Spelling, punctuation and syntax are of obvious importance when you’re writing. There is no space here to go into these areas in any depth, and you should speak to your tutor/teacher if you feel you have any problems. He or she will be able to give you extra support or suggest where you can get this.

Don’t be embarrassed about having problems with spelling, punctuation or syntax – many people do. The best way to tackle any such difficulties is to be aware of them and seek appropriate support.

That said, we can look at a few of the commonest spelling and punctuation problems here.