Punctuation · Proofreading
Become a punctuation detective
This is the skill the real paper tests most: you're shown a sentence (or a set of them) and must find the one place where punctuation is missing or wrong. It pulls together every rule you've learned. The secret is a calm, fixed checklist — scan the same things, in the same order, every time.
Check 1 The two ends of the sentence
Look at the first letter (capital?) and the last mark (. ? or !). These are the easiest marks to miss.
✗ we won the match → ✓ We won the match.
Check 2 Capitals for names
Every proper noun — person, place, day, month — needs a capital. Scan for names hiding in lower case.
✗ i saw tom in london on friday → ✓ I saw Tom in London on Friday.
Check 3 Commas — too few or too many
Check lists (commas between items), fronted adverbials (comma after), and clauses. Watch for the comma splice — two whole sentences joined by just a comma.
✗ It was late, we went home. → ✓ It was late. We went home. (or "...late, so we went home.")
Check 4 Apostrophes — missing or misused
Contractions need one (dont → don't); possession needs one (the dogs bone → the dog's bone); plain plurals must NOT have one (apple's → apples). And its/it's.
✗ Its the dogs ball. → ✓ It's the dog's ball.
Check 5 Speech marks & their punctuation
Speech marks wrap the spoken words; the end mark and comma go inside; a comma comes before the speech opens.
✗ She said "stop". → ✓ She said, "Stop."
The detective's checklist (use it on every question):
1. Capital at the start? 2. Correct end mark (. ? !)?
3. Capitals on all names? 4. Commas right (not too many/few, no splice)?
5. Apostrophes right (contraction / possession / NOT a plural)?
6. Speech marks: comma before, capital first word, end mark inside?
The 30-second method
How to find the error fast
- Read the whole thing once — the error often "jumps out" as something that looks or sounds off.
- Run the checklist in order: ends → names → commas → apostrophes → speech.
- There is usually ONE error — once you've found a clear mistake, that's your answer.
- Beware the comma splice and the missing apostrophe — they're the most common traps.
- If a sentence already looks perfect, "No error" may be the correct choice — but check the list first.
10 worked examples
Read the sentence, then the error and the fix.
1. we are going to spain in july
Missing capitals & full stop: We are going to Spain in July. (ends + names)
2. It was raining, we stayed inside.
Comma splice: use a full stop or "so" — It was raining. We stayed inside.
3. The dog wagged it's tail.
Wrong apostrophe: it's = it is. Belonging to it = its tail.
4. I bought apple's and pears.
Apostrophe in a plural: apples (no apostrophe).
5. She said "come here".
Speech punctuation: She said, "Come here." (comma before, capital, full stop inside)
6. After lunch we went out.
Missing comma: After lunch, we went out. (fronted adverbial)
7. can you help me
Missing capital & question mark: Can you help me?
8. I like apples bananas and grapes.
Missing list commas: apples, bananas and grapes.
9. The girls' coats were wet. (one girl)
Apostrophe position: if one girl, it's the girl's coat. Position shows how many owners.
10. My friend Sara is here.
No error — capital start, capital name, full stop. Always allow for a correct sentence.