Top 10 Punctuation Errors

search our site by Craig Shrives

Top 10 Punctuation Errors

This video shows the top ten 10 punctuation errors noted by Grammar Monster:

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos.

The Corrections from the Video

Here is the list shown in the video with the corrections:

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.

Read more about errors with possessive pronouns. 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.

Read more about using semicolons. 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.

Read more about using colons. 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."

Read more about using colons for introductions. 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"?

Read more about placing punctuation with quotation marks. 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.

Read more about errors with marking a parenthesis. 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.

Read more about using commas with "however." 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.

Read more about run-on errors. 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.

Read more about using apostrophes. 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.

Read more about apostrophe abuse.