Punctuation is much more a science than an art; hence, the term "rules of punctuation." Some errors are unfortunately way too common, whether on paper or online, and those who believe that punctuation marks are insignificant may want to re-tool their thinking. This world needs better communication, and even the smallest mark, dot, dash, line, or symbol, when used properly, can make a big difference in how your message is received.
To learn more, simply remind yourself of the basics. Below are a few common uses for various English punctuation marks.
• Brief History
Before printing, handwriting on manuscripts and other documents was haphazard, and thus extremely tough to read. Most Greek and Medieval punctuation marks existed as either space indicators or decoration, unlike the structure-based rules of today. After printing was invented, grammarians standardized punctuation, although it is still evolving.
• Apostrophes
One of the most popular mistakes in writing is when writers assume that every letter "s" needs an apostrophe. Not true. Use an apostrophe only when showing ownership, but don't use one with plural nouns.
Bad: That mountains peak is covered with snow all year long.
Good: That mountain's peak is covered with snow all year long.
This sentence tells of one peak, "owned" by one mountain.
Bad: Young Sid used to steal his sister's doll's.
Good: Young Sid used to steal his sister's dolls.
This sentence tells of plural dolls, "owned" by one sister.
• Commas
A comma denotes a pause, usually separating two different, yet related thoughts. Commas are frequently used with conjunctions like "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," and "yet."
Bad: Starting a business is difficult yet I am doing it to make myself happy.
Good: Starting a business is difficult, yet I am doing it to make myself happy.
Bad: The doors needed sanding and the ceiling needed new paint.
Good: The doors needed sanding, and the ceiling needed new paint.
There are different schools of thought regarding the above sentence structure; some will say that a comma is not necessary. This depends on which style reference manual you choose to follow (i.e. Chicago, AP, etc.). Just remember to be consistent.
You can also use commas to separate items in a list.
Bad: I bought hats streamers lights and candy for the Halloween party.
Good: I bought hats, streamers, lights, and candy for the Halloween party.
• Periods
Simply put, a period ends a written thought. Run-on sentences occur when you either ramble on about one subject, or when you put two or more unrelated subjects together. If you're not sure, read your sentence out loud to see if it's too long.
Bad: These Doritos are so good, I could eat the whole package in one sitting, and I love their Spicy Nacho flavor, plus there's less than 5mg of cholesterol in the entire package, but I'll definitely need some water to cool off my mouth.
Good: I love Doritos' Spicy Nacho flavor, but I always have water with me to cool the hot spice. Also, the entire package contains less than 5mg of cholesterol.
You might also come across a clump of short, choppy sentences that can easily be made more readable by putting a few together. Changing the periods to commas or conjunctions (and possibly moving a few words around) will probably make the paragraph flow better.
Bad: The waves were tall. The wind blew mightily. I was scared. My friend cowered in the corner.
Good: The mighty wind created 20-foot-tall waves. I was scared, but stood my ground as my friend cowered in the corner.
• Quotation Marks
If you are using a question mark or exclamation point with a quotation, be absolutely certain that you know whether these punctuation marks go inside or outside the quotation marks. If the speaker of the quote is asking a question, or spouting an exclamation, put the punctuation inside the quotes. If the narrator or writer is the one asking the question or making the exclamation, the punctuation belongs outside.
Bad: "I thought I told you to brush your teeth," Sam yelled!
Good: "I thought I told you to brush your teeth!" Sam yelled.
Sam's statement is the exclamation here, not the entire sentence.
Bad: Did Jessica say, "Sign the document?"
Good: Did Jessica say, "Sign the document"?
The entire sentence is the question, not just Jessica's statement.
• Question Marks
Believe it or not, many people forget to use a question mark after writing a question. Yes, the writer is obviously asking something, but what if s/he doesn't catch all the words, or somehow mixes them up while editing? It's not as obvious as some people think, so why use a question mark? You're asking a question, not making a statement.
• Exclamation Points
If you wish to place an exclamation point after an important sentence, go ahead, but please use just one. More exclamation points are just overkill, and your readers will not take your sentence as seriously as you might like.
• Summary
The more you learn about punctuation marks, the more you will be able to successfully use them. As you strive to avoid these errors, your editing and proofreading skills will improve and you will be better able to create a clear, concise document of which you can be proud!