Punctuation Myths That Refuse to Die

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Punctuation is supposed to make our writing clearer, right? But sometimes, the “rules” we’ve been taught about punctuation are less about clarity and more about tradition—or worse, myths that refuse to die. Just like zombie grammar rules, these punctuation myths still lurk in classrooms, style guides, and editing notes, making writers—and sometimes even editors—second-guess themselves when they really don’t have to.

Here are some of the most common punctuation myths you can stop worrying about.

Table of Contents

1. Never Use the Oxford Comma

The Myth: That pesky final comma before “and” in a list of three or more items is unnecessary.
The Truth: The Oxford comma, also known as the serial or series comma, prevents ambiguity. “I’d like to thank my parents, Beyoncé and Oprah” reads a lot differently without it. Are Beyoncé and Oprah my parents? Use the Oxford comma when it aids clarity (and know that many style guides, like The Chicago Manual of Style, recommend it).

There is an exception though: An Oxford comma is not required before an ampersand. For example, it’s not required in this sentence: “The Irish flag is green, white & orange.”

It’s worth noting that the Oxford comma isn’t as common in the UK. While the Oxford University Press recommends using it, the Cambridge University Press doesn’t.

2. Don’t Put a Comma Before “And”

The Myth: A comma before “and” is always wrong.
The Truth: Sometimes a comma before “and” is essential—especially when it separates two independent clauses. Example: “I wanted to go for a walk, and she wanted to stay inside.”

An example of when you wouldn’t use it would be: “I wanted to go for a walk and then go for ice-cream.”

3. Two Spaces After a Period

The Myth: Real professionals use two spaces after a period.
The Truth: This rule only made sense in the typewriter era when monospace fonts were the norm. Today, in digital and print publishing, one space is the standard. Two spaces just look … dated. You’ll be giving your age away!

4. Exclamation Points Are Always Unprofessional

The Myth: Only amateurs use exclamation points.
The Truth: Exclamation points can add warmth, friendliness, and enthusiasm. The key is moderation—don’t pepper every sentence with them and go easy on the number you use at the end of a sentence. But don’t feel guilty about using them in emails or social media when the tone calls for it.

5. You Shouldn’t Use Dashes in Formal Writing

The Myth: Dashes (—) are too casual for serious writing.
The Truth: Dashes are versatile and perfectly acceptable in formal writing. They can replace commas, parentheses, or colons for emphasis and readability. The trick is not to overdo them.

There’s a rumor going around that dashes are a sign that the writer has used AI to write their content. As a longtime proponent of the dash, I completely disagree. It’s a versatile punctuation mark that should be used more often, if anything. 😉

6. Apostrophes Should Never Be Used to Make Words Plural

The Myth: Using an apostrophe for plurals is always wrong.
The Truth: While “apple’s for sale” is incorrect, special cases exist where apostrophes help readability—like making single letters plural (“Mind your p’s and q’s”).

7. Question Marks Shouldn’t Appear in the Middle of a Sentence

The Myth: A question mark always ends a sentence.
The Truth: Indirect questions don’t need one, but rhetorical or embedded questions sometimes do. Example: “The big question—can we actually finish this project?—remains unanswered.”

8. Semicolons Are Pretentious and Should Be Avoided

The Myth: Only snobs use semicolons.
The Truth: Semicolons are a legitimate tool to link closely related ideas. If you know how to use them, go ahead. Just don’t force them where a period or dash would work better. It depends on the style of writing. Semicolons aren’t as common in fiction, particularly children’s or young adult fiction, but they are common in nonfiction business books, for example.

Conclusion

Punctuation is there to guide readers, not to box writers into outdated rules. These myths linger because we’ve all been drilled with them at some point—but most of them are either oversimplified or just plain wrong. The real rule? Use punctuation to make your writing as clear, effective, and reader-friendly as possible.

Always worried you might be using punctuation marks incorrectly? Check out my Punctuation 101 e-book and workbook combo to learn exactly how to use punctuation correctly to make your writing clearer.