See how meanings change when a punctuation mark is used wrongly.
Periods:
(1) I am sorry you can’t come with us.
(2) I am sorry. You can’t come with us.
Commas with interrupting phrases:
(1) The Democrats say the Republicans will lose the election.
(2) The Democrats, say the Republicans, will lose the election.
Commas with direct address:
(1) Call me fool if you wish.
(2) Call me, fool, if you wish.
Commas with compound clauses:
(1) Do not break your bread or roll in your soup.
(2) Do not break your bread, or roll in your soup.
Serial commas:
(1) This book is dedicated to my roommates, Oprah Winfrey, and God.
(2) This book is dedicated to my roommates, Oprah Winfrey and God.
Colons & commas:
(1) A woman without her man is nothing.
(2) A woman: without her, man is nothing.
Quotation marks & commas:
(1) “The criminal,” says the judge, “should be hanged.”
(2) The criminal says, “The judge should be hanged.”
Hyphens with compound words:
(1) I saw a man eating shark.
(2) I saw a man-eating shark.
Apostrophes with contractions:
(1) A clever dog knows its master.
(2) A clever dog knows it’s master.
Reproduced for Educational Purposes.
