Many people could benefit from using an English punctuation guide. There are many common mistakes made when it comes to English punctuation. Very often, writers do not even realize they are making these mistakes. Here are some reasons to consult an English punctuation guide.

1. Learn How to Use Commas

Do your sentences run on and on…and on? If you use what are known as run on sentences, you need to learn the purpose of commas. On the other hand, you don’t want to use too many commas either.

2. Use Quotation Marks Correctly

Many people do not know the correct use of quotation marks. For example, if you use quotes around words you want to highlight, as in “Now On Sale!” you are not using the quotation marks in the right way.

3. Apostrophes

Apostrophes are another area where people get confused. Apostrophes are for contractions, such as “can’t,” “they’ve” or “wouldn’t.” They are also for possessives, as in “Tom’s house.” Many people use apostrophe’s where they don’t belong –as in this very sentence! Just to be clear, “apostrophe’s” should not have an apostrophe. Making something plural does not mean it needs an apostrophe. Use an English punctuation guide to learn these rules.

4. Question Marks and Exclamation Points

If you are not clear about when to use question marks or exclamation points, then you definitely should consult a punctuation guide!

5. Colons and Semicolons

These can be quite confusing if you don’t know how they are used. A colon is one dot on top of another : A semicolon is a dot on top of a comma ;

These are just some things you can learn from an English punctuation guide!