We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Grammar and Punctuation

Tamy Chapman, Helen Nam, and Brad Gilpin

4.7

Based on 19,294 ratings

, see reviews

Tamy Chapman, Helen Nam, and Brad Gilpin

Course 1: Grammar and Punctuation

Do you need to review English grammar? Have you forgotten the grammar you once studied? If so, this course is perfect for you.

Course 1: Grammar and Punctuation

Do you need to review English grammar? Have you forgotten the grammar you once studied? If so, this course is perfect for you.

The first course in this specialization is a refresher on some tools needed for good writing. It will help prepare you for the other courses. You will need about 10 hours to complete this first course. Writing is a skill and to learn a skill well, you need to practice. In this course, you will watch short video lectures and then practice and discuss what you have learned. Make sure you take good notes and use the peer discussions to ask questions. Then you'll be able to remember the rules you learn in this course when you start writing essays in the next course.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

- identify the correct verb tenses to use

- use commas effectively

- utilize several different sentence types

- write more effectively in English

Please note that the free version of this class gives you access to all of the instructional videos and handouts. The peer feedback and quizzes are only available in the paid version.

Enroll now

Or subscribe to Coursera Plus

And get unlimited access to Coursera

Here's a deal for you

Save money when you learn with a deal that may be relevant to this course.

All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.

Valid until March 12, 2027

Save 40% Off 3 Months

Access thousands of top-rated learning programs with a Coursera Plus monthly subscription and take 40% off 3 months for a limited time.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

This is the first course in the Academic English: Writing specialization, which will help prepare you for studying in an American college or university. This first course will go over some of the basics of grammar and punctuation that you'll need to do good writing. It is not intended to review all aspects of English grammar, only the few topics chosen for this class. In this short module, to get started, introduce yourself and get to know the other learners a little bit. In the following lessons, you will watch video lectures, do readings, do practice exercises, and take quizzes. To pass the course, just pass all three quizzes. When you finish one activity, then go on to the next one. Enjoy the class!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops strong writing skills, which are highly relevant for academic success

Taught by Brad Gilpin, Helen Nam, and Tamy Chapman, leading experts in teaching English

Part of Academic English: Writing Specialization, which provides a comprehensive approach to academic writing

Builds a strong foundation in grammar and punctuation for ESL learners

Covers essential concepts in English grammar and punctuation through video lectures, readings, and practice exercises

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Essential grammar and punctuation refresh

According to learners, this course serves as an excellent refresher on fundamental English grammar and punctuation. Many find the explanations clear and concise, making it particularly helpful for non-native speakers looking to strengthen their writing skills for academic or professional purposes. Students appreciate the focus on basic concepts like verb tenses, conjunctions, and comma usage. While highly praised for beginners and those needing a review, some students noted it might be too basic for intermediate or advanced learners. A key point raised is that quizzes and peer review are restricted to the paid version.

Covers basic grammar; may be too simple for advanced.

"This course is perfect for beginners or for reviewing the basics, but it doesn't go into advanced grammar."

"If you already have a strong grasp of English grammar, you might find this course too simple."

"It is a good foundation course, but don't expect in-depth coverage of complex grammatical structures."

"Focuses heavily on fundamental rules like verb tenses and sentence types, which was great for me as a beginner."

Content is presented clearly and easy to grasp.

"The instructor explains concepts in a very clear and straightforward manner."

"Video lectures are concise and easy to understand."

"I found the explanations of comma usage particularly clear."

"The way the material is presented makes complex rules simple to digest."

Improves understanding for non-native English learners.

"As a non-native speaker, this course clarified many confusing points about English grammar and punctuation for me."

"It's really good for non-native speakers wanting to improve their accuracy in writing."

"Helped boost my confidence in writing English by solidifying the grammar rules I learned."

"The explanations are very clear and easy to follow, which is great for ESL learners."

Great for reviewing core grammar fundamentals.

"This course was an excellent refresher for me on some basic grammar rules that I had forgotten."

"Provides a very good and solid review of grammar concepts. It's just what I needed to brush up."

"Perfect for anyone needing to refresh their knowledge on basic grammar and punctuation."

"I highly recommend this course as a review of English grammar for those who have been away from formal study for a while."

Quizzes and peer feedback require payment.

"It was disappointing that I couldn't access the quizzes or peer review without paying."

"The free version is good for watching videos and getting handouts, but lacks interactive elements."

"Wish the practice exercises and tests were available in the free version."

