add 's (children's).
Memory tipFirst decide whether there is one owner or many, then place the apostrophe.
Commas in a series
Commas separate three or more items in a list: a notebook, two pens, and a calculator.
Memory tipIn a list, never put a comma right after the word and, or between a verb and its first item.
Nonessential information
Words that add extra information and can be removed without breaking the sentence, such as an appositive or a which clause. They are set off with commas: one on each side in the middle of a sentence, or one comma before them at the end.
Memory tipIf you open with a comma, you usually need a closing comma too.
Introductory clause comma
A comma usually follows an opening clause that begins with words like if, when, or because: If you have questions, please call.
Memory tipPlace the comma where the opening clause ends and the main sentence begins.
Colons and semicolons
A colon can introduce a list after a complete sentence. A semicolon joins two complete sentences that are closely related.
Memory tipCheck that what comes before a colon, or on both sides of a semicolon, is a complete sentence.
Often tested
- Capitalize days, months, languages, and specific names; not seasons or general job titles.
- One owner: 's. Plural owners ending in s: ' only.
- Children's, men's, and women's take 's because the plural does not end in s.
- Extra information in the middle of a sentence needs commas on both sides.
- A direct question ends with a question mark.
Easy to confuse: Apostrophes for ownership
| Owner | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One customer | add 's | the customer's order |
| Many students | add ' only | the students' coats |
| Many children | add 's | the children's party |
| It | no apostrophe | its usual spot |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Which sentence from a company newsletter uses capital letters correctly?
- ① Our new Office in Denver opens on the first Monday in June.
- ② Our new office in Denver opens on the first monday in june.
- ③ Our new office in denver opens on the first Monday in June.
- ④ Our new office in Denver opens on the first Monday in June.
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Answer: ④ Our new office in Denver opens on the first Monday in June.
Key point: Capitalize specific names, days, and months
"Denver" is the name of a city, and "Monday" and "June" are names of a day and a month, so they are capitalized. "Office" is a common noun here and stays lowercase.
Wrong choices
- "Our new Office in Denver opens on the first Monday in June.": "Office" is a general word here, not part of a name.
- "Our new office in Denver opens on the first monday in june.": Days of the week and months are always capitalized.
- "Our new office in denver opens on the first Monday in June.": "Denver" is a city name and must be capitalized.
Question 2. Which choice correctly fills in the blank in this sentence from an email to a client? We received the ______ order on Tuesday.
- ① customer's
- ② customers
- ③ customers's
- ④ customer
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Answer: ① customer's
Key point: Singular possessive: add 's
The order belongs to one customer. To show that one person owns something, add an apostrophe and s: "customer's."
Wrong choices
- "customers": "Customers" is a plural with no apostrophe and does not show ownership.
- "customers's": "Customers's" is not a correct form.
- "customer": "Customer" without 's does not show ownership.
Question 3. Which sentence from a supply list uses commas correctly?
- ① Please bring, a notebook, two pens, and a calculator.
- ② Please bring a notebook two pens and a calculator.
- ③ Please bring a notebook, two pens, and a calculator.
- ④ Please bring a notebook, two pens, and, a calculator.
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Answer: ③ Please bring a notebook, two pens, and a calculator.
Key point: Commas in a series
In a list of three or more items, commas separate the items. "A notebook, two pens, and a calculator" is correct.
Wrong choices
- "Please bring, a notebook, two pens, and a calculator.": No comma belongs between "bring" and its first item.
- "Please bring a notebook two pens and a calculator.": Without commas, the items run together.
- "Please bring a notebook, two pens, and, a calculator.": No comma belongs after "and" in a list.
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