Punctuation
A collection of blog posts about punctuation. Brush up on your skills and find out how to create perfectly punctuated writing with Knowadays.
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How to Become a Court Transcript Proofreader
How to Become a Court Transcript Proofreader
May 31, 2023
One of the best things about freelance proofreading is getting to work on a wide variety of material. However, there are benefits to choosing a proofreading niche or subject you want to specialize in. One option is to work in the legal field by proofreading transcripts taken during legal proceedings. This post explores transcript proofreading, […]
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Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks?
Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks?
Mar 25, 2023
As if the differences between UK and US English spelling weren’t tricky enough, several other variations between the two dialects also exist, such as how quotations are written. In addition, the guidelines that dictate whether the punctuation goes inside or outside of quotation marks depend on the dialect you’re writing or proofreading in. While neither […]
How to Use Commas with Coordinating Conjunctions
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11 Uncommon Punctuation Marks (and How to Use Them)
Mar 13, 2023
There’s no doubt about it: punctuation is an integral part of writing. We use it to mark pauses, pose questions, emphasize certain ideas, and clarify meaning. You’ll already be familiar with the usual suspects – periods, commas, exclamation points, question marks, and so on – but did you know there are some weird and wonderful […]
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How to Use Ellipses in Writing (With Examples)
Mar 06, 2023
Ellipses, also known as “dot, dot, dot,” are a type of punctuation with many purposes. In this guide, we explore what ellipses are and how you can help your clients make the most of them in their writing. What Is an Ellipsis? An ellipsis is a form of punctuation consisting of three dots (or periods): […]
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What Is an Oxford Comma? (With Examples)
Dec 21, 2022
Commas can be a confusing part of punctuation, and the Oxford comma is no exception. In this post, we’ll explain what exactly an Oxford comma is and how you should deal with them as a proofreader. The Oxford Comma (AKA The Serial Comma) Commas are used to separate items in a list. An Oxford comma, […]
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When to Use Possessive Apostrophes
Nov 13, 2022
Apostrophes are one of the most commonly misused forms of punctuation. As a proofreader or editor, you’ll need to catch apostrophe errors in your client’s work. There are two main uses of apostrophes: to indicate possession and to create a contraction. In this post, we’ll be focusing on the former. Read on to learn the […]
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Halloween or Hallowe’en?
Oct 31, 2022
Boo! Grab your masks, pumpkins, and bowls of candy. It’s that time of the year again! Halloween is celebrated on October 31 in the US and other parts of the world. Though you’re probably familiar with the spelling “Halloween,” you might have come across an alternative spelling: “Hallowe’en.” In this post, we’ll talk about where […]
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How to Use Semicolons (With Examples)
Oct 24, 2022
A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that indicates a pause, and it typically serves two purposes: linking two closely related independent clauses and separating items in a multipart list. But how are they different from colons? And when is a semicolon a better choice than a comma? As a proofreader, you’ll need to know […]
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What Is the Difference Between an Acronym and an Initialism?
What Is the Difference Between an Acronym and an Initialism?
Jul 13, 2022
Acronyms and initialisms are both types of abbreviations. For most people, there’s no pressing need to know the difference between the two. However, most people aren’t professional proofreaders. For this rare breed, understanding the difference between an acronym and an initialism is necessary. With that in mind, in this blog post we take a closer […]
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A Proofreader’s Guide to Exclamation Point Use
A Proofreader’s Guide to Exclamation Point Use
Jul 01, 2022
Exclamation points, also known as exclamation marks, are used to express excitement, enthusiasm, and other strong emotions. As a proofreader, though, you may need to help clients avoid overusing them or using exclamations in the wrong situation. So, when should exclamation points be used? And when should a proofreader step in to curb a client’s enthusiasm for […]