Most Common Punctuation Errors
Missing commas or extra commas
Incorrect: Avoid commas, that are not necessary
Correct: Avoid commas that are not necessary
Missing or misused apostrophes
Incorrect: Save the apostrophe for it’s proper use and omit it where its’ not needed
Correct: Save the apostrophe for its proper use and omit it where it’s not needed
The apostrophe (’) is used in three ways: to show possession (ownership), to show plural forms, and to show contractions (where a letter or number has been omitted). The following chart shows how its, it’s, and its’ are used:
Misused exclamation marks
Incorrect: Of all U.S. presidents, none lived to be older than John Adams, who died at the age of 91!
Correct: Of all U.S. presidents, none lived to be older than John Adams, who died at the age of 91. Never overuse exclamation marks. Instead of using exclamation marks, convey emphasis through careful, vivid word choice. Exclamation marks create an overwrought tone that often undercuts your point.
Misused semicolons
Incorrect: Use the semicolon correctly always use it where it is appropriate; and never where it is not suitable.
Correct: Use the semicolon correctly; always use it where it is appropriate, and never where it is not suitable. A semicolon has two primary uses: to separate two complete sentences (“independent clauses”) whose ideas are closely related or to separate clauses that contain a comma.
Incorrect: Of all U.S. presidents, none lived to be older than John Adams, who died at the age of 91!
Correct: Of all U.S. presidents, none lived to be older than John Adams, who died at the age of 91. Never overuse exclamation marks. Instead of using exclamation marks, convey emphasis through careful, vivid word choice. Exclamation marks create an overwrought tone that often undercuts your point.
Misused semicolons
Incorrect: Use the semicolon correctly always use it where it is appropriate; and never where it is not suitable.
Correct: Use the semicolon correctly; always use it where it is appropriate, and never where it is not suitable. A semicolon has two primary uses: to separate two complete sentences (“independent clauses”) whose ideas are closely related or to separate clauses that contain a comma.
*Taken from: ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR THE UTTERLY CONFUSED by Laurie Rozakis - 2003 - The McGraw-Hill Companies.
posted by Mr. Wishes @ 12:31 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home