"Accessing the full learning experience requires upgrading to the paid certificate track."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Grammar and Punctuation with these activities:

Review comma usage

Show steps

This activity will prepare you to use commas effectively in your writing

Show steps

Review the rules for using commas

Compile a list of writing resources

Show steps

This activity will help you build a collection of writing resources you can use for this course and beyond

Browse courses on Grammar

Show steps

Find resources on grammar, punctuation, and writing style
Create a document or spreadsheet to store your resources

Read a book on grammar and punctuation

Show steps

This activity will provide you with a comprehensive review of grammar and punctuation rules

View The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition on Amazon

Show steps

Purchase or borrow a copy of The Elements of Style
Read the book carefully

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Complete grammar exercises

Show steps

This activity will help you reinforce your understanding of grammar rules

Browse courses on Grammar

Show steps

Find grammar exercises online or in a textbook
Complete the exercises

Write a paragraph using different sentence types

Show steps

This activity will help you practice using different sentence types in your writing

Browse courses on Sentence Structure

Show steps

Identify the different types of sentences
Write a paragraph using each type of sentence

Participate in peer review

Show steps

This activity will help you give and receive feedback on your writing

Browse courses on Writing

Show steps

Find a peer review partner
Exchange writing samples with your partner
Provide feedback on each other's writing

Attend a writing workshop

Show steps

This activity will help you get feedback on your writing and learn from other students

Browse courses on Writing

Show steps

Find a writing workshop that focuses on grammar and punctuation
Attend the workshop

Participate in a writing contest

Show steps

This activity will challenge you to write your best and motivate you to improve your skills

Browse courses on Writing

Show steps

Find a writing contest that is relevant to your interests and skill level
Prepare your submission according to the contest guidelines
Submit your entry

Write an essay on a topic of your choice

Show steps

This activity will allow you to apply the skills you have learned in this course to a real-world writing task

Browse courses on Writing

Show steps

Choose a topic for your essay
Write an outline for your essay
Write a draft of your essay
Edit and revise your essay
Submit your essay

Career center

Learners who complete Grammar and Punctuation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to effectively communicate with patrons and provide them with the information they need. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Librarians because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Librarians to avoid errors in their communications materials and effectively communicate with patrons.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including articles, books, scripts, and marketing materials. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and error-free writing. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Writers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Writers to avoid errors in their writing and produce high-quality content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create and develop educational materials for learners of all ages. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and engaging learning materials. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Instructional Designers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Instructional Designers to avoid errors in their learning materials and produce high-quality content that will help learners to achieve their learning goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Educator

Educators teach students of all ages in a variety of settings. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to effectively communicate with their students. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Educators because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Educators to avoid errors in their teaching materials and effectively communicate with their students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educator

Copywriter

Copywriters create written content for marketing and advertising purposes. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and persuasive writing. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Copywriters because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Copywriters to avoid errors in their writing and produce high-quality content for marketing and advertising campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create written content that explains complex technical information. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and accurate writing. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Technical Writers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Technical Writers to avoid errors in their writing and produce high-quality content for technical audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Journalist

Journalists write and report news stories for newspapers, magazines, and websites. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and accurate writing. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Journalists because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Journalists to avoid errors in their writing and produce high-quality news stories.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Blogger

Bloggers write and publish content on a regular basis on a specific topic or niche. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and engaging writing. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Bloggers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Bloggers to avoid errors in their writing and produce high-quality content for their blogs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blogger

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and persuasive marketing materials. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Marketing Managers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Marketing Managers to avoid errors in their marketing materials and produce high-quality content that will help them to achieve their marketing goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers manage the public image of companies and organizations. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and persuasive communications materials. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Public Relations Managers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Public Relations Managers to avoid errors in their communications materials and produce high-quality content that will help them to manage the public image of their companies and organizations effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers create and manage social media content for companies and organizations. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and engaging content. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Social Media Managers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Social Media Managers to avoid errors in their social media content and produce high-quality content that will help them to achieve their social media goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Content Strategist

Content Strategists develop and execute content strategies for companies and organizations. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and persuasive content. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for Content Strategists because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Content Strategists to avoid errors in their content and produce high-quality content that will help them to achieve their content marketing goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Strategist

UX Writer

UX Writers create written content for user interfaces. They must have a strong command of grammar and punctuation in order to produce clear and concise writing. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for UX Writers because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help UX Writers to avoid errors in their writing and produce high-quality content for user interfaces that will help users to complete their tasks easily and efficiently.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Writer

Proofreader

A Proofreader is responsible for reviewing written material and identifying and correcting errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. They may also check for clarity, consistency, and adherence to style guidelines. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for a Proofreader because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Proofreaders to identify errors in written material and make corrections accordingly.

See salaries and explore the career path for Proofreader

Editor

An Editor is someone who reviews and revises written material to ensure that it is free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. They also check for clarity, consistency, and adherence to style guidelines. This course on Grammar and Punctuation can be helpful for an Editor because it provides a refresher on the basics of English grammar and punctuation. This will help Editors to identify errors in written material and make corrections accordingly.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Reading list

We've selected 16 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Grammar and Punctuation.

Teaching Mathematics Using Interactive Mapping

Save

This classic guide to writing style valuable reference for writers of all levels. It provides clear and concise advice on grammar, punctuation, and usage, making it a perfect supplement to this course.

Grammar and Punctuation

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Essential grammar and punctuation refresh

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses

Coursera Buyer Protection & Guarantee

7-Day Free Trial & Free Audit

14-Day Refund Guarantee

Verified Academic & Industry Partner