Punctuation
Capitalisation:
A capital letter is needed here because this is the start of a new sentence. See: capitalisation
A capital letter is needed here because this is a proper noun (name of person, place, organisation etc.). See: Capitalisation
A capital letter is not needed here. See: capitalisation
Full stop:
A full stop is needed here because it is the end of the sentence.
Consider rewriting this sentence as two sentences. Go to: Run on sentences information sheet
A full stop is not needed here as this sentence is not complete. Go to: Fragment sentences information sheet.
Comma
A comma is needed here because you have a list of items. See: Comma information sheet
A comma is needed here because you have used a conjunction to join two ideas together in one sentence. See: Comma information sheet
Use commas here because the phrase has been interrupted. See: Comma information sheet
This sentence started with a transition word, and needs a comma. See: Comma information sheet
A comma is not needed here. See: Comma information sheet
There are many commas in this sentence and the sentence is now too long. Consider rewriting this sentence using two or more sentences to make the writing clearer.
You need another comma before the last item in a list. See: Comma information sheet
Avoid using round or square brackets in academic writing. Use commas to show the subclause instead.See: Comma information sheet
Avoid using dashes in academic writing. Use commas to show the subclause instead.
Semi colon
A semi colon is needed here because it replaces a conjunction in this sentence. See: Semi colon information sheet
A semi colon is not needed here. See: Semi colon information sheet
This semi colon is incorrectly used in this sentence. See: Semi colon information sheet
An apostrophe is needed here because you need to show ownership. Go to: Apostrophe information sheet
An apostrophe needs to go after the ‘s’ to show that there is more than one owner. See: Apostrophe information sheet
An apostrophe is not needed here because plurals do not need an apostrophe. See: Apostrophe information sheet
Contractions are generally not used in academic writing. See: Apostrophe information sheet
You have confused ‘it’s’ with ‘its’. See: Apostrophe information sheet
Exclamation mark (!)
Do not use an exclamation mark in academic writing, unless found in a direct quote you are using.
Question mark:
Do not use a rhetorical question in academic writing. Try turning the question into a statement. Go to: Don’t use that writing strategy information sheet
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