Common Punctuation Mistakes in Fiction
In a previous blog post, I provided an overview of the most common punctuation marks used in English and the different functions they serve. Here I discuss eight punctuation mistakes I often encounter when editing fiction.
Using apostrophes to pluralize words
Unless you’re pluralizing an individual letter (“mind your p’s and q’s”) or a word that might be confusing otherwise (“do’s and don’ts”), apostrophes are not used to make things plural. This is one of the most common mistakes I come across in writing and in the real world. You may have seen signs in the wild declaring “Condo’s for sale” or “Get your Christmas tree’s here.” This also happens in fiction writing, especially when it comes to pluralizing proper nouns. If you’re tempted to use an apostrophe in a plural, stop and think for a second. Are you trying to show possession or attribution? If not, the apostrophe probably doesn’t belong. For an in-depth look at this topic, check out my blog post on plurals and possessives.
Comma splices
A comma splice occurs when a comma is used to connect two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). The following are examples of comma splices:
My alarm didn’t go off, I was late for the meeting.
I want to watch the new movie, it looks really interesting.
It’s raining, it’s pouring.**
In each of these examples, a comma is used to connect the two sentences. Remove the comma, and each part of the sentence can stand on its own. There are several ways to fix comma splices.
Use a period instead of a comma to form two separate sentences.
My alarm didn’t go off. I was late for the meeting.
I want to watch the new movie. It looks really interesting.
It’s raining. It’s pouring.
Use a semicolon instead of a comma.
My alarm didn’t go off; I was late for the meeting.
I want to watch the new movie; it looks interesting.
It’s raining; it’s pouring.
Use a coordinating conjunction after the comma.
My alarm didn’t go off, so I was late for the meeting.
I want to watch the new movie, for it looks interesting.
It’s raining, and it’s pouring.
**Comma splices can sometimes be used stylistically when the two connected sentences are short or similar in form. Therefore, if a writer chooses to punctuate “It’s raining, it’s pouring” with a comma, they can choose to do so. In fiction, this is somewhat common, but it’s often considered too informal for other types of writing.
Forgetting the vocative comma in direct address
When a speaker is directly addressing another person or object in dialogue or narrative, a comma should precede whatever is being spoken to. This is called a vocative comma or a direct address comma. If the vocative comes in the middle of a sentence, it should be set off by commas on both sides. These commas are often left out by accident.
“Hey, Casey! How’s it going, stranger?”
“You never cared about me, Will, and we both know it.”
The vocative comma lends clarity to what might otherwise be confusing or even comical. The classic example “Let’s eat Grandma” vs. “Let’s eat, Grandma” illustrates the importance of the comma. For more details on this, refer to my blog post on the vocative case.
Inconsistent use of the serial comma
A series is a list of three or more like elements punctuated by commas or, in rare instances, semicolons. Semicolons are used when “strong commas” are needed, typically when there are complex elements set off in commas within the series. The serial comma (also called the series comma or Oxford comma) is the one that comes before “and” or “or” in a series.
With a serial comma: He bought apples, oranges, and bananas at the store.
Without a serial comma: He bought apples, oranges and bananas at the store.
There are few topics in the editing and writing communities as polarizing as the use of the serial comma—some swear by it, some deem it unnecessary. I won’t get into the arguments here. A common mistake I come across is not the actual punctuation within each series but whether the usage of the serial comma is consistent throughout the manuscript. Some writers will switch back and forth between using the serial comma and not using it. If your book is going through a publisher, the publisher’s house style will dictate whether the editor will add or remove serial commas. If you’re self-publishing, you have the option to choose. As long as you’re consistent, feel free to go one way or the other. Keep in mind that there are times when using a serial comma may lend clarity to the intended meaning of a sentence.
Mixing usage of single and double quotation marks
Something I run into frequently is the mixing of single and double quotation marks in a manuscript when they serve different purposes. In US English, double quotation marks are used to indicate dialogue and to set off words or phrases that are either nonstandard or sarcastic/ironic. Single quotation marks are used when setting something off within double quotation marks, such as a quote within a quote. I often find that dialogue is correctly set in double quotation marks, but the ones used in narrative to indicate nonstandard words or sarcasm/irony are incorrectly placed in single quotation marks.
Incorrect: “Really? That’s your ‘brilliant’ plan?” I asked incredulously. So much for her being a ‘genius.’
Correct: “Really? That’s your ‘brilliant’ plan?” I asked incredulously. So much for her being a “genius.”
Punctuation placement in dialogue
In dialogue, terminal punctuation is placed inside the closing quotation mark. The type of punctuation used depends on two things: whether the sentence or phrase is a statement, question, or exclamation and whether it’s followed by a dialogue tag or action beat (or nothing at all).
If the sentence or phrase is an exclamation or question, the exclamation point or question mark is placed inside the closing quotation mark. In these instances, the stronger punctuation is the only one needed, so an exclamation point or question mark would supersede a comma or period.
“I wanted that one!” NOT “I wanted that one!.”
“Do you like it?” she asked. NOT “Do you like it?,” she asked.
If the sentence or phrase is a statement, the writer has to decide whether a period or comma is needed. If the dialogue is followed by a dialogue tag, which indicates who is speaking through a verbal action (said, asked, muttered, whispered), a comma is used inside the closing quotation mark. If the sentence or phrase is followed by an action beat, which indicates an action someone is doing while speaking (gasped, smiled, punched), a period is placed inside the closing quotation mark.
“You’re too much,” she said. NOT “You’re too much.” she said.
“That went well.” Andrew rolled his eyes. NOT “That went well,” Andrew rolled his eyes.
For more tips, read my blog post on writing dialogue.
Punctuation placement with quotation marks in narrative
There is often confusion as to where terminal punctuation marks should be placed in narrative when there are quotation marks involved. In US English, the convention is as follows:
Periods and commas are always placed inside the closing quotation mark.
Even though I resented it, my siblings always thought of me as “the golden child.”
Lee looked through his closet to find something to wear on their “date,” and his eyes lingered for a second on his red blazer.
Colons and semicolons are always placed outside the closing quotation mark.
He unpacked the contents of the bag labeled “in case of emergency”: two flares, a thick blanket, a first aid kit, and six packets of freeze-dried food.
She wasn’t sure if she could be the “hero the world needed”; after all, she had next to no training in using her powers.
Exclamation points and question marks are placed either inside or outside the closing quotation mark depending on whether the exclamation point or question mark is part of the quoted material or the sentence as a whole.
Poor Ringo just gets to hold an umbrella in the music video for “Help!” BUT I can’t believe her response to my heartfelt text was “yup”!
Last night they aired part one of “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” BUT Do you really think he’s “the one”?
Missing pairs
Quotation marks, parentheses, and brackets come in pairs, and there are many instances where commas and em dashes are paired as well. As an editor, if I come across an opening punctuation mark, you can bet I’m scanning for the closing one to make sure it a) exists and b) is properly placed. It’s usually the closing punctuation mark that’s missing in a pair if one’s missing at all. When you’re writing, make sure you’re not leaving an opening punctuation mark by itself! They get pretty lonely.
Final thoughts
The nuances of correct punctuation can be challenging to remember. These eight punctuation mistakes are just some of the many I come across while editing, and if you have trouble with any of them, just know that you’re not alone. Are there any in particular that you struggle with, or are there ones I didn’t list here that you’d like me to explore?
