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 […]
Punctuation Myths That Refuse to Die Read More »
It’s getting to that time of year again! You’ve taken a festive photograph of your family all together, you’re just about to order your holiday cards, and you panic because that apostrophe in your family’s name doesn’t look quite right. You’re right to pause. Adding an apostrophe where there shouldn’t be one is a very
How to Make a Last Name Plural on a Holiday Card Read More »
I’d bet that if I were to ask anyone which punctuation mark they have the most trouble understanding how to use, their answer would be “I don’t know how to use commas.” Commas are notorious in the writing and proofreading worlds. There are several comma rules you can follow, but sometimes their use is subjective,
How to Use Commas (and Mistakes to Avoid) Read More »
Do you know how to use quotation marks correctly? What is the difference between single quotes vs. double quotes? Can you use quotation marks for emphasis? Speech marks trip some people up because how you use them can depend on where your audience is based. They are used differently in British English vs. American English.
How to Use Quotation Marks (and the Difference between Single vs. Double Quotes) Read More »
Hyphens are one of the trickiest punctuation marks. (I know, I’ve said the same thing before about other punctuation marks. They’re all tricky! ;-)) The biggest issue with hyphens is that often whether you use one or not can come down to personal preference. That being said, there are hyphenation rules that you can follow
How to Use Hyphens in Writing Read More »
Apostrophes are one of the most abused punctuation marks. Even the biggest grammar nerds among us sometimes add one in where it shouldn’t be used. However, they aren’t hard to master if you learn a few apostrophe rules. Keep reading to learn how to use an apostrophe and the mistakes you should avoid. (Please note
How to Use an Apostrophe Correctly (and Mistakes You Need to Avoid) Read More »
Colons and semicolons are two punctuation marks that people often confuse. They look similar, but they have different uses. If you’re not quite sure when to use a colon vs. semicolon, keep reading as I explain what the difference is and how to use them! (Please note that I used The Chicago Manual of Style
Colon vs. Semicolon: When and How to Use Them Read More »
En dash vs. em dash is one of the trickiest punctuation issues there is. They look very similar and are sometimes used for the same purpose (depending on what style guide you use). Below I explain what each dash is used for, provide examples, and show you how to create these marks in different word
En Dash vs. Em Dash: When and How to Use Them Read More »
Confession time: Before I started proofreading professionally, I had no idea how to use an ellipsis. I wasn’t aware that people used the ellipsis so frequently; it just wasn’t on my radar. The first proofreading job I took on after setting up my business had dozens of ellipses in it, so I had to learn
How to use an ellipsis: Chicago vs. AP Style Read More »
