IELTS Grammar: Punctuation

Clear punctuation is part of Grammatical Range & Accuracy — mistakes here cause misunderstanding and lost marks.

The rules with examples

• Use a full stop between complete sentences — avoid run-ons.
• Use a comma after a linking word or introductory clause: “However, …”, “Although it is costly, …”.
• Do not put a comma before “that”: “I think that…” (no comma).

Common mistakes to avoid

• Comma splices: “Prices rose, this worried people” → use a full stop or “which”.
• Missing capital letters at the start of sentences and for proper nouns.