Punctuation and sentence boundaries
Punctuation is assessed under Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and sentence-boundary errors quietly destroy the 'frequent error-free sentences' that band 7 requires. Learn to fix comma splices, run-ons and fragments; to use commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, capitals and hyphens correctly; and to proofread a paragraph in two minutes.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Identify and fix run-on sentences, comma splices and fragments
- Punctuate linking adverbs such as however and therefore correctly
- Use commas, semicolons and colons accurately, and avoid the most common comma errors
- Apply the rules for apostrophes, capital letters and hyphens in compound adjectives
- Proofread and edit a Task 2 paragraph for punctuation errors
Sentence-boundary errors at a glance
| Error | What goes wrong | ✗ Incorrect | ✓ Correct |
|---|---|---|---|
Run-on (fused) sentence | Two complete sentences with no punctuation between them | Dhaka is overcrowded the government should develop satellite towns. | Dhaka is overcrowded. The government should develop satellite towns. |
Comma splice | Two complete sentences joined by a comma alone | Many graduates move abroad, they earn far higher salaries there. | Many graduates move abroad because they earn far higher salaries there. |
Comma splice with a linking adverb | However, therefore, moreover etc. used as if they were conjunctions | Fees have risen, however, applications have increased. | Fees have risen; however, applications have increased. |
Fragment (dependent clause) | A clause starting with because, although, when or which left on its own | Many families leave rural areas. Because jobs are scarce there. | Many families leave rural areas because jobs are scarce there. |
Fragment (no main verb) | A phrase punctuated as if it were a sentence | Some industries have grown rapidly. Especially garments and pharmaceuticals. | Some industries have grown rapidly, especially garments and pharmaceuticals. |
Can it stand alone? The independent clause test
An independent clause has a subject and a main verb and makes sense on its own: Prices rose. / The government introduced a new policy.
A dependent clause starts with a subordinator (because, although, when, if, while, whereas, which…) and cannot stand alone: because prices rose.
There are only four correct ways to join two independent clauses:
- Full stop: Rents have doubled. Many families have moved to the suburbs.
- Semicolon (for two closely linked ideas): Rents have doubled; many families have moved to the suburbs.
- Comma + coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet, nor, for): Rents have doubled, so many families have moved to the suburbs.
- Subordinator, which turns one clause into a dependent clause: Because rents have doubled, many families have moved to the suburbs.
A comma on its own is never enough.
The however trap
However, therefore, moreover, furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, in addition, as a result, for example and otherwise are linking adverbs, not conjunctions. They show the logical link, but they cannot join two clauses grammatically:
- ✗ Fees are high, however, demand is growing.
- ✓ Fees are high. However, demand is growing.
- ✓ Fees are high; however, demand is growing.
- ✓ Fees are high, but demand is growing. (but is a conjunction)
- ✓ Demand, however, is growing. (inside one clause, with commas on both sides)
Fragments: sentences with no main clause
A fragment starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, but it has no main clause. In IELTS essays, the usual suspects begin with Because, Although, Which, Such as, For example, Especially or Like:
- ✗ Many young people move abroad. Because salaries are higher there. → ✓ Many young people move abroad because salaries are higher there.
- ✗ Major projects have cut journey times. For example, the Padma Bridge. → ✓ Major projects such as the Padma Bridge have cut journey times.
Starting a sentence with Because is fine if a main clause follows: Because salaries are higher abroad, many graduates emigrate.
Long sentences are not the problem. A 35-word sentence with correct boundaries is excellent; a 15-word comma splice is an error.
Sentence boundaries: Band 5 vs Band 7+
Band 5: comma splices and a fragment
Many parents in Bangladesh pay for private coaching, they believe school lessons are not enough. However this creates problems. Families spend a large part of their income on fees, poorer children cannot afford them. Which increases inequality. Also students become exhausted, they attend school in the morning and coaching in the evening.
Band 7+: the same ideas, correctly joined
Many parents in Bangladesh pay for private coaching because they believe school lessons are not enough. However, this practice creates serious problems. Families spend a large part of their income on fees*, and** poorer children cannot afford them at all**, which** widens inequality. Students also become exhausted**:** they attend school in the morning and coaching centres in the evening.*
The left paragraph contains three comma splices, a fragment ('Which increases inequality.') and a missing comma after 'However': five errors in five short sentences, so almost no sentence is error-free. The right version fixes each boundary differently: a subordinator (because), a comma after a linking adverb, a comma + 'and', a sentence-level 'which' clause and a colon introducing an explanation. Accuracy and range improve together, because varied joins are themselves complex structures.
Check your understanding: sentence boundaries
7 questions- 1
Which sentence is a comma splice?
- 2
Find and correct the mistake:
Online learning is flexible, it allows working adults to study at their own pace.
- 3
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
- 4
Which of these is a sentence fragment?
- 5
Find and correct the mistake:
Some cities have introduced congestion charges. For example London and Singapore.
- 6
Fuel prices rose sharply, many commuters switched to buses.
- 7
Dhaka's population has grown rapidly; , its infrastructure has not kept pace.
Answer every question to check.
Commas: the rules that matter in IELTS
| Rule | ✓ Example | Note / common error |
|---|---|---|
After a linking adverb or introductory phrase | Overall, the figure rose. / In contrast, rural areas declined. / As a result, prices fell. | Always use a comma after linking words such as However, Overall and In conclusion. After a short time phrase it is optional: In 2010(,) the figure peaked. |
After a dependent clause that starts the sentence | If fees rise, applications fall. / Although wages have risen, living costs have risen faster. | When an if/because/when clause comes second, you usually need no comma: Applications fall if fees rise. Contrast words (although, while, whereas) often take a comma in either position. |
Before and / but / so / yet / or joining two independent clauses | Exports rose, but imports rose even faster. | No comma when 'and' joins two verbs with the same subject: Prices rose sharply and then levelled off. |
Around non-defining clauses and other extra information | Chattogram, which handles most of the country's trade, is expanding. | Use commas on BOTH sides. A defining clause takes none: ✗ Students, who cheat, should be punished. |
Between items in a list | rice, wheat and maize / rice, wheat, and maize | The comma before 'and' (the Oxford comma) is optional, so both are correct. Be consistent. |
In large numbers | 12,500 / 150,000 / 1,500,000 | Group digits in threes: ✗ 1,50,000 → ✓ 150,000. Decimals take a full stop: 3.5%. |
NEVER between a subject and its verb | The number of students who study abroad has doubled. | ✗ The number of students who study abroad, has doubled. A long subject tempts you to pause, but don't. |
NEVER before a that-clause | It is clear that the policy has failed. | ✗ It is clear, that… / ✗ Many experts believe, that… |
Semicolons and colons
| Mark | Use | ✓ Example |
|---|---|---|
Semicolon ; | Joins two closely related independent clauses | Car use in Dhaka has soared; bus use has barely changed. |
Semicolon ; | Comes before a linking adverb that joins two clauses (with a comma after it) | The scheme was expensive; however, it reduced flooding significantly. |
Semicolon ✗ | Never before a dependent clause or a phrase | ✗ Many people emigrate; because salaries are higher abroad. → ✓ Many people emigrate because… |
Colon : | After a COMPLETE clause, introduces a list | The survey covered three sectors: agriculture, industry and services. |
Colon : | After a complete clause, introduces an explanation or example | The reason is simple: housing is far cheaper outside the capital. |
Colon ✗ | Never after such as, include, are, for example or a preposition | ✗ The main sectors are: agriculture, industry and services. → ✓ The main sectors are agriculture, industry and services. |
How often? | One or two well-placed semicolons or colons per essay show control; five or six look forced. | When in doubt, use a full stop. It is never wrong. |
Apostrophes: possession, not plurals
| Rule | ✓ Correct | ✗ Common error |
|---|---|---|
