The most common mistakes people make while writing is in the use of proper punctuation. Wrong punctuation can damage the flow of ideas and change the meaning, but properly used punctuation not only helps readers understand your meaning but also gets them more engrossed in whatever topic you’re writing about. The following discussion is an example of the frequently misused punctuation marks and what their correct application should be.
Use of Apostrophe
Use an apostrophe to show possession, but never put an apostrophe in the case of possessive pronouns. Always remember that when the word “it’s” is used, it is actually for the contraction for the two words: “it has” or “it is”. On the other hand, “its” is a possessive pronoun, and the word being already possessive should not contain an apostrophe in it.
Example:
It’s the same thing happening over and over again.
(Contraction of It and is: It is the same thing happening over and over again).
Wrong: That car is your’s.
Right: That car is yours.
Note: Rewriting is sometimes the solution for an awkward possessive.
Awkward: A friend of mine’s cap.
Better: A friend’s cap (or the cap of a friend of mine).
To show possession in the case of singular nouns, add ‘s, and for plural words that end in s, add only an apostrophe. Don’t forget to put ‘s with plural words not ending in s.
Example
Singular: nurse’s uniform
Plural: nurses’ uniforms (plural word ending in s)
Plural: children’s uniforms (plural word not ending in s)
Use of Comma – Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. Though journalists most of the times omit the final comma before the word “and”, but retaining the final comma avoids confusion.
Example:
Poor: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online, the woman who daily eats 45 eggs and Tom Cruise.
Better: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online, the woman who daily eats 45 eggs, and Tom Cruise.
Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions.
Example:
Wrong: I am not good in writing but I love writing.
Wrong: I am not good in writing, but, I love writing.
Right: I am not good in writing, but I love writing.
Note: If the clauses are long and already contain commas, separate them with a semicolon rather than a comma.
Wrong: If a man begins with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties. – Francis Bacon
Right: If a man begins with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties. – Francis Bacon
Run-on sentences – Where Run-on sentences are concerned (in case you don’t know what it is, a run-on occurs when two independent clauses are not separated by punctuation or conjunction), add a period, or a semi colon, or a comma in places of separation.
Example:
Wrong: A good student can score full marks in Mathematics it’s his analytical ability that will help him achieve that.
Right: A good student can score full marks in Mathematics. It’s his analytical ability that will help him achieve that.
Use of Quotation Marks – Use quotation marks to indicate direct quotation.
Example:
“That guy knows me,” Mr. Smith said, “very well.”
Note: Never use it for indirect quotation (a restatement of someone’s words).
Right: According to Mr. Smith, that guy knows him very well.
Use single quotation marks to indicate a quote within a quote.
Example:
Wrong: Richard wrote, “When James said, “get outta here”, he meant that they should leave.”
Right: Richard wrote, “When James said, ‘get outta here,’ he meant that they should leave.”
Note: Always put the comma and final period inside the quotation marks, and put other punctuation marks outside unless they are part of the thing being quoted.
There are many other frequently used punctuation errors, but the examples above are those I have encountered on a regular basis. Before putting punctuation marks in your sentences, always ask yourself what meaning you want to convey to the readers. In case the sentence becomes difficult to punctuate, consider rewriting it, because if you’re having trouble with it, your readers will too. Remember, when a sentence is well written, it almost punctuates itself.