How to Avoid Common Punctuation Mistakes

Let's face it. Not all of us are the best spellers, and we don't always know when to add a comma or an apostrophe. But if we're like most people, we have to communicate in writing every day in emails, reports and letters. Grammar check won't catch every mistake, and we don't want to seem less intelligent than we are, because we make common punctuation mistakes.

Here are some simple rules to help you avoid the most common punctuation blunders.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Say the sentence out loud, which will help you figure out where to place the correct punctuation. When there is a break at the end of a thought, make that the end of the sentence. Don't put in a comma unless you are making a list or there is a natural pause in the sentence. This will help you avoid run-on sentences and extra commas.

2. Use an apostrophe when a word is possessive. For example, Becky's dress is blue.

3. Put an apostrophe after the letter s, if the word is describing more than one person or thing. For example, teachers' lounge or boys' school

4. Use an apostrophe to replace the letters that are being removed, when making a contraction. For example, correct usage for contractions would be, you're for you are, they're, for they are, and don't for do not. Incorrect usage would be ya'll, for you all, or would'nt, for would not.

5. Capitalize the names of all person's names, cities, countries and other proper nouns. Capitalize words at the beginning of sentences.

6. Put commas, periods, exclamation points and question marks inside quotation marks. For example, "I don't want to go!" she yelled.

7. Add an apostrophe in the word, its, only when it is a substitute for, it is. It does not receive an apostrophe if it is possessive.

Resources

• Basic punctuation rules and help.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

[hokgardner]

on 8/3/2007 Step six is not correct. Question marks and exclamation points only go inside quotation marks if they are part of what is being quoted. They go outside if they are part of the whole sentence but not the quote. Periods and commas, however, always go inside quotation marks.