Punctuation is to
writing as gas is to a car: you can’t have one without the other. Sure, you can
try writing without commas, apostrophes, or periods, though there’s only so
much you can do. Before long, missing punctuation leaves readers dazed and
confused without enough context, clarity, or structure.
If you think
punctuation only matters to English majors, think again. Good writing,
including correct grammar and punctuation, helps you communicate effectively no
matter your profession. Proper punctuation will take you far, whether you’re
writing an email to a client or submitting a college application. That’s why
it’s worth learning more about what punctuation means, common and uncommon
punctuation, typical mistakes, and related questions.
What
Is Punctuation?
The best way to
understand punctuation is to think of punctuation marks (like question marks,
apostrophes, and periods) as writing tools. Punctuation refers to the use of
these tools to add structure and definition to writing. For example, a sentence
isn’t a sentence without a final touch, like a period or exclamation point.
Punctuation can also
be used to change the meaning of a sentence without changing the words. For
example, replacing one punctuation mark for another completely changes the
meaning of the following text:
My Uber is here.
The period in this
sentence indicates a statement or a fact.
My Uber is here?
When replacing the
period with a question mark, the validity of this statement is called into
question. The same words are used to indicate disbelief or potential confusion.
This is one way that understanding the basics of correct punctuation can take
your writing to new heights.
Common
Punctuation
If you’ve ever
wondered, “What are the basic rules of punctuation?” you’re not alone. Learning
about the most common punctuation marks and their uses is an excellent first
step. Here are some you’ve likely already seen, plus how to use them.
Period
Periods are used to
finish a sentence or express a neutral tone. While the same dot is used in other
forms of punctuation like an ellipsis (…), it’s not a period unless it stands
alone.
Comma
Commas separate ideas
or indicate pauses. For example, they’re found in lists in a sentence or to
express a verbal break. Commas are one of the most common types of punctuation,
though they’re also prone to misuse.
Apostrophe
This punctuation mark
is associated with possessive nouns (like Abdullah’s house) or in contractions
when two words become one (like won’t). It’s also applied to shorten dates
(like ’22 instead of 2022) but not for plural nouns (CDs). Much like commas,
apostrophes are a popular form of punctuation, though they are often
misunderstood in practice.
Uncommon
Punctuation
Semicolons and colons
are slightly less common punctuation marks. They’re also somewhat similar to
each other and sometimes mistakenly reversed. Here’s how to use both correctly
for better writing.
Semicolon
A semicolon is a
cross between a comma and a colon, hence its name. It’s also less common than a
colon.
Semicolons are used
in a number of ways, such as to link two independent clauses. (A clause is part
of a sentence that could also be its own sentence, grammatically speaking.)
They’re also used to separate items in a list when the items are already
separated by commas.
For example, “I
plan to visit New York, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; and New Castle,
Pennsylvania.”
Colon
The colon is used as
an introduction before lists, explanations, or longer quotes. (Shorter quotes
are preceded by a comma.)
For example, “You
need a few ingredients: eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta.”
Colons are also used
in between independent clauses if the second explains the first.
For example, “I
can’t make it tomorrow: I have a doctor’s appointment.”
Common
Punctuation Mistakes
Punctuation marks are
used in a number of ways, which can sometimes create confusion. Here are a few
of the most common punctuation mistakes and how to avoid them.
Commas
Commas are used to
separate transitional words or introductory phrases from what follows. Here’s
an example of a missing comma.
However she was only
five minutes late.
Here’s how to write
it correctly:
However, she was only
five minutes late.
As you can see, the
comma separates the transitional word or introduction from the rest of the
sentence.
Apostrophes
An apostrophe’s
placement in a word indicates whether something is singular or plural. For
example, when describing two people, here’s how an apostrophe is used
incorrectly:
My parent’s house is
a block away.
In this case, placing
the apostrophe after parent indicates one person (i.e., one parent).
Here’s what it should’ve been:
My parents’ house is
a block away.
In this case, the
apostrophe placement indicates a plural noun instead of a singular noun (i.e.,
parents instead of parent). As you can see, correct apostrophe use requires
precise placement within a word.
The
Importance of Punctuation
Punctuation is as
important to writing as the letters of the alphabet. Unless you’re writing
something as elementary as “SOS,” you’ll need punctuation to add context and
form to your text.
Have you ever
wondered, “How do you memorize punctuation rules?” The good news is you don’t
have to. While you may need to look up a few rules or examples initially,
you’ll start to remember them through repetition.
From: Editor
World
