Have You Checked Your Punctuation?

Punctuation marks are important symbols that can add depth, clarity and structure to a written work. Correct punctuation marks are also essential in reading- particularly when it comes to pausing and intonation.

Try to read a paragraph that has not a single punctuation on it and you'll realize the difference. Some authors use punctuation to define their personal writing styles but unless you are a pro, it's best to stick with the rules of proper punctuation.

The three most common punctuation marks that are used to end a sentence are period (.), question mark (?) and exclamation point (!). Here are the basic rules:

• Make sure that all your statements end with a period.
• Make sure that all your questions have a question mark at the end.
• If a sentence suggests strong feelings or emphasis, use an exclamation point.

Use a double quotation ( " ) for direct quotes, dialogues, speeches or citations.
Example:
“I’ve always wanted to be a writer,” Helen said.
According to Wikipedia, “Certain aspects of punctuation are stylistic and are thus the author's (or editor's) choice.”

Use a single quotation (‘) if there is another quote within the quotation.
Example:
Haley said, “My mother said, ‘You can’t go out today!’ in a very stern voice.”
“I heard Mr. Riley said, ‘I don’t know that boy!’ right in front of everyone in the room,” said Jean.

Use an apostrophe (‘) to show possession or to combine two words and form a contraction.
Example:
All these cute flowers are Amy’s. All the cards have her name on them.
You’re not the only one who is interested about the proper use of punctuation marks.

The comma (,) has many uses and therefore, can be quite confusing. Generally, a comma is used to:

• denote a series

Example: I went shopping and bought a new bag, a new pair of shoes, and a watch to go with my outfit. (the comma before AND can be omitted)

• separate adjectives in a row

Example: She is such a brilliant, talented, charming young woman that no one can resist.

• denote an appositive or a phrase that supplements information to the subject

Example: Antoine de Saint Exupery, a French writer and aviator, wrote The Little Prince.

• separate an introductory phrase

Example: Although not autobiographical, The Little Prince was inspired by the author’s experiences as a pilot.

• separate 2 independent clauses

Example: Everybody was curious about the new girl, but nobody knew where she lives or what thing she do.

• call someone’s attention

Example: Jess, don’t forget to call me when you get home.

• separate a city from its State

Example: Los Angeles, California

• separate direct quotations

Example: John asked, “Where you the one who took the picture?”

A Semi-colon (;) can be used to separate 2 related but independent clauses. It is also used to separate a more complex series.
Example:
There hasn’t been any rainfall this month; everyone expected the rain to fall anytime but it didn’t.
I was having a hard time deciding whether to wear my brown, leather jacket; my black, formal blazer; or my green, cashmere sweater for my job interview.

A Colon (: ) can be used to introduce a list.
Example: I brought along three friends with me: John, my high-school classmate; Jerry, my neighbour; and Dianne, my officemate.

A Hyphen (-) is used with:

• Prefixes (for easier reading)

Example: re-invent, ex-husband

• Compound words

Example: out-of-place

• Numbers written as words

Example: twenty-two, thirty-three

A Dash( – ) is used when an idea is added in the middle of the sentence. This is done to add clarification, information or a dramatic emphasis to the subject.
Example: Punctuation marks – like period and exclamation point – add depth to a sentence.

The slash (/) is used when suggesting two possible options or terms in a sentence.
Example: You will need a company ID and/or driver’s license to get through.
A customer must exercise caution when he/she is shopping online.

Parentheses ( ( ) ) are used to add information or a thought or to show an example without interrupting the sentence.
Example: The use of punctuation marks (period, comma, exclamation point, etc.) need not be complicated.

Brackets ( [ ] ) is often used when adding a comment or note from the editor of the piece.
Braces ( { } ) are used to denote a numeric set.

Why Check Your Spelling?

One of the basic rules about professional writing is to avoid spelling errors. Misspelled words or typographical errors can instantly send negative impression to a reader. Wouldn’t you be turned off if an interesting article that you’re reading contains not only one but several misspelled words?

True, not everyone is as strict when it comes to pointing out wrong spelling. But then again, not everyone would be as forgiving. It would be a shame to lose readers just because you didn’t pay attention to the correct spelling of words. If you have an online business, it would be a shame to drive away potential customers because poorly presented web content.

Another reason why you should watch out your spelling: Search Engines check them too! Yes, even search engines prefer websites that are free from typos! Just read this article by Matt Cutts: SEO ADVICE: Spell Check Your Website. If you want to rank higher and increase your traffic, all the more you should pay attention to your spelling.

Microsoft Word has its own spell-checking tool that you can use to spot errors as you type. Here are free online spell checkers that you can use to double-check your work:

• Orangoo You can either enter the URL of your webpage or paste the text or the entire article that you want to check. Aside from English, you can also spell check in other languages (French, Spanish, Italian, etc.)
• SpellChecker.net
• Jacuba

Check Your Spelling: Proofread Your Work
Aside from using automatic spell checkers, don’t forget to proofread your work. Spell checkers can only detect incorrect spelling, but not incorrect grammar. Some words may be correctly spelled but are used in the wrong context.

Homonyms or homophones (words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings) are usually misspelled or misused in texts.

Here are two examples:

Its (possessive form of IT) and It’s (it is)
Your (possessive pronominal adjective) You’re (you are)

It’s easy to miss these spelling errors if you won’t proofread your work. If you don’t have time, have someone else to do the editing for you.

Improve Your Spelling Skills:

Finally, you can do a lot to improve your spelling skills. If you’re not sure of how to spell a word, look it up in the dictionary. Spellcheckers are great for quick editing but using a dictionary helps you learn more about a word.

A dictionary gives more information such as the pronunciation, etymology, the part of speech the term belongs, the meaning, and sample sentences. Some dictionaries even include synonyms and antonyms.

A deeper understanding about a word would help you remember the correct spelling more easily. Here are links to online dictionaries for your research:

• YourDictionary.com
• The Free Dictionary
• Merriam-Webster