Top 10 Punctuation Errors
Is Your Punctuation Faultless?
Here is a list of the top 10 punctuation errors committed by writers. This list counts down from 10 to 1 (i.e. from the 10th most common to the most common).
10 Putting an apostrophe in "ours," "yours," or "theirs":
- Always go to other people's funeral, otherwise they won't come to your's.
- Always go to other people's funeral, otherwise they won't come to yours.
9 Extending a sentence with a colon when a semicolon or dash should be used:
- Take my advice: I don't use it anyway.
- Take my advice; I don't use it anyway.
8 Extending a sentence with a semicolon when a colon should be used:
- I would like to change just one aspect of your draft; the words.
- I would like to change just one aspect of your draft: the words.
7 Using a semicolon to introduce the next item or a list:
- Sign in a pet store; "Buy one dog – get one flea."
- Sign in a pet store: "Buy one dog – get one flea."
6 Placing punctuation inside the quotation when it should be outside:
- After God had created man, did he say: "Hang on, I can do better?"
- After God had created man, did he say: "Hang on, I can do better"?
5 Failing to include the second comma on a parenthesis:
- We have, I fear confused power with greatness.
- We have, I fear, confused power with greatness.
4 Placing a comma before "however" and then writing a new sentence:
- There is a fine line between genius and insanity, however, I have erased this line.
- There is a fine line between genius and insanity. However, I have erased this line.
3 Putting a comma at the end of a sentence and then starting another one :
- We always hold hands, if I let go, she shops.
- We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
2 When showing possession, using an apostrophe after s when it should be before:
- Wagners' music is better than it sounds.
- Wagner's music is better than it sounds.
1 Using an apostrophe in a plural word:
- Dog's look up to us, and cat's look down on us. I prefer pig's – they treat us as equal's.
- Dogs look up to us, and cats look down on us. I prefer pigs – they treat us as equals.
A Video Summary
This video summarizes the top ten 10 punctuation errors: video lessonAre you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos.
This page was written by Craig Shrives.
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