ABSTRACT
Accurate punctuation and use of capital letters help the reader to understand exactly what the writer meant. While some aspects of punctuation, such as the use of commas, can be a matter of individual style, correct punctuation in areas such as quotation is vital. It is difficult to give precise rules about the use of capital letters in modern English, where there is a trend to use them less. Semicolons are also used to divide up items in a list when they have a complex structure, as in a multiple citation. Commas are one of the most common punctuation marks, but also the hardest to provide guidance for, since comma use is partly a matter of individual style. Full stops are used to show the end of a sentence. Hyphens (-) are used with certain words, such as compound nouns, and certain structures: A well-researched, thought-provoking book.
