Punctuation is arguably one of the most important parts of English. A missed comma or period could make a sentence mean something entirely different from what you intended. With resources like Grammarly Premium, you won’t have to worry about incorrect punctuation ever again.
How to Check Punctuation Online
One of the best ways to check your punctuation online is to use grammar checkers, like Grammarly. The specific design of these programs analyzes text to find significant and smaller errors in your writing. Instead of editing passages yourself, you can have an algorithm complete the job for you.
Grammarly
Grammarly is most notable for this task, as it analyzes typed content immediately, whether uploaded or pasted. Within seconds, you can have an assortment of necessary adjustments that can completely transform your article. All you have to do is hover or click each of the corrections to see what type of punctuation is missing or misplaced.
A significant benefit of Grammarly over other online punctuation checkers is how it teaches users for future use. Each edit comes with a thorough explanation of why you need to fix the errors. Using this information, you’re able to detect improper punctuation for better-crafted work before using an editor.
It would help if you considered signing up for a premium account with Grammarly for the most in-depth revisions. Otherwise, the platform will do a generic punctuation check, which might not catch every issue. Grammarly also takes the sentence structure into account when fixing punctuation, ensuring the edit does not compromise it.
There are several other essential features those with paid accounts receive, including:
- Formality appraisal
- Clarity sentence rewrites
- Tone and fluency adjustments
- Advanced punctuation suggestions
- Word choice suggestions
- Plagiarism detection
Other Online Punctuation Checkers
There aren’t very many punctuation checkers that go as in-depth as Grammarly. However, if you need a quick solution to clarifying your sentences’ punctuation, some resources can be useful.
Many platforms allow you to copy and paste single sentences at a time, showing you how to make specific edits. If you need to make quick edits of small passages, these tools can be useful. But for larger projects, it can take a while to check the punctuation of every sentence.
Why Is Punctuation Important?
Punctuation is a concept of language that allows you to insinuate specific things in your text. You can easily change a message or clarify it further with a comma or semicolon’s proper placement. Hyphens are another select type of punctuation, as they allow you to create more complex sentences.
Commas
The improper use of commas is far more common than you think, and knowing how to use them can often be confusing. The best way to learn their importance is to look at two examples.
- Example 1: I want to barbecue James.
- Example 2: I want to barbecue, James.
You can see how the comma has been omitted in the first example, which gives an entirely separate meaning to the intended phrase. In example two, you can see that the speaker isn’t interested in barbecuing James but tells James he wants to barbecue.
Improper punctuation can also have more severe consequences than a funny saying to a friend, however. Take road signs, for example. If a sign said, “No U-Turn” versus “No, U-Turn,” the latter suggests drivers should U-turn when they shouldn’t.
Oxford Comma
One of the most debatable types of punctuation in English is the Oxford comma. You typically place it after the penultimate item in a list of three or more things. For example, “I love bananas, apples, and oranges.” Writers typically argue whether it’s necessary, but it can be important in a few ways.
When you’re making a list of things, having an Oxford comma can significantly influence the order of importance of items. For example, “I love my sisters, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams,” suggests Maisie and Sophie are your sisters. However, “I love my sisters, Sophie Turner, and Maