MAP 7th Grade Language Usage

A comprehensive course to strengthen grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills for 7th-grade students, preparing them for the MAP Language Usage assessment and real-world communication.

Advanced Topics

Punctuation and Capitalization

Using Punctuation and Capitals Correctly

Punctuation and capitalization are like road signs for writing—they guide readers so your meaning is clear.

Common Punctuation Marks

  • Period (.): Ends a statement.
  • Comma (,): Separates parts of a sentence or items in a list.
  • Question Mark (?): Ends a question.
  • Exclamation Mark (!): Shows strong feeling.
  • Quotation Marks (" "): Show what someone says.

Capitalization Rules

  • Capitalize the first word in a sentence.
  • Capitalize names, places, and important things (like "Monday" or "Eiffel Tower").

Real-World Connection

Using punctuation and capitalization well helps your emails, essays, and messages look professional and easy to read.

Examples

  • Let’s eat, Grandma! (The comma changes the meaning from eating Grandma to inviting her to eat.)

  • He asked, 'Are you coming to the party?'

In a Nutshell

Punctuation and capitalization make your writing clear and correct.

Key Terms

Comma
A punctuation mark used to separate parts of a sentence.
Capitalization
Writing the first letter of a word in uppercase.