L A N G U A G E

RULES 1

100

capitalization rule 1

capitalize proper nouns and words formed from proper nouns.

200

comma rule 3

use a pair of commas to indicate a nonessential element in a sentence.

400

apostrophe rule 2 

use an apostrophe to show that letters or numbers have been omitted from a word or expression.

800

colon rule 1 

use a colon before a lit of items often introduces by such words a the following or as follows

1000

underlining rule 

underline the titles of books, magazines,, newspapers, plays, works of art, ships, trains, and aiplanes.

RULES 2

100

capitalization rule 3

Capitalize the tiles of works of art 

200

comma rule 1

use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join to simple sentences.

400

quotation rule 2

use quotation marks to enclose titles of short stories, short poems, songs, chapters, and other parts of books or magazines

800

semicolon rule 1 

use a semicolon and a conjunction rather than a comma and a conjunction to join two simple sentences.

1000

colon rule 4

use a colon after the salutation of a business letter

RULES 3

100

capitalization rule 2

capitalize titles of persons

200

comma rule 5 

use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter; use a comma after the closing of all letters.

400

apostrophe rule 1

use an apostrophe to show possession.

800

colon rule 3 

use a colon between the hour and the minute of a time reference.

1000

hyphen rule 3

use a hyphen in fractions used as adjectives

RULES 4

100

capitalization rule 4

capitalize the first word of every sentence, including quoted sentences.

200

comma rule 2 

use a single comma to indicate that a word or words have been omitted, or to avoid a possible misreading.

400

quotation rule 1

use quotation marks before and after a direct quote.

800

semicolon rule 2 

use a semi colon to separate two simple sentences if there are commas in the sentences already.

1000

hyphen rule 1

use a hyphen if you must divide a word at the end of a line

RULES 5

100

capitalization rule 5

capitalize the pronoun I

200

comma rule 4 

use commas to separate the parts of dates and addresses within sentences.

400

apostrophe rule 3

use an apostrophe and s to form the plural for of letters, numbers, signs, and words used as words.

800

colon rule 2 

use a colon between the chapter and verse of a Bible reference

1000

hyphen rule 2

use a hyphen in compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine