How
To Use Punctuation
by: Rumki
Sen
The most common mistake people tend
to make while writing is in the use of Punctuation. Wrong
punctuation can damage the flow of ideas and change meaning,
but properly used punctuation not only helps readers understand
your meaning but also makes them engrossed in your writing.
The following discussion is about some of the frequently
misused punctuation marks and what actually their correct
application should be.
Use of Apostrophe - Use an apostrophe to show possession,
but never put apostrophe in 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. Wong said, "very well."
Note: Never use it for indirect quotation (a restatement
of someone’s words).
According to Mr. Wong, that guy knows him very well.
Use single quotation marks to indicate a quote within a
quote.
Example
Wrong: Richard wrote, "When Berkeley said, "esse est percipii",
he meant that the existence of a thing consists in its being
perceived."
Right: Richard wrote, "When Berkeley said, 'esse est percipii,'
he meant that the existence of a thing consists in its being
perceived."
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 above-discussed ones are those I have mostly encountered
in several writings. Before putting punctuation marks in
your sentences, always ask yourself what meaning you want
to convey to the readers. Accordingly, put the marks. In
case the sentence becomes difficult to punctuate, consider
rewriting it, because when a sentence is well written, it
almost punctuates itself.
About the author:
Rumki Sen is the founder of Perfect Editing Solutions (www.perfectediting.com),
a professional firm providing a Proofreading and Copyediting
service to websites and online documents. She corrects and
edits English grammar, punctuation, spelling, links and
a lot more for mainly websites, letters, applications, CVs
/ resumes, advertisements, manuals, brochures, e-newsletters,
articles and e-mail messages. Her company also offers resume-writing
services. Whether you're a student, webmaster, or business
owner, your written work will be improved immediately after
you get her company's service. Contact Rumki Sen at rumki@perfectediting.com
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