1. Finishing punctuation on headings
Titles and headings shouldn’t have full stops. If the title or heading is a question, then yes, it gets a question mark. But otherwise, leave the stops and screamers (!) off. Sounds simple; is strangely confusing. Here’s an example from Teambox.
I think that subhead is intended to be a single sentence, but the way it’s positioned over two lines makes it look as if one subhead has finishing punctuation and the other doesn’t. Not cool.
2. Weird bullets
Without wanting to point the finger, for some reason developers copying and pasting text someone else has written (in Word or Notepad/TextEdit, presumably) into HTML seem to revel in failing to mark up bullet lists as, well … bullet lists. This is how we end up with bullets composed of text, like a dash (-) or the ever-popular colon-and-dash combo (:-). Okay, so you might not be thrilled to have to publish a three-page Word-formatted bio for that hoity-toity board member who snubbed you at the last company Christmas party. But the About Us page isn’t the place to exact your revenge. She doesn’t know HTML and you do, and it’ll take you three seconds to actually format that list properly so it takes the styles your designer has set for bullets that look like they’re meant to be on your website. A P.S. here: don’t include semi-colons or any other crazy punctuation on the end of list items. If the list items are complete sentences, give then capitals at the start and full stops at the end. If they’re not full sentences, lowercase the lot, and put a stop at the end of the last one only. Unless your house style guide says otherwise, that is.3. Using dashes instead of commas (or parentheses, or colons)
If someone’s using more than two dashes every 50 words, you can be pretty sure they’re misusing them. The same goes for parentheses, semi-colons, and ellipses. If you want to go editing the text, then knock yourself out, by all means. Here’s a good explanation of when and how to use dashes, and one for commas, and one for semi-colons. If you don’t want to take the editing on, you could always send it back (with the links above perhaps!) and suggest the author or an editor take another look.4. The greengrocer’s apostrophe
Named for the greengrocers who adorn their blackboards with messages like “Tomatoe’s $2”, this is an everyday typo, and one you should avoid. The rules:- If it’s a plural, add an s.
- If it’s possessive (or a contraction like “it’s”), add an apostrophe and an s.
5. Ampersands in text
Ampersands are much-loved by designers and typographers, less so by readers. An ampersand might wash in a heading, but it won’t in body text–-unless, that is, you use it consistently, everywhere in your text, instead of “and”. If space isn’t an issue, spell out “and” every time. Why? Because convention says so. Restricting ampersand usage to a limited range of situations is as far as our language has evolved at this point.If in doubt, don’t
Punctuation has a purpose, and that purpose is clear-cut. If you ask it to carry more than its fair share of the load, you can wind up in trouble. An example? Sure. Back to the Teambox site. Here’s the signup call to action.
If you read the article I linked to above on dashes, you might think, well gosh darn, that Get started – free!
button is just peachy. They’re using a dash to emphasise the fact that it’s free to get started. Excellent work, chaps!
Look a bit closer and you’ll spot a few problems here.
- That’s not a dash. It’s a hyphen.
- The heading says free and the button says free, but the subhead says $5 per user.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Common Punctuation Problems
Why is punctuation important in writing?
Punctuation is crucial in writing because it helps convey the intended meaning of the sentence. It provides pauses, stops, and emphasis where needed, making the text easier to read and understand. Without proper punctuation, sentences can become confusing and the intended message can be lost or misinterpreted.
What are some common punctuation mistakes to avoid?
Some common punctuation mistakes include misuse of apostrophes, overuse of commas, incorrect use of semicolons, and incorrect capitalization. It’s important to understand the rules of punctuation to avoid these common errors.
How can I improve my punctuation skills?
Improving punctuation skills requires practice and patience. Reading widely can help you understand how punctuation is used in different contexts. Additionally, there are numerous online resources and books available that provide exercises and explanations on punctuation rules.
What is the correct way to use apostrophes?
Apostrophes are used to indicate possession and to form contractions. In possession, the apostrophe is placed before the ‘s’ for singular nouns and after the ‘s’ for plural nouns. In contractions, the apostrophe replaces the omitted letters.
How should I use commas correctly?
Commas are used to separate items in a list, to separate independent clauses when they are joined by a coordinating conjunction, and to set off nonessential information. Misuse of commas can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.
When should I use a semicolon?
Semicolons are used to link two closely related independent clauses. They can also be used to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas.
How should I use capitalization correctly?
Capitalization rules can vary, but generally, the first word of a sentence and proper nouns should be capitalized. It’s also important to capitalize titles and headings correctly.
What are some tips for punctuating titles and headings?
Titles and headings should be capitalized according to the style guide you are following. Generally, the first word, the last word, and all important words in between should be capitalized.
How can I avoid over-punctuating my writing?
Over-punctuating can make your writing confusing and difficult to read. To avoid this, only use punctuation where necessary to convey your intended meaning. Remember, less is often more when it comes to punctuation.
What resources can I use to improve my punctuation?
There are numerous online resources, books, and style guides available to help improve your punctuation. Some popular options include The Chicago Manual of Style, The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, and various online grammar and punctuation guides.
Georgina LaidlawGeorgina has more than fifteen years' experience writing and editing for web, print and voice. With a background in marketing and a passion for words, the time Georgina spent with companies like Sausage Software and sitepoint.com cemented her lasting interest in the media, persuasion, and communications culture.
