A Simple Guide To Writing Well On IELTS Writing Task 2: How To Use Punctuation Correctly

Here are some punctuation tips you can use when writing IELTS essays.

Comma (,)
- to set off something that existed before and which is clearly defined
e.g. It has been years since I read ‘Hamlet’, which is not my favourite book.

- to set off the adverbial clause when it comes before the main clause
e.g. In case of an emergency, the teacher should call for an ambulance immediately.

- to set apart appositives (normally noun phrases that are placed side by side, with one element serving to identify the other in a different way)
e.g. Joe Biden, the current president of the United States, will visit China next year.

- to set apart the participial phrase from the rest of the sentence
e.g. The speaker, sipping water, began to make a presentation.

- to separate successive nouns, verbs or adjectives in a sentence
e.g. I like to chat, sing, dance, and eat at the party. (Note: A comma is used before the final and in a list of three or more items.)

- to set off a transition word or phrase when a pause is needed for clarity or emphasis
e.g. We could, however, talk about it later.

- to separate an adverbial phrase from the rest of the sentence
e.g. They tried, in spite of my protests, to swim during storm.

Colon (:)
- to come before an extended explanation
e.g. I have done shopping today: three kilograms of potatoes and a carton of milk.

- to introduce a list, often follows namely, such as, as follows
e.g. Please provide the following documents in order to apply for a visa, namely: passport, visa application, and a fee receipt.

Semicolon (;)
- to separate two independent thoughts in a sentence that otherwise would have been separated by using a conjunction such as and or but
e.g. The speech was too boring; it went on for hours.

Question mark (?)
- to indicate a direct question being asked (avoid in academic writing!)
e.g. Does anyone have any questions regarding the topic?

Exclamation mark (!)
- to indicate a strong and emotional response
e.g. I wish you were here!

Hyphen (-)
- in compound nouns
e.g. Everyone wishes their children had more self-discipline.

- in a compound adjective that precedes a noun
e.g. a second-hand car

Parentheses ( )
- to enclose words and phrases independent of the sentence, such as explanatory notes, omissions, and comments that are not written by the author
e.g. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor.

- to enclose words not directly relevant to the main topic of the sentence but too important to omit
e.g. Optimistic people (like myself) always seem to look at the bright side of things.

- to add examples
e.g. The new camera has many features (including fish lens and bokeh) that will be very beneficial to my future work.

Inverted commas (single ‘ ‘ or double “ “)
- for book titles use double inverted commas
e.g. My favourite book is “Hamlet”.