Punctuation errors are a common way that writers sabotage their work. At best, punctuation errors make you look careless and unprofessional; at worst, you look unintelligent. Here are five common errors and the correct way to go about fixing them.
1) unnecessary commas
One of the many uses for the comma is to separate two complete thoughts with a conjunction. For example, consider these two complete sentences:
I went to the store.
I bought some milk.
A comma and conjunction will make short work of these two sentences and magically transform them into one. But which of these is the correct sentence?
a. I went to the store, and bought some milk.
b. I went to the store, and I bought some milk.
To figure this out, look at the phrase on either side of the comma and conjunction and ask yourself if it’s a complete thought (these complete thoughts are called independent clauses). “I went to the store,” certainly is. The other half of the first sentence, “bought some milk,” isn’t though. Both sides of the sentence must be complete sentences by themselves in order for the comma to work. So the correct answer above is sentence b. So how could we fix sentence a? By simply removing the comma.
2) unnecessary colons
The colon is a very useful piece of punctuation, but much like the comma, understanding the subtle differences of when it should and shouldn’t be used can be tricky. A common mistake is to use a colon between a verb and its compliment. For example:
In order to complete the project, I will need: some wood.
Many people know that a colon can introduce a series of items. But there are specific rules about how to use the colon to introduce a series, and the first is that it must be a series! One item is not a series. The above sentence could be fixed by simply removing the colon.
But what if there were a series after the colon in the above sentence?
In order to complete the project, I will need: some wood, glue, and paint.
In this instance, the colon is still unnecessary. Remember those independent clauses mentioned up in number 1? They’re important here too. Simply put, a colon has no place introducing a list in an independent clause. Compare the following versions of the same idea:
a. To make the pizza, we will need: dough, sauce, and cheese.
b. The pizza recipe calls for the following ingredients: dough, sauce, and cheese.
In order to be correct, the colon must be at the end of an independent clause. “To make the pizza, we will need,” is not an independent clause, therefore sentence a is incorrect. “The pizza recipe calls for the following ingredients,” however, is an independent clause, therefore sentence b is correct.
3) confusing semicolons and colons
Often, people think using colons and semicolons can add an air of intellectualism to whatever they are writing. It makes them look smart, so to speak. However, when used improperly, it’s safe to say the exact opposite effect is achieved. Here is a quick breakdown of the most common uses for colons and semicolons, with examples following each:
The colon can be used to introduce items in a series: (The pizza recipe calls for the following ingredients: dough, sauce, and cheese.)
The colon can be used to introduce a specific point or explanation: (He knew what he had to do: apologize.)
The colon can be used in the salutation of a formal letter: (To Whom it May Concern:)
The semicolon can be used to separate two independent clauses without the need for a conjunction: (She had to get a second job; her rent went up again.)
The semicolon can be used to separate items in a list already complicated by commas: (On the trip they planned to go to Gary, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; and Bowling Green, Ohio.)
4) apostrophe to indicate plurality
There are various rules about what to do to a noun to make it plural, but none of them involve using an apostrophe. Yet this is one of the most common mistakes people make. Apostrophes are used to show possession or to show that something has been omitted (as in a contraction). Here are some examples:
The dog’s collar. (In other words, the collar belongs to the dog.)
The waiter’s tips. (In other words, the tips belong to the waiter.)
The house’s roof needs replacing. (In other words, the roof that is attached to the house needs replacing.)
We can’t go to the party. (Can’t is a contraction of can and not.)
She wouldn’t say why. (Wouldn’t is a contraction of would and not.)
One of the most common places this mistake occurs is with the pronoun it. Remember the following:
It’s means it is and can never mean anything else.
Its means it has possession over“and can never mean anything else.
Its’ means absolutely nothing and should never be used.
For example:
It’s going to be hot today!
The cat knows it’s going to the vet, and so it won’t come out from under the bed.
The horse threw its owner to the ground.
With its screen broken, the laptop computer was useless.
5) quotation marks to show emphasis
This is an extremely common mistake, and it’s one that defies all reasonable logic. Quotation marks are used when quoting specific words from someone else, to indicate certain types of titles, and, occasionally, to indicate a technical term the reader may not be familiar with. They are not used to signify a slogan, logo, or to place emphasis on a portion of a sentence. The following are all correct uses of quotation marks:
“I’m sorry, I can’t go out tonight. I’m washing my hair,” she said with a wry grin.
When Tom asked for a raise, Mr. Lopez said, “Not a chance.”
The short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” was written by Flanner O’Connor.
Outbidding another bidder at the very last moment, known as “sniping”, is frowned upon by many auction Websites.
The following are all incorrect uses of quotation marks:
Northpoint Plumbing, “The Drain Specialists”
Please” wash your hands before going back to work!
All coffee is “buy one get one free” today.
This is just a quick overview of some of the many problems that plague writers when it comes to punctuation. There are many more punctuation problems out there, but these five are seen over and over again. While mastering the various rules of grammar and punctuation can be difficult, getting a handle on these five common errors can quickly improve your writing, resulting in higher grades, more readers, or a better position at work.
