✏️ Punctuation and Grammar Guide for IELTS Writing

This guide focuses on the punctuation and grammar rules that can directly impact your band score, especially under the Grammatical Range and Accuracy and Coherence and Cohesion criteria.


 Full Stops (Periods)
.Use full stops to end complete sentences
This is the most basic punctuation mark, but many candidates make run-on sentences by forgetting to use it
.Correct: The government has introduced several policies. These include tax reforms and education funding 

Incorrect: The government has introduced several policies these include tax reforms and education funding

   ( , ) Commas
Commas are used to organize ideas, separate elements, and create clarity. However, overusing or misusing commas can confuse the reader
:Use commas
:After introductory phrases
.In recent years, the cost of education has risen
.According to the data, public health has improved
:To separate items in a list
.The chart shows growth in sales, profits, and investments
:Before coordinating conjunctions (like and, but, so, or) when linking two independent clauses
.The number of smokers declined, but alcohol consumption remained stable
:Around extra (non-essential) information
'Public transport, which is often underfunded, is essential for urban areas
.Avoid comma splices: You cannot join two full sentences with just a comma
.Incorrect: Crime rates have dropped, people feel safer
.Correct: Crime rates have dropped. People feel safer
.Or: Crime rates have dropped, and people feel safer

( ; ) Semicolons
.Semicolons link two closely related sentences that could stand alone but are better connected
. The government increased funding for schools; however, exam performance did not improve
Avoid overusing semicolons. They are best used when linking contrasting or logically connected ideas without conjunctions

( : ) Colons
.Use a colon to introduce a list, example, explanation, or clarification
 There are three main causes of homelessness: unemployment, mental illness, and lack of affordable housing
. The solution is clear: more investment in public services

.You should not use a colon after a verb or a preposition directly


    ( ' ) Apostrophes
In IELTS formal writing, apostrophes are mainly used for possession. Avoid using contractions (like don’t, .isn’t) in essays
:Correct for possession
The country’s economy (economy of the country)
Citizens’ rights (rights of the citizens — note plural)
:Incorrect in essays
It’s (should be it is)
They’re (should be they are)
:Use the full form in IELTS Writing Task 2
"Use “do not” instead of “don’t
"Use “is not” instead of “isn’t


 ( “ ” ) Quotation Marks
Avoid quoting in academic writing unless you must reference a named source (rare in IELTS). If you do quote a short phrase, use quotation marks to show direct words
." The report described the situation as “alarming and unacceptable
.Use quotation marks sparingly and never for your own ideas or emphasis


( ? ) Question Marks
Avoid using rhetorical questions in IELTS essays. While it’s grammatically correct, examiners may penalize you for informal or unclear style
?Avoid this in writing: Why should governments care about poverty
.Better: Governments should prioritize poverty reduction because it impacts public health and social stability


 ( ! ) Exclamation Marks
Do not use exclamation marks in IELTS Writing Task 1 or Task 2. They are too emotional and informal for academic or semi-formal writing


 Hyphens and Compound Words
.Use hyphens to connect compound adjectives before nouns

.Correct: Long-term solutions are needed
.Incorrect: Long term solutions are needed
:Other examples
State-owned companies
Well-educated workers
High-income countries


Capital Letters
:Use capital letters for
The first word of every sentence
Proper nouns (United Nations, London, English)
Acronyms (WHO, GDP)
.Do not capitalize common nouns like government, education, technology unless they start a sentence


+Grammar Structures to Master for Band 7
Complex sentences
.Use subordinators like although, even though, while, whereas, because, since, if
. Although the economy has grown, income inequality remains a major issue
Passive voice
.Use when the subject is unknown or unimportant
. The data was collected by independent researchers
Relative clauses
.Add detail without repetition
. Many people who live in rural areas lack access to healthcare
Conditional sentences
.Useful for proposals or consequences
. If governments invest in education, social inequality can be reduced


 Common Grammar and Punctuation Errors to Avoid
:Fragmented sentences
.Incorrect: Because it is a problem
.Correct: It is a problem because it affects public health
:Sentence run-ons
.Incorrect: Pollution is rising people are concerned
.Correct: Pollution is rising, and people are concerned
:Missing commas after introductions
.Incorrect: To reduce pollution governments must act
.Correct: To reduce pollution, governments must act
:Overuse of simple or short sentences
.Writing entirely in simple sentences will lower your score under grammatical range


 Final Tips for Punctuation and Grammar in IELTS Writing

Always check your work for missing full stops and capital letters. Avoid contractions, slang, or exclamation marks
.Use a mix of sentence types (simple, compound, complex)
.Vary punctuation appropriately: use commas to structure ideas and avoid confusion
.Read high-scoring samples and note punctuation use in complex sentences

 IELTS Writing Punctuation through Sentence Types

:We’ll cover

Types of Sentences
Correct punctuation examples
Practice exercises (with answers below)


  Sentence Types & How Punctuation Works in Each


 A. Simple Sentence 

.Just one independent clause (a complete idea)
.Many people live below the poverty line
(.Punctuation: ends with a full stop)


 B. Compound Sentence

.Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, for, yet)

.Punctuation Rule: Use a comma before the conjunction if both parts are full sentences
.Unemployment has increased, and poverty has become more widespread
.Incorrect: Unemployment has increased and poverty has become more widespread


 C. Complex Sentence

.One independent clause + one or more dependent clauses (using although, because, if, since, when etc.)

:Punctuation Rules
.If the dependent clause comes first, use a comma
.If the dependent clause comes after, no comma
.Although poverty is decreasing, inequality remains a challenge
.Inequality remains a challenge although poverty is decreasing


 D. Compound-Complex Sentence

.At least two independent clauses and one dependent clause
Although many believe education reduces poverty, the government has not invested enough, and results remain poor 
.Punctuation : Commas for clauses, before coordinating conjunctions


 E. Sentences with Appositives / Extra Information 

.Use commas to separate non-essential (extra) details
.The UN, a global organization, plays a vital role in poverty reduction


 :F. Lists

.Use commas to separate items. Oxford comma (before "and") is acceptable but optional in IEL
.Governments must address healthcare, education, housing, and employment


 Punctuation Practice Exercises 

.Exercise 1: Add punctuation where needed

.Education is important but many children still lack access to it 

.Although the data was collected poverty rates were not accurately represented
.Many issues such as unemployment discrimination and poor education contribute to inequality
.The report highlights two main findings income has increased but so has inequality
.The Ministry of Health which was founded in 1995 released the report last year

 :Exercise 2. Identify the sentence type and correct the punctuation

.Pollution has decreased since 2010 but water contamination has increased

.If citizens are educated they are more likely to participate in the democratic process
.The poverty rate fell dramatically from 2010 to 2020 it remained stable afterward
.The organization launched the project in 2015 and expanded it in 2017
.While the program was costly it proved to be highly effective


Answer Key: Exercise 1 (Corrected Punctuation)

Education is important, but many children still lack access to it. (Compound sentence – comma before but)
Although the data was collected, poverty rates were not accurately represented. (Complex sentence – comma after dependent clause)
Many issues, such as unemployment, discrimination, and poor education, contribute to inequality. (List with examples – commas separate items)
The report highlights two main findings: income has increased, but so has inequality. (Colon before explanation + comma before but)
The Ministry of Health, which was founded in 1995, released the report last year. (Extra clause – use commas to separate it)
:Exercise 2 (Answers & Sentence Types)
.Pollution has decreased since 2010, but water contamination has increased
Type: Compound
Note: Comma before but
.If citizens are educated, they are more likely to participate in the democratic process

Type: Complex