9 Punctuation Mistakes You Don't Want to Make

As we’ve said before (and are now saying again), you should always proofread your writing. But, proofreading won’t do much good if you don’t know the rules of proper grammar. Punctuation in particular is one of those things that tends to trip people up. Luckily, we’re here to help! Here’s a quick guide to fixing the 9 most common punctuation errors: 

1. More Commas, Please
Some people tend to skimp on commas. They might not always seem that important, but they can be crucial for breaking a sentence up and helping the reader determine the meaning of the sentence. If you omit a necessary comma, it can both confuse the reader and reflect poorly on your writing. 

Mistake: I wanted an apple but she wanted an orange.
Correction: I wanted an apple, but she wanted an orange. 

2. When in Doubt, Use the Oxford Comma
Another commonly forgotten comma is the Oxford comma, which comes after the second-to-last item in a list. Grammar enthusiasts have spent years debating its usefulness, but I’ll save you the time – just assume that it’s safer to use the Oxford comma than to leave it out. 

Mistake: I waved goodbye to my parents, the dog and the cat.
Correction: I waved goodbye to my parents, the dog, and the cat. 

The first sentence implies that the speaker’s parents are a dog and a cat, while the second one just implies that the parents are with a dog and a cat. This is a silly example, but it demonstrates that leaving the Oxford comma out can actually cause confusion. 

3. Don’t Go Comma-Crazy
On the other side of the same coin are people who use more commas than they need. It isn’t necessarily going to confuse your readers, but it won’t look good, either. 

Mistake: I wanted to eat lunch, but he wasn’t hungry yet, so I waited for a bit, then decided to go anyway, without him.
Correction: I wanted to eat lunch, but he wasn’t hungry yet. I waited for a bit, but then decided to go without him. 

4. Avoid Comma Splicing
When somebody uses a comma to connect two independent clauses (i.e., two complete sentences), it’s called a comma splice, and it isn’t grammatically correct. 

Mistake: I love walking home in the summer, the weather is always beautiful.
Correction: I love walking home in the summer; the weather is always beautiful. 

A semicolon is the punctuation to use if you want to connect two independent clauses without splitting them into two separate sentences. 

5. Semicolons vs. Colons
A semicolon is NOT the punctuation to use when indicating a list. That’s where you use a colon. 

Mistake: I asked for only three things; a pen, a notebook, and a lot of coffee.
Correction: I asked for only three things: a pen, a notebook, and a lot of coffee. 

6. Hyphens vs. Dashes
Hyphens and dashes are pretty similar too, and they’re also easy to confuse. Here’s the difference: 

A hyphen is shorter than a dash, and it’s used to connect two or more words together (or to add prefixes and suffixes to a longer word).
Example: Our computer technicians in this lab use cutting-edge technology. 

A dash is longer, and it functions similarly to a comma. It can separate a phrase from the main trajectory of the sentence.
Example: The technicians – who use the latest technology – are located in this lab. 

Remember, if you use a dash to indicate a separate phrase, you must use a dash when returning to the main idea of the sentence. Don’t mix and match with dashes and commas. 

7. Too Many Exclamation Points
Some people advise against using exclamation points altogether. In my opinion, they’re fine when used in moderation, but they definitely should not be overused. 

Mistake 1: Welcome to our website! Our product is amazing! You’ll love it! Order one now! Ask if you have any questions! We’re here to help!
Mistake 2: Welcome!!!!! Please enjoy!!!! 

8. Appropriate Apostrophes
Apostrophes indicate possession or contractions; you shouldn’t use them when pluralizing a non-possessive noun. They don’t belong in a word just because that word has an “s” on the end of it. This is one of the most common punctuation mistakes you don't want to make. 

Mistake: The table’s and chair’s were arranged in rows for the class.
Correction: The tables and chairs were arranged in rows for the class. 

9. Random Quotation Marks
Quotation marks do not indicate emphasis. I don’t know why this became a common misconception, but trust me, that’s not their intended purpose. 

Mistake: Our “great customer service” is the best you’ll find anywhere!
Correction: Our great customer service is the best you’ll find anywhere! 

You can use quotation marks if you’re actually quoting something, but be careful – using quotation marks like they’re used in the example can cast some doubt on how great your customer service actually is. 

Now, you know exactly what types of punctuation mistakes to avoid. With these grammar tips in mind, your writing will be beautiful and perfectly punctuated!

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