CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2
The Standard
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards
What This Standard Means
Students need to use correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling in their own writing. They should know how to punctuate dialogue, use commas in addresses and compound sentences, spell grade-level words, and check uncertain spellings with tools.
Mastery looks like clean, readable writing across assignments, not just on worksheets. Students can explain why they used a comma, quotation mark, capital letter, or spelling change. Common trouble spots are dialogue punctuation, comma placement before coordinating conjunctions, capitalization in titles, and relying on “looks right” instead of checking spelling.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs a short paragraph with errors in dialogue, commas, capitals, and spelling, then have them edit with colored pencils by error type.
- Ask students to write three sentences explaining where a character lives, including a full address and one compound sentence.
- Use an exit ticket with four sentences, asking students to fix one capitalization error, one comma error, one dialogue error, and one misspelled word.
- Bring in a restaurant menu or sports flyer, then have students find and correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.