Singular noun + 's | the government's decision / Bangladesh's economy / the city's population | the governments decision |
Plural noun ending in -s + ' | farmers' incomes / the students' results / the two countries' exports | the farmer's incomes (this means one farmer) |
Irregular plural + 's | children's education / women's employment / people's attitudes | childrens' / womens' / peoples' |
its = belonging to it | The company increased its profits. | ✗ The company increased it's profits. |
it's = it is / it has | It's clear that… (in essays, write It is clear that…) | ✗ Its clear that… |
No apostrophe in plurals, decades or abbreviations | the 1990s / NGOs / CEOs / ATMs | ✗ the 1990's / NGO's / CEO's |
Time and money expressions | a year's experience / two weeks' notice / in ten years' time | ✗ in ten years time |
Capital letters
| Capitalise | ✓ Examples | But NOT |
|---|---|---|
Nationalities, languages and peoples | Bangladeshi, British, English, Bangla, Asian | ✗ bangladeshi students, ✗ the english language |
Days, months and festivals | Monday, March, Eid, Pohela Boishakh | Seasons: summer, winter, the monsoon |
Names of specific places, organisations and institutions | Dhaka, the Padma Bridge, the University of Dhaka, the World Bank | General nouns (a university, the city, a bridge) and most school subjects (economics, physics) |
Named regions | South Asia, the Middle East | Directions in Task 1 maps: north of the river, the south-east corner |
The first word of a sentence, and 'I' | In 2020, I… | Capitals for emphasis: ✗ Education is the key to a Better Future. |
Hyphens: joining words that work as one adjective
When two or more words act together as one adjective before a noun, join them with hyphens:
- a well-known writer, a long-term solution, low-income families, a full-time job, high-quality education, English-speaking countries, up-to-date information
After the noun, many of these lose the hyphen: The writer is well known. The information is up to date. A noun phrase never takes one: in the long term (✗ in the long-term).
Numbers + units (very common in Task 1)
Before a noun, a number + unit is hyphenated and the unit stays singular:
- a five-year plan, a 10-year period, a two-hour exam, a 20-storey building
- ✗ a five-years plan, ✗ a 10 years period
Compare: The plan lasts five years. (no hyphen and a plural noun, because nothing follows)
No hyphen after -ly adverbs
- a rapidly growing population, a highly skilled workforce, a newly built bridge (✗ rapidly-growing)
Other common hyphens
- Numbers from 21 to 99 written as words: twenty-one, forty-five
- Some prefixes: self-employed, ex-president, non-renewable (American English often writes nonrenewable; both spellings are accepted)
Task 1 paragraph: Band 6 vs Band 8 punctuation
Band 6: careless punctuation
The line graph shows the number of international tourists, who visited Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam between 1995 and 2015. Overall visitor numbers rose in all three countries, however Thailand's growth was the most dramatic. In 1995 Thailand received around 70,00,000 tourists, by 2015 this figure had risen to 30 million. Malaysia also attracted more visitors but it's growth slowed in the 2010's. vietnam recorded a steady rise over the 20 year period.
Band 8: punctuation well managed
The line graph shows the number of international tourists who visited Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam between 1995 and 2015. Overall, visitor numbers rose in all three countries; however, Thailand's growth was the most dramatic. In 1995, Thailand received around 7 million tourists, and by 2015 this figure had risen to 30 million. Malaysia also attracted more visitors, but its growth slowed in the 2010s. Vietnam recorded a steady rise over the 20-year period.
The fixes: (1) no comma before the defining clause 'who visited…'; (2) a comma after 'Overall'; (3) '; however,' instead of a comma splice; (4) '7 million', not the South Asian '70,00,000'; (5) ', and by 2015' to repair a second comma splice; (6) a comma before 'but' joining two clauses; (7) 'its', not 'it's'; (8) '2010s' with no apostrophe; (9) a capital V for Vietnam; (10) '20-year period'. The vocabulary and data are identical, but only the right version has error-free sentences.
Find and fix the punctuation error
8 questions- 1
Find and correct the mistake:
The number of people who use mobile banking, has risen sharply since 2015.
- 2
Find and correct the mistake:
Many experts argue, that remote work reduces productivity.
- 3
Find and correct the mistake:
The company doubled it's profits between 2010 and 2020.
