Correct Use of Punctuation Marks

Punctuation clarifies meaning and simplifies reading. It's like a road map. If you don't have the street names the map does not make sense. It's the same with punctuation. When you are writing, the work should be punctuated correctly so your reader doesn't become lost or go down the wrong road. Editing can seem intimidating at first, but it doesn't have to be. The Yahoo! Style Guide has arrived and provides a punctuation road map. Knowing when to consult the Style Guide can be confusing..The following tips can help you quickly decide when you need to consult the Style Guide.

Read your article out loud.
If you find yourself out of breath or pausing in the middle of sentences, your sentences may be too long. Consider using periods to break your sentences into smaller units. A long sentence may need a comma
to separate items, to signal a missing word, or before a quotation. If you feel that you are barking out short phrases; consult the Style Guide regarding semicolons.

Scan your article for excessive use of punctuation.
Does your article seem to have too many question marks? Indirect questions don't need a question mark. Exclamation points should not be overused. It annoys the reader!

Double check the usage of certain punctuation marks.
Some punctuation marks seem like second nature because you see them so often when reading. Other marks that are not so common need double checking. Sometimes you have to make a decision between an ellipsis point and a dash. An ellipsis point can signal a trailing thought as can a dash. Consider also which type of dash should be used. There is much to consider when using these two characters. Confusion can easily ensue...

Hyphens can be tricky also. Was the student well behaved or well-behaved? It only takes a few minutes to consult the Style Guide. There are a surprising number of variations when using the hyphen.

Consider contractions and plurals.
Sometimes you shouldn't use a contraction. You may want to use the more dramatic should NOT in a sentence. Contraction use may signal how formal or informal the style of the article is. Both have benefits in different situations. I have found that business writing is more formal;do not use contractions. In other kinds of writing it is a style choice.
The apostrophe is also used to signal ownership. Most often this is easy enough: The paper's punctuation is an important detail. With multiple papers you need to double check your plurals.

Double check quotation marks.
Make sure periods and commas are inside quotation marks. Question marks and exclamation points can be inside or outside quotation marks. Consult the guide if you are not sure.
Always use quotation marks to signal a direct quote.
According to the Style Guide, "When defining or introducing an unfamiliar word or phrase in on line copy, put the word or phrase in quotation marks on first reference only."
When writing conversation I have found that it pays to double check the small details of quotation mark use. Mistakes may not be obvious but it makes a big difference in how much enjoyment your reader gets from your article.

By checking these five areas in your work you will eliminate many of the most common errors. Consult the Yahoo! Style Guide if you have any doubt at all about the correct punctuation. You will be surprised at how many of the punctuation rules stick with you as you use the style guide. The more you use the style guide the better your writing will be as correct punctuation becomes automatic.