Edit spelling and punctuation for clarity
Review Devanagari spelling, मात्रा marks, word spacing and punctuation so the reader can recover the intended meaning.
Section 2026-W4 · Control punctuation and spelling
Exam scope and assessment notes
These are original StudyForA examples and practice, not Cambridge questions, recordings, mark schemes or grades. Review by a qualified Hindi teacher is pending; Hindi-language accuracy and naturalness must be checked before this material is described as publication-ready. Browser speech synthesis is supplemental only, not Cambridge audio: the voice and pronunciation may vary and do not simulate the exam recordings. Writing and speaking feedback is self-review, not official assessment; StudyForA does not award the Cambridge speaking endorsement.
Before you begin
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
Why should you read a word again after checking its मात्रा?
What you will learn
- Control spelling and punctuation in the legacy writing objective.
- Check spelling and punctuation as part of current language accuracy.
- Proofread a response without changing its intended meaning.
Proofread Devanagari carefully
Hindi vowel signs (मात्राएँ) attach to consonants and can change a word. Read the complete word after checking each sign; do not judge it by the visible base consonant alone.
Check that words are separated clearly, nukta forms are used where the intended word requires them, and the sentence boundary is easy to see. These examples are practice cues, not a complete Hindi orthography guide.
Punctuate for the reader
Use punctuation to separate complete thoughts and mark a question. A comma can help with a pause, but it should not hide a missing sentence boundary.
Read the response once for meaning and once for form. For a timed response, prioritise errors that could change a word, relation or instruction.
Sources for this lesson
- Cambridge IGCSE Hindi as a Second Language 0549 subject page
- 0549 syllabus for exams in 2023–2025
- 0549 syllabus update for exams in 2023–2025
- 0549 syllabus for exams in 2026 · Version 2
- 0549 syllabus update for exams in 2026
- 0549 syllabus for exams in 2027–2029 · Version 2
- 0549 syllabus update for exams in 2027–2029
Pause and explain
Which mark ends the example statement «आज स्कूल बंद है» in this lesson?
Worked example
«कल हम बाजार गए।» means “Yesterday we went to the market.” Why does the full stop matter?
Show the worked solution
- It marks the end of a complete statement.
- A new sentence can then begin with a clear capital-like sentence boundary.
- Punctuation supports reading even though Devanagari has no uppercase distinction.
Answer The danda «।» marks a sentence boundary in this example. Other punctuation may also appear in modern Hindi writing; follow the task and a teacher-reviewed style guide.
Try a topic test
Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.
Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Add a clear sentence ending: «आज मौसम बहुत अच्छा है»
Give me a hint
Read the whole statement and close it with a Hindi sentence mark.
Compare my reasoning
- Check that the sentence expresses a complete thought.
- Add the sentence boundary.
- Read it again for meaning.
«आज मौसम बहुत अच्छा है।» (The weather is very good today.)
Look for these in your work
- Keeps the words unchanged
- Adds a clear boundary
- Reads as a complete statement
A draft has two ideas joined by no punctuation: «रीना ने पत्र लिखा उसने उसे सोमवार को भेजा». Make the relation clear.
Give me a hint
Separate the complete thoughts and connect the pronoun clearly.
Compare my reasoning
- Mark the end of the first complete idea.
- Start the next idea clearly.
- Check that «उसे» refers to the letter.
«रीना ने पत्र लिखा। उसने उसे सोमवार को भेजा।» (Reena wrote a letter. She sent it on Monday.)
Look for these in your work
- Separates complete thoughts
- Keeps the reference understandable
- Does not change the facts
A sentence uses a मात्रा that makes the intended word hard to recognise. Describe the safest editing process before submitting.
Give me a hint
Check the intended meaning, not only the visual shape of the letter.
Compare my reasoning
- Compare the word with a trusted Hindi reference or teacher-reviewed model.
- Read the whole word with the corrected मात्रा.
- Reread the full sentence to confirm that the meaning still fits.
Confirm the intended word with a reliable Hindi reference, correct the मात्रा, then reread the complete sentence. Do not guess a spelling from sound alone.
Look for these in your work
- Checks a reliable source
- Re-reads the whole word
- Confirms sentence meaning
Common mistakes
- Changing a मात्रा and assuming the word is unchanged
- Putting a full stop in the middle of a phrase
- Treating punctuation as decoration rather than meaning support
What can you explain now?
Which mark ends the example statement «आज स्कूल बंद है» in this lesson?
Compare with the explanation
।
The danda is used here to close the Hindi statement.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
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Make it stick
Explain one decision that helped you: control spelling and punctuation in the legacy writing objective.
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.