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I once received an email that began, “Your welcome! Let’s eat Grandma!” The writer meant “You’re welcome” and probably wanted to invite Grandma to dinner, not cook her. A simple apostrophe and comma turned a friendly message into a horror scene.

That’s the thing about punctuation. One tiny mark—or a missing one—can shift meaning, embarrass you, or make your writing look careless. If you’re learning English, you’re not alone in making these errors. Even advanced writers slip up. But when you’re applying for jobs, sending business emails, or writing academic work, these mistakes scream “unprofessional.”

Let’s fix the most common culprits.

The Apostrophe Catastrophe: Its vs. It’s

This is the #1 mistake I see. Learners (and native speakers) mix up its (possession) and it’s (short for “it is” or “it has”).

• Wrong: The company lost it’s funding.
• Right: The company lost its funding.
• Wrong: Its a beautiful day.
• Right: It’s a beautiful day.

Quick trick: If you can say “it is” or “it has,” use an apostrophe. Otherwise, don’t.

Also, avoid putting apostrophes in simple plurals. It’s “two cats,” not “two cat’s.” Apostrophes show ownership or missing letters, not plurality.

The Runaway Comma

Commas are like speed bumps: they control flow. Two common problems:

1. Comma splices – joining two complete sentences with only a comma.

• Wrong: I finished the report, I sent it to my boss.
• Right: I finished the report, and I sent it to my boss.
  (Or use a period: “I finished the report. I sent it to my boss.”)

2. Missing comma after introductory phrases – this kills readability.

• Wrong: After eating the children went to bed.
• Right: After eating, the children went to bed.

Without that comma, you’re implying the children were eaten. (See? Horror again.)

The Misplaced Semicolon

Semicolons aren’t fancy commas. They connect two independent clauses that are closely related. Using them randomly looks amateurish.

• Wrong: I like coffee; it’s the best.
• Right: I like coffee; it wakes me up.

But don’t overuse them either. If you can use a period, do. Semicolons are for when you want a pause stronger than a comma but softer than a full stop.

Personal rule: If you’re not sure, write two sentences. It’s always safer.

The Overly Generous Quotation Mark

Some people use quotation marks to emphasize a word. Don’t. Quotation marks signal direct speech, titles, or irony (scare quotes). Using them for emphasis looks like you’re mocking the word.

• Wrong: We offer “fresh” coffee. (Are you lying?)
• Right: We offer fresh coffee.

If you want emphasis, use italics or bold. Save quotes for what someone actually said.

The Hyphen Headache

Hyphens connect words that work together as a single adjective before a noun. Without them, meaning gets fuzzy.

• Wrong: She is a well known author.
• Right: She is a well-known author.
• Wrong: I need a part time job.
• Right: I need a part-time job.

But don’t hyphenate after the noun: “The author is well known.” (Because there it’s not a compound adjective.)

Also, don’t hyphenate “common” prefixes like un, co, pre unless the root word starts with the same vowel (e.g., co-opt). Unprofessional needs no hyphen.

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To make it all stick, here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Fix Your Writing, Build Your Confidence

Punctuation isn’t just a set of rules—it’s the road signs that guide your reader. Get them right, and your ideas shine. Get them wrong, and even a brilliant message gets lost in confusion.

The best way to catch these mistakes is practice and feedback. That’s where English Measure comes in. Our free online test checks your Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking skills. You’ll see where you stand and get targeted practice to polish your writing—punctuation included.

Take your free English level test now →
It takes 15 minutes, and you’ll learn exactly what to work on next. No sign-up hassle, just real feedback.

Stop letting tiny dots and dashes hold you back. Start writing like the professional you are.