Punctuation

A collection of blog posts about punctuation. Brush up on your skills and find out how to create perfectly punctuated writing with Knowadays.

  • Proofreading Tips: Punctuation in MHRA Style

    Proofreading Tips: Punctuation in MHRA Style

    Jul 01, 2021

    • Academic Editing
    • Common Errors
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation
    • Style

    The MHRA Style Guide is often used in the humanities, especially in the UK. But what does a proofreader need to know when working on a document that follows this style? In this post, we will look at the rules for punctuation in MHRA style, including: General guidelines about the overall punctuation conventions in MHRA […]

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  • 5 Easy-to-Miss Apostrophe Errors

    5 Easy-to-Miss Apostrophe Errors

    Jun 10, 2021

    • Common Errors
    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    A good proofreader will always check for apostrophe errors. And, as a proofreader, you should know the basics of how this punctuation mark works already. However, some apostrophe errors are easier to miss! Five easy-to-miss errors to look out for include: Exceptions to the rules about possessives and words that end in Certain proper nouns […]

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  • Punctuation in Other Languages (And Why It Matters for Proofreaders)

    May 20, 2021

    • ESL Writing
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    Proofreaders are (or should be!) familiar with how common punctuation marks are used in English. But punctuation marks and conventions differ between languages. As a result, when working with ESL clients, you might spot some unusual punctuation in a document. If you do see non-English punctuation in a document, you will need to correct it […]

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  • Editing Tips: Does a Comma Indicate a Pause?

    May 13, 2021

    • Common Errors
    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    One of the first things most people learn about commas is that they indicate a pause. And most writers add a comma wherever they would also pause in speech. When proofreading, though, you need to be more discerning. So, when does a comma indicate a pause? And what else do you need to know as […]

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  • A Proofreader's Guide to Conjunctive Adverbs

    Feb 25, 2021

    • Common Errors
    • Grammar
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    Conjunctive adverbs are a useful way of linking sentences and clauses in writing. However, the rules for punctuating conjunctive adverbs can be confusing. As a proofreader, then, you may need to look for issues with these terms. In this post, we’ll explain what you need to know. Linking Sentences with a Conjunctive Adverb Conjunctive adverbs […]

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  • 5 Errors New Proofreaders Often Miss

    Jan 14, 2021

    • Common Errors
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation
    • Spelling

    Proofreaders need to be careful not to overlook mistakes in text while they work. Here, for instance, we’re going to look at five errors that new proofreaders often miss in documents: Mix-ups involving unfamiliar homophones. Multiple independent clauses combined in a comma splice. Inconsistencies in a document that don’t involve explicit errors. Misplaced or missing […]

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  • 5 Easy-to-Miss Quotation Mark Errors

    Nov 08, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    Among other things, a good proofreader will check documents for proper use of quotes and quotation marks. However, there are many easy-to-miss quotation mark errors, including 4. Smart Quotes vs. Straight Quotes In typography, quotation marks come in two styles: Smart (or curly) quote marks – These are standard in most writing now, and most […]

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  • Editing Tips: Punctuation in APA Style

    Aug 27, 2020

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation
    • Style

    The APA Publication Manual is one of the principal academic style guides. And if you’re proofreading academic writing, especially in the social and Becoming A Proofreader Want to know more about style guides and proofreading? Then our Becoming A Proofreader course could be just what you’re looking for. Sign up for a free trial today […]

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  • Editing Tips: Punctuation in Chicago Style

    Editing Tips: Punctuation in Chicago Style

    Jul 23, 2020

    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation
    • Style

    The Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) contains a lot of information on punctuation! Some is just to remind the reader of standard usage ( For instance: We must decide soon for expedience’s sake. Are there any other elements of punctuation you would like to see explained on this blog or in the Knowadays courses? If […]

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  • Editing Tips: How to Punctuate Dates

    Editing Tips: How to Punctuate Dates

    Jul 09, 2020

    • Common Errors
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Punctuation

    There are various ways to punctuate dates. This poses a challenge for proofreaders. Should you correct punctuation in dates in a document? And how does punctuating dates vary in different situations? In this post, we answer your punctuation questions. Punctuating Numerical Date Formats Commas Between Days and Years in Dates The US date format uses […]

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