English Punctuation Guide

If we didn’t already have a system of punctuation, someone would invent one.

The problem is that we have a perfectly good one but people don’t know it – so they write or type a line or two – then have a vague feeling that there should be some sort of mark to indicate some sort of pause – so they do the first thing they can think of – and put in a quick shapeless pen stroke – or

tap the hyphen key – and presto the thing is punctuated.

But why not use the system we already have? It’s there, it’s simple, it’s effective, and it’s accurate.

We have all proved that we are quite capable of using very small signs accurately, and we do exactly that every time we type an email address or look up a website. We know we have to miss only one dot, or put a hyphen instead of an underscore, and either the email goes nowhere or we can’t find the site.

If we can punctuate our emails, we can punctuate the rest of our writing – and that includes our advertising, our business cards, our assignments, our emails and letters, our church and club notices, our shop fronts. It includes everything we write.

Let’s use the system we have. Let’s use it now to deal with that indigestible mouthful at the top of the previous page.

The problem is that we have a perfectly good one, but people don’t know it. They write or type a line or two, then have a vague feeling that there should be some sort of mark to indicate some sort of pause. So they do the first thing they can think of. They put in a quick shapeless pen stroke, or tap the hyphen key, and presto! The thing is punctuated.

Punctuation isn’t as difficult as you think it is.

This app includes:

I’m writing ordinary sentences. What punctuation marks do I need?

What’s the difference between a hyphen and a dash? Aren’t they the same?

Capital letters can be confusing. When should I use them? When shouldn’t I use them?

Please! Please tell me about apostrophes

I’m quoting something written by someone else. What are the rules?

I want to write a conversation, just as it was spoken

Lists. Are there any rules?

Not strictly punctuation, but …

In conclusion