9 most common punctuation mistakes

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

“There are never too many commas” is not the best approach.

1. Extra comma before the conjunction "how"

Not right:

Right:

To separate the word "how" from the rest of the sentence is a desire at the reflex level. However, you should not always succumb to it. Turnover Putting a comma before the union AS with this union can be part of the predicate, and without it the statement will lose its complete meaning. In such cases, the punctuation mark is superfluous.

A comma must be put if the union is included in the usual comparative turn: "Her dress rustled like autumn leaves playing with the wind." But be careful here too - there are several more cases in which it is omitted:

Before the conjunction “how” there are words “absolutely, completely, almost, like, exactly, exactly, just” or the negation of “not”: “His facial features are just like his father's”

The comparison itself is a predicate, and the conjunction "how" stands between it and the subject instead of a dash: "The sky is like an ocean."

The circumstance of the mode of action is disguised under the comparative turnover. It can be difficult to distinguish them from each other: "She bent like a cat." "Like a cat" can be replaced by "cat-like" or "cat"

2. Incorrect order of signs "!" and "?"

Not right:

Well, why are you telling me all this !?

Right:

Well, why are you telling me all this ?!

XXXIV is incorrect at the end of sentences with emotional connotations. Combinations of punctuation marks put an exclamation mark first, and then a question mark. The main purpose of such statements is still to ask a question. The exclamation mark only clarifies the intonation.

3. Unnecessary comma before the conjunction "what"

Not right:

Right:

Problems often arise with combinations like "(not) more than", "(not) less than". If there is no juxtaposition in the sentence, you should not separate the “what” from the rest. In this case, the entire phrase constitutes a single (NOT) MORE / MORE THAN as part of the comparative turnover a member of the sentence with the words that follow it.

To check, you can try to rebuild the structure: "This business will take no more than five minutes." In this version, it is clear that there are no oppositions.

A comma in front of the union is needed only if there is a comparison: "He has more questions than a child."

4. Commas in compound subordinate unions

Not right:

Right:

Words that are often used at the beginning of the subordinate part of a sentence ("to", "what", "if" and others), cause the desire to always put a punctuation mark in front of them. But sometimes they are part of compound subordinate unions. Punctuation in constructions with compound subordinate unions, such as “if”, “because”, “before”, “despite what” and others. Most often, they do not need a comma between words - the entire construction is separated.

There are only a few cases where a punctuation mark should still be placed before the second part of the union.

Before the union there is a denial of "not": "He did not come back to stay, but only to take things."

Before the union there are reinforcing, restrictive and other particles, introductory words, adverbs: "He came back only to pick up things."

The first part of the union is included in a series of homogeneous members of the sentence or parallel constructions: "She laughed both because it was really funny, and just so as not to cry."

There is a logical emphasis on the first part of the union: “I chose this book because I read it in my childhood”

5. Comma after the conjunction "however"

Not right:

Right:

The conjunction "however" The punctuation guide can be replaced in a sentence with "but", in which case separation is not required.

A punctuation mark is needed if this is an introductory word or an interjection: "But, however, we are not talking about this now", "Well, you have requests, however!"

6. Comma before "and so on and so forth"

Not right:

Right:

The desire to put a punctuation mark arises as if by inertia, because these words are Rosenthal Ditmar Elyashevich. Reference book on the Russian language. Punctuation is very similar to homogeneous repeating union members. But in reality they are not, and the comma is not needed.

Of course, this also applies to non-union options: "We bought apples, oranges, bananas, etc."

But the words "and others" are just a homogeneous member of the sentence. If there is a repeating union, we put a comma: "Sasha, and Masha, and Pasha, and others have arrived."

7. Skipping commas before clauses

Not right:

Right:

Main and subordinate clauses XXVIII. Punctuation marks in a complex sentence of a part sometimes give the impression of a single whole when you say sentences out loud. As a result, I don't want to put punctuation marks. But regardless of intonation, the comma is still needed.

There are, however, exceptions XXVIII. Punctuation marks in a complex sentence. The punctuation mark should be omitted if:

When words are separated from each other, the sentence loses its complete meaning. Such phrases should be taken just as a whole XXIX. Punctuation for non-relative clauses: "Do what you want!"

There is a particle of denial "not": "I say this not to offend, but to help."

Before the subordinate union there is also a compositional ("and", "or", "either", "neither" and others): "He did not remember what he said, nor to anyone."

The subordinate clause consists only of the most common word: "I'll be back, but I don't know when."

8. Comma between subject and predicate

Not right:

Right:

Explain the punctuation mark between the main members of the simple XLI. The construction of a simple sentence of a sentence can be done only by inattention or haste. After all, even if it is widespread, it is not clear why to separate the subject and predicate from each other.

9. Incorrect design of lists and lists

To put the correct punctuation marks everywhere, you need to remember a few rules Technical design of the text:

• The list can be preceded by a period or colon.
• If he continues or directly clarifies the sentence or there is a generalizing word, put a colon.
• If the list is preceded by a colon, its elements can begin with either an uppercase letter or a lowercase letter.
• If the elements start with a capital letter, then there must be a period at the end of each of them.
• If the first letter is lowercase, there is a comma at the end (when the elements are very simple and short) or a semicolon (when they are more complex).
• In any case, there is a period at the end of the last element.

Examples:

You can take a walk:

• through the woods,
• park,
• garden.

You can walk:

• through a forest with mushrooms;
• a park with a beautiful pond;
• a garden full of flowers.

You can:

• Walk through the autumn forest, filled with the aromas of pine needles, earth and rain.
• Walk through a vast, beautiful park with a swan pond.
• Visit the garden and admire the bright colors that can cheer anyone up.

You can walk in a park, garden or forest.

• Don't forget to let us know where you decided to go.
• Wear hats when walking into the forest.
• Book a guide if you are interested in learning more about the places to visit.