- 4
Find and correct the mistake:
The governments decision to ban polythene bags was widely praised.
- 5
Find and correct the mistake:
The three sectors shown are: garments, leather and jute.
- 6
Find and correct the mistake:
Farmers incomes fell sharply in the 1990's.
- 7
Find and correct the mistake:
Chattogram which is Bangladesh's main port handles most of the country's foreign trade.
- 8
Find and correct the mistake:
Although Dhaka's population has grown rapidly the number of hospitals has barely changed.
Answer every question to check.
A two-minute proofreading routine
- 1
1. Check every comma
Read the words on each side. If both sides could stand as complete sentences, you have a comma splice. Change it to a full stop or semicolon, or add and / but / so.
- 2
2. Find every linking adverb
Look at however, therefore, moreover, as a result and for example. Between two clauses, each needs a full stop or semicolon before it and a comma after it.
- 3
3. Check that every sentence has a main clause
Look closely at sentences starting with Because, Although, Which, Such as, For example and Especially. These are where fragments hide.
- 4
4. Hunt for apostrophes
Check every its/it's and every word ending in -s: is it a plural (no apostrophe) or a possessive (apostrophe)?
- 5
5. Scan capitals, hyphens and numbers
Check capitals for nationalities, languages, names and months; hyphens in compound adjectives before nouns (a 10-year period); and international number grouping (150,000).
- 6
6. Save the time to do it
Stop writing two or three minutes before the end of each task. Errors found in a final read are the easiest marks to recover.
Writing Task 2 practice
90+ words · 12 minEditing practice. A candidate wrote the paragraph below in answer to this question:
Many young people in developing countries move from villages to big cities. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
The paragraph contains 17 errors of punctuation, capitalisation and sentence boundaries. Rewrite the whole paragraph with every error corrected. Change only punctuation and capital letters, although you may write a contraction in full.
Moving to dhaka offers young people opportunities that rural areas cannot match, however it also brings serious problems. Firstly the capitals garment factories and service industries provide well paid jobs, many young migrants send part of their wages home to support their families. Secondly cities have far more educational institutions. Such as private universities and english language centres. On the other hand living costs are high, a small room in Mirpur can cost Tk 8,000 a month. As a result many newcomers live in crowded informal settlements they have little money left for training. Its also difficult to find a long term job. Because many positions are temporary.
Self-check before submitting
- ☐ Capitals: Dhaka and English
- ☐ however: a semicolon before it and a comma after it (…cannot match; however, it…)
- ☐ Commas after the four opening linking phrases: Firstly, Secondly, On the other hand, As a result
- ☐ Apostrophe: the capital's garment factories (possession). Its → It is (or It's)
- ☐ Hyphens before nouns: well-paid jobs, a long-term job
- ☐ Two comma splices fixed: …jobs. Many… and …high: a small room… (a semicolon or full stop also works)
- ☐ One run-on fixed: …settlements; they have… (or a full stop)
- ☐ Two fragments joined to the sentence before: …institutions, such as… and …job because…
Final quiz: punctuation and sentence boundaries
11 questions- 1
Which sentence is correctly capitalised?
- 2
Choose the correctly hyphenated sentence.
- 3
In which sentence is the hyphen used correctly?
- 4
Match each punctuation mark with its main job.
full stopsemicoloncolonapostrophehyphencomma - 5
Put the parts in order to make one correctly punctuated sentence.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Car ownership in Dhaka has risen sharply;
- 2as a result,
- 3average journey times
- 4considerably.
- 5have increased
- 6
Each university sets own admission requirements.
- 7
Find and correct the mistake:
Remittances rose sharply in 2020 they became a vital lifeline for rural families.
- 8
Find and correct the mistake:
Over 200 NGO's work in the coastal districts.
- 9
Find and correct the mistake:
Unemployment has risen in recent years; because many factories have closed.
- 10
Choose TWO correctly punctuated sentences.
Select 2.
- 11
How should you write 'one lakh fifty thousand' in an IELTS Task 1 answer?
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
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