11 guides · free
The 11+ punctuation guide
Every punctuation mark a child needs, with the rules in plain English, correct examples and the mistakes 11+ papers ask children to spot.
- A B CCapital lettersSentence starts, I, names, places, days, months and speechTaught: From Year 1, with names of days and months in Year 2.
- .Full stopsEnding statements and commandsTaught: From Year 1.
- ? !Question marks and exclamation marksEnding questions, and showing surprise or strong feelingTaught: From Year 1; exclamations with What and How in Year 2.
- ,CommasLists, fronted adverbials, extra information and speechTaught: Lists in Year 2; fronted adverbials in Year 4; extra information in Year 5.
- 'Apostrophes for short formsdon't, can't, I'm: where letters are missingTaught: Year 2.
- 'sApostrophes for belongingSam's bag, the girls' coats, the children's booksTaught: Singular in Year 2; plural in Year 4.
- “ ”Inverted commas (speech marks)Punctuating what people sayTaught: Year 3, with all the punctuation inside by Year 4.
- ( ) –Brackets and dashesAdding extra informationTaught: Year 5.
- :ColonsIntroducing a list or an explanationTaught: Year 5 and 6.
- ;SemicolonsJoining two closely linked sentencesTaught: Year 6.
- its it'sits or it's?The apostrophe only means 'it is' or 'it has'Taught: Year 2 (short forms) and Year 4 (belonging).