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Capitalization and Punctuation

Use commas, apostrophes, semicolons, colons and capital letters correctly in workplace and community documents.

Practice this skill 25 min Capitalization and punctuation Leer en español
Key idea

What you'll learn

This lesson covers capitalization and punctuation — the marks and capital letters that tell a reader where ideas begin, end, pause and connect. You will learn:

  1. Commas — in a series, after introductory elements, around nonessential information, and in compound sentences (plus where commas do not go).
  2. Apostrophes — possessives and contractions, and why plurals never take one.
  3. Semicolons — joining two complete, related sentences.
  4. Colons — introducing a list or explanation after a complete sentence.
  5. Capitalization — proper nouns, titles, places, holidays, and directions vs. regions.

How it appears on the GED. Punctuation and capitalization items appear in the language part of the RLA test. Most are drop-down menus inside an edited workplace or community document: you pick the version of a word or phrase with the correct marks (for example, plans, but vs. plans but vs. plans; but,). Others quote a sentence from a passage and ask which revision is correct. Because options often differ by a single mark, slow down and read each choice character by character.

Words to know

Key terms

  • independent clause — a group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone (The store opens at nine).
  • dependent clause — has a subject and verb but cannot stand alone (when the store opens).
  • coordinating conjunction — for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
  • compound sentence — two independent clauses joined (The bus was late, so I walked).
  • introductory element — a word, phrase or clause before the main clause (However, … / After lunch, … / If you need help, …).
  • nonessential (nonrestrictive) element — extra information that can be removed without changing the meaning; set off by commas (My boss, who is from Ohio, is kind).
  • essential (restrictive) element — information needed to identify which one; no commas (Workers who finish early may leave).
  • appositive — a noun phrase that renames a noun (Ms. Lee, the director, spoke).
  • possessive — shows ownership (the nurse's badge).
  • contraction — words shortened with an apostrophe (don't = do not).
  • proper noun — the name of a specific person, place or thing; capitalized (Lake Street, Labor Day).
  • comma splice — two independent clauses joined by only a comma (an error).

All RLA words in the glossary

1. Commas: the four main jobs

Job 1 — Items in a series. Separate three or more items: Bring a pen, a notebook, and your ID. Each item gets a comma after it except the last. (The comma before and — the serial comma — is standard in most formal writing; GED items will not make you choose based on that comma alone.)

Job 2 — After an introductory element. Put a comma after a word, phrase or clause that comes before the main clause:

  • However, the meeting was moved.
  • After the lunch break, please return to Room 4.
  • If the alarm sounds, leave by the nearest exit.

The comma goes at the end of the whole introductory part, not in the middle.

Job 3 — Around nonessential information. If you can remove the words and the sentence still identifies the same thing, set them off with two commas (or one, if they end the sentence):

  • Dr. Patel, who joined us in May, will see walk-in patients. (We already know who Dr. Patel is.)
  • Our office manager, Teresa Lin, approved the change. (appositive)

If the words are essential — they tell which one — use no commas: Patients who arrive late may need to reschedule. (Only those patients.)

Two-panel comparison of the removal test. Left, nonessential: 'Dr. Patel, who joined us in May, will see walk-in patients.' Removing the clause gives 'Dr. Patel will see walk-in patients' with the same person and meaning, so keep the pair of commas; appositives such as 'Our office manager, Teresa Lin,' work the same way. Right, essential: 'Patients who arrive late may need to reschedule.' Removing the clause gives 'Patients may need to reschedule', which now means all patients; the words tell which ones, so they get no commas. The removal test for commas Delete the words in question. Does the sentence still mean the same thing? Nonessential: use commas Dr. Patel, who joined us in May, will see walk-in patients. remove it Dr. Patel will see walk-in patients. Same person, same meaning. Keep the pair of commas. Also: appositives such as Our office manager, Teresa Lin, Essential: no commas Patients who arrive late may need to reschedule. remove it Patients may need to reschedule. Now it means ALL patients. The words tell which ones, so they get no commas.

Job 4 — Compound sentences. When FANBOYS joins two independent clauses, put a comma before the conjunction: The store closes at nine, but the pharmacy stays open until ten. No comma if the second part is not a full clause: The store closes at nine but reopens at six.

Two sentence diagrams. First: 'The store closes at nine, but the pharmacy stays open until ten.' Each side of 'but' has a subject and verb, so the sentence joins two independent clauses and takes a comma before 'but'. Second: 'The store closes at nine but reopens at six.' The part after 'but' is a verb only with no subject, so there is no comma. FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Never put the comma after the conjunction. Comma + FANBOYS only between two complete clauses Two independent clauses The store closes at nine , but the pharmacy stays open until ten. subject + verb subject + verb comma before One clause + a verb phrase The store closes at nine but reopens at six. subject + verb verb only, no subject no comma FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so Never put the comma after the conjunction.

2. Where commas do NOT go

Many GED distractors add commas that do not belong. Learn these "no comma" rules:

Don't put a comma…WrongRight
between a subject and its verbThe new schedule, starts Monday.The new schedule starts Monday.
between a verb and its objectPlease bring, your ID.Please bring your ID.
after a coordinating conjunctionI called, but, no one answered.I called, but no one answered.
around essential clausesDrivers, who speed, will be fined.Drivers who speed will be fined.
between two non-equal adjectivesa large, metal deska large metal desk
alone between two complete sentencesThe lot is full, park on Elm. (comma splice)The lot is full; park on Elm.

Coordinate adjectives test. Put a comma between two adjectives only if you could put and between them or reverse them: a long, tiring shift (long and tiring ✓) but a small spiral notebook (small and spiral ✗).

Dates and addresses. In mid-sentence, a full date or a city-state pair is followed by a comma: On June 12, 2027, the library opens. She moved to Dayton, Ohio, last year. No comma between month and day.

3. Apostrophes

Apostrophes have exactly two jobs: possession and contraction. They never make a word plural.

Possessives:

OwnerRuleExample
one owneradd 'sthe driver's license
one owner ending in sadd 's (most styles)the bus's door
plural owner ending in sadd ' onlythe drivers' lounge
plural not ending in sadd 'sthe children's room, women's team

Step method: (1) write the owner in the correct number — singular or plural; (2) then add the apostrophe. Five drivers → drivers → drivers'.

Flowchart for possessive apostrophes. Is something owned? If no, use no apostrophe: two new computers (plural, nothing owned). If yes, step 1: write the owner in the right number. One owner: add apostrophe s (the driver's license, the bus's door). Plural ending in s: add an apostrophe only (the drivers' lounge, five nurses' lockers). Plural not ending in s: add apostrophe s (the children's room, the women's team). Note: possessive pronouns never take an apostrophe: its, theirs, whose. Possessive apostrophes: number first, then the mark Is something owned? the ___ license / lounge / room No Yes Step 1: write the owner in the right number (one owner or more than one) One owner add 's the driver's license the bus's door Plural ending in s add ' only the drivers' lounge five nurses' lockers Plural not ending in s add 's the children's room the women's team No apostrophe two new computers (nothing owned) Possessive pronouns never take an apostrophe: its, theirs, whose

Contractions: the apostrophe replaces missing letters: don't (do not), we're (we are), it's (it is / it has).

Possessive pronouns never use apostrophes: its, yours, hers, ours, theirs, whose. So The company changed its hours — not it's.

Plurals never use apostrophes: Two new computers arrived — not computer's. Test: ask "the computer's what?" If nothing is owned, drop the apostrophe.

4. Semicolons, colons and capitalization

Semicolon (;) — joins two independent clauses that are closely related, with no FANBOYS conjunction: The lot is full; please park on Elm Street. It is often used before a transition word followed by a comma: The lot is full; however, Elm Street has spaces. Test: each side must be a complete sentence. (A rarer use: separating list items that already contain commas — Dayton, Ohio; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Troy, New York.)

Colon (:) — comes after a complete sentence to introduce a list, an explanation or an example: Bring three items: a pen, a notebook, and your ID. Do not use a colon right after a verb or a preposition: not The items are: … or Bring: …. Also used in times (7:30) and business-letter greetings (Dear Ms. Chen:).

Decision flowchart. Is the part before the mark a complete sentence? No: use no colon or semicolon, as in 'The kit includes bandages, gauze, and tape', because includes needs its object. Yes: what comes after the mark? A list or explanation takes a colon: 'The kit includes three items: bandages, gauze, and tape.' A complete, related sentence takes a semicolon: 'The kit is in the cabinet; the key is on the hook.' Never write 'Our hours are: 9 to 5.' A comma alone between two sentences is a comma splice. Colon, semicolon or neither? Is the part BEFORE the mark a complete sentence? No No colon or semicolon The kit includes bandages, gauze, and tape. (includes needs its object) Yes What comes AFTER the mark? A list or explanation Colon : The kit includes three items: bandages, gauze, and tape. A complete, related sentence: Semicolon ; The kit is in the cabinet; the key is on the hook. Never: Our hours are: 9 to 5. A comma alone between two sentences = comma splice.

Capitalization rules:

  • First word of a sentence and the pronoun I.
  • Proper nouns: names of people, specific places, organizations, brands, days, months and holidays (Ninth Avenue, Red Cross, Tuesday, Labor Day). Generic words stay lowercase (an avenue, a holiday, the hospital).
  • Titles before a name (Mayor Park, Dr. Ruiz); lowercase when used alone (the mayor said).
  • Regions (the Midwest, the South) vs. directions (drive south).
  • Seasons are lowercase (this summer) unless part of a name (Summer Day Camp).
  • Main words in titles of works (The Grapes of Wrath).
Chart: capitalize a specific name, use lowercase for a general word. Street: Ninth Avenue vs. an avenue. Holiday: Labor Day vs. a holiday. Title: Mayor Park spoke vs. the mayor said. Region vs. direction: the Midwest vs. drive south. Season: Summer Day Camp vs. this summer. Organization: Red Cross vs. the hospital. Day: Tuesday vs. a weekday. Capitalize it only if it is a name Capital: a specific name Lowercase: general word Ninth Avenue an avenue street Labor Day a holiday holiday Mayor Park spoke the mayor said title the Midwest drive south region / direction Summer Day Camp this summer season Red Cross the hospital organization Tuesday a weekday day
Worked example

Worked example 1 — compound sentence or not?

Email: Our team finished the inventory on Monday ___ the final report will be ready Wednesday.

Question: Choose: Monday and / Monday, and / Monday; and / Monday, and,

Think-aloud:

  1. "Is there a complete sentence on each side? Our team finished the inventory on Monday — yes. The final report will be ready Wednesday — yes."
  2. "Two independent clauses joined by and (a FANBOYS word) need a comma before the conjunction."
  3. "No comma goes after and. A semicolon is used when there is no conjunction."

Answer: Monday, and.

Worked example

Worked example 2 — essential or nonessential?

Policy: ___ must turn in a doctor's note.

Question: Choose: A. Employees, who miss more than three days,
B. Employees who miss more than three days
C. Employees, who miss more than three days
D. Employees who miss more than three days,

Think-aloud:

  1. "If I delete who miss more than three days, the rule says Employees must turn in a doctor's note — all employees. That changes the meaning."
  2. "So the clause is essential: it tells which employees. Essential clauses get no commas."
  3. "A treats it as extra information. C leaves a single, unpaired comma inside the subject, and D puts a comma between the subject and its verb."

Answer: B.

Worked example

Worked example 3 — apostrophes in a notice

Notice: The ___ lockers will be cleaned on Friday, so please remove ___ contents.

Question: Blank 1: nurse's / nurses / nurses' / nurses's. Blank 2: it's / its / their / they're.

Think-aloud:

  1. "Blank 1: the lockers belong to the nurses — many nurses, since there are many lockers. Plural first: nurses. Then add the apostrophe after the s: nurses'."
  2. "Blank 2: whose contents? The lockers' — plural. So I need the plural possessive pronoun their."
  3. "Its would refer to one thing. It's and they're are contractions (it is, they are), which don't fit."

Answers: nurses'; their.

Worked example

Worked example 4 — colon, semicolon or neither?

Sentence A: The kit includes ___ bandages, gauze, and tape.
Sentence B: The kit includes three items ___ bandages, gauze, and tape.
Sentence C: The kit is in the cabinet ___ the key is on the hook.

Question: Which punctuation, if any, belongs in each blank?

Think-aloud:

  1. "A: The kit includes is not a complete sentence — includes needs its object. No colon after a verb. No punctuation."
  2. "B: The kit includes three items is complete, and a list follows that explains it. Colon."
  3. "C: The kit is in the cabinet and the key is on the hook are both complete, related, with no conjunction. Semicolon (a period would also work, but a comma alone would be a splice)."

Answers: A — none; B — colon; C — semicolon.

Common mistake

Common traps

  • Apostrophe to make a plural. Wrong: We sell used tire's. Right: tires.
  • Apostrophe in its (possessive). Wrong: The store raised it's prices. Right: its prices (it's = it is).
  • Unpaired commas around nonessential information. Wrong: Mr. Diaz, our new supervisor starts today. Right: Mr. Diaz, our new supervisor, starts today.
  • Commas around essential clauses. Wrong: Tenants, who have pets, must pay a deposit (says all tenants have pets). Right: Tenants who have pets must pay a deposit.
  • Colon after a verb. Wrong: Our hours are: 9 to 5. Right: Our hours are 9 to 5. or We have new hours: 9 to 5.
  • Semicolon with a fragment. Wrong: We close early; on holidays. Right: We close early on holidays.
  • Over-capitalizing. Wrong: Please see the Manager about your Summer schedule. Right: the manager … summer schedule.
Test strategy

Test-day strategy

  1. Compare the options mark by mark. Drop-down choices often differ by one comma or one apostrophe. Notice exactly what changes.
  2. Find the clauses. Draw a mental line where each subject-verb pair begins. Two complete clauses need a period, a semicolon, or a comma + FANBOYS — never a comma alone.
  3. Use the removal test for nonessential commas: delete the words between the commas. Same meaning? Keep the commas. Changed meaning? Remove them.
  4. Use the "what is owned?" test for apostrophes, and the expansion test for contractions (it's → it is).
  5. Check what comes before a colon. It must be a complete sentence.
  6. For capitals, ask "Is this a name?" Names and titles before names are capitalized; general words are not.
  7. When in doubt, fewer commas. Extra commas are a more common GED trap than missing ones — but never drop a comma that joins two clauses with FANBOYS.

Check yourself

Capitalization and punctuationDrop-down

Read the notice. Then choose the option that correctly completes the sentence.

Sunrise Dental Office — Holiday Hours

Our office will be closed on so that our staff can spend the holiday with their families. We will reopen the following morning at 8:00 a.m.

Choose an answer from each menu.

Hint

The name of a specific holiday is a proper noun. Which words in the name should be capitalized?

Check yourself

Capitalization and punctuation
Letter: Summer Day Camp Registration

Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department

Dear Parents and Guardians,

(1) The Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that registration for Summer Day Camp is now open. Camp will run for eight weeks, from late June through mid-August. Each week has a different theme, such as Space Explorers, Ocean Life, and Inventors' Workshop.

(2) The program is open to children ages 6 to 12, and all of the counselor's have completed first aid and CPR training. Each group of ten campers is led by two counselors. Campers will swim at the city pool twice a week, take nature walks, and work on art and science projects.

(3) Camp is held at the Westbrook Community Center, located at the corner of Lake Street and Ninth avenue. Drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m., and pickup ends at 5:30 p.m. Children must be signed in and out by a parent, a guardian, or another adult listed on the registration form.

(4) Families should pack: a water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, and a swimsuit on pool days. Lunch and two snacks are provided each day at no extra cost. If your child has a food allergy, please describe it on the health form so that our kitchen staff can plan safe meals.

(5) The weekly fee is $95 for Greenfield residents and $120 for nonresidents. Financial assistance is available for families who qualify. To apply, complete the assistance section of the registration packet and return it to the front desk with proof of income.

(6) Space is limited, so we encourage you to register early. You can register online, by phone, or in person at the community center. If you have questions, please call our office at 555-0193. We look forward to a safe, fun, and memorable summer!

Sincerely,
Janelle Brooks
Youth Programs Coordinator

In paragraph 2, the letter says: "all of the counselor's have completed first aid and CPR training."

Which correction should be made to this sentence?

Answer choices
Hint

Does the word counselor's show that something belongs to a counselor, or does it simply mean more than one counselor?

Summary

  • Commas separate series items, follow introductory elements, surround nonessential information (in pairs), and come before FANBOYS in compound sentences.
  • No commas between subject and verb, verb and object, after a conjunction, or around essential clauses.
  • Apostrophes show possession (driver's, drivers') or contraction (it's); never use them for plurals or possessive pronouns (its, theirs).
  • A semicolon joins two complete, related sentences; a colon follows a complete sentence to introduce a list or explanation.
  • Capitalize proper nouns, holidays, titles before names and regions; keep generic words, seasons and directions lowercase.
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