Overview

CAEC Reading

Grammar and Language

7. Grammar and Punctuation

7.82 Mastering Punctuation and Capitalization

Punctuation and Capitalization in Formal Writing and Test Passages

Sharpen your ability to detect and fix punctuation and capitalization errors in dense, formal passages, the exact skill tested on standardized English exams.

What You'll Learn

Distinguish a comma splice from a properly joined independent clause using a semicolon or coordinating conjunction

Apply the colon correctly to introduce a list, explanation, or emphatic point after a complete clause

Recognize when an em dash or parenthesis, rather than a comma, is the precise choice for an interruption

Correct inconsistent capitalization of titles, organizational names, and academic subjects in formal prose

Apply a systematic scan-and-check method to locate the single error hidden in a longer passage

Evaluate whether a proposed correction preserves meaning and register rather than just fixing a rule violation

What You'll Practice

Identify the underlined segment containing a comma splice in an ACT- or SAT-style editing passage

Decide whether a semicolon or colon correctly follows an independent clause in a formal excerpt

Correct inconsistent capitalization of titles, institutions, and named positions in a report

Insert missing possessive apostrophes in formal prose without changing the sentence's meaning

Check whether terminal punctuation sits correctly inside or outside closing quotation marks

Why This Matters

Standardized tests and college application essays reward writers who can spot a single flawed comma or capital letter in an otherwise polished paragraph, and this same close-reading skill carries directly into editing your own reports, cover letters, and academic papers, where a comma splice or misplaced apostrophe can quietly undercut an otherwise strong argument.

This Unit Includes

Practice exercises

Learning resources

Skills

Punctuation Rules

Capitalization

Proofreading

Comma Splices

Semicolons And Colons

Test Editing Skills

Formal Writing Conventions

TEST-PREP Curriculum Aligned