Common Mistakes

Now, we’ll explore some common punctuation errors that writers often encounter — and equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to fix them effectively.

To do that, let’s delve into detailed explanations of various punctuation marks and their common errors.

Common Punctuation Errors

1. Misplaced Commas: Commas are versatile, but misplacing them can change a sentence’s meaning. Common mistakes include:

• Comma Splice: Incorrectly joining two independent clauses with a comma.
  Incorrect: She loves to write, she’s a talented author.
  Correct: She loves to write; she’s a talented author.
• Missing Comma in a Compound Sentence: Forgetting to include a comma before the coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or) in a compound sentence.
  Incorrect: I wanted to go shopping but I stayed home.
  Correct: I wanted to go shopping, but I stayed home.
• Misplacing Introductory Commas: Using a comma where it’s not needed at the beginning of a sentence.
  Incorrect: However, she decided to stay home.
  Correct: However she decided to stay home.

2. Missing Apostrophes: Apostrophes are used for contractions and to indicate possession. Common errors include:

• Missing Apostrophes in Contractions: Failing to use an apostrophe to replace omitted letters in contractions.
  Incorrect: Its a beautiful day.
  Correct: It’s a beautiful day.
• Misplaced Apostrophes in Possession: Misplacing apostrophes when indicating possession.
  Incorrect: The cats toys are missing.
  Correct: The cat’s toys are missing.

3. Overusing Ellipses: Traditionally, these were only used when an excerpt or quotation was incomplete. While ellipses (…) can add suspense, overusing them diminishes their impact.

• Excessive Ellipses: Using too many dots to create a pause.

Incorrect: I was thinking about… you know… maybe… going out with Edward… or not.
Correct: I was thinking about maybe… going out with Edward. Or, not.

4. Quotation Marks: Understanding when to use quotation marks is crucial.

• Missing Quotation Marks in Dialogue: Not enclosing spoken words in quotation marks.
  Incorrect: He said, I’ll be there at 8.
  Correct: He said, “I’ll be there at 8.”
• Quotation Marks for Emphasis: Using quotation marks to emphasize words unnecessarily.
  Incorrect: The “fresh” vegetables were delicious.
  Correct: The fresh vegetables were delicious.
  Correct: The fresh vegetables were delicious. (Use italics, in this way, sparingly.)

5. Colon and Semicolon Confusion: Colon (:) and semicolon (;) have distinct uses.

• Colon for Lists: Using a colon before a list without an independent clause before it.
  Incorrect: My favorite cinematic universes include: Star Wars, Twilight, James Bond, and the Marvel Universe films.
  Correct: My favorite cinematic universes include Star Wars, Twilight, James Bond, and the Marvel Universe films.
• Semicolon for Unrelated Clauses: Using a semicolon to join unrelated independent clauses.
  Incorrect: She has three favorite albums; Taylor Swift’s latest music video is great, she says.
  Correct: She has three favorite albums. Taylor Swift’s latest music video is great, she says.

How to Fix These Errors

Now that we’ve identified these common errors, let’s explore how to fix them:

• Misplaced Commas: Be mindful of where commas are needed, and use them to separate items in a series, set off introductory elements, and avoid comma splices.
• Missing Apostrophes: Use apostrophes correctly for contractions and possession.
• Overusing Ellipses: Reserve ellipses for moments of hesitation or suspense, not excessive pauses.
• Quotation Marks: Enclose spoken words in quotation marks, and use them sparingly for emphasis.
• Colon and Semicolon Confusion: Understand their specific uses and apply them appropriately.

Practice Correcting Punctuation Mistakes

Next, you’ll have an assignment (presented in quiz format), including sentences containing the common punctuation errors we’ve discussed. Your task is to identify the errors and correct them following the guidelines we’ve covered in this lesson. Practice makes perfect!

The actual final quiz for this unit will assess your proficiency in using correct punctuation. You’ll encounter various sentences with punctuation errors, and your goal is to spot the mistakes and fix them.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll have explanations of how punctuation marks are used, a solid grasp of common punctuation errors, and the skills to fix them confidently. Let’s dive in and master these essential punctuation rules!