Common Punctuation Errors
                     COMMON 
PUNCTUATION 
ERRORS
Apostrophe for Plurals
The apostrophe is used 
◦ To form contractions (e.g., It’s time 
to go) 
◦ To indicate possession (e.g., Mary’s 
car is blue)
Unnecessary Quotation 
Marks
There is no need of using single 
or double quotation marks when 
nothing is being quoted.
Wrong: This chocolate is “free”!
Right: This chocolate is free!
Multiple Punctuation 
Marks
Just a single exclamation point is 
enough for showing over 
excitement.
◦ Wrong: This is amazing!!!!
◦ Right: This is amazing!
Punctuation Outside 
the Quotation Marks
Punctuation shouldn’t be placed 
outside quotation mark.
◦ Wrong : Raj stated, "My vehicle is 
blue". 
◦ Right: Raj stated, "My vehicle is 
blue."
Missing Comma After 
Introductory Elements
Remember to put a comma after 
the initial component. 
◦ Wrong: Before going to office Maisha 
stopped at my house.
◦ Right: Before going to office, Maisha 
stopped at my house.
Don't confuse "it's" and 
"its"
"It's" could be a contraction for 
"it is" or "it has.“ where as "Its" 
without an apostrophe, is a 
possessive pronoun. 
Semi-colons versus 
Colons
Semi-colons are often misused in 
place of colon.
In case of semi-colons, think 
about a period rather to break 
the idea into two separate 
sentences.
Don't use dashes and 
hyphens 
interchangeably
Use a hyphen while connecting 
two or more words.
THANK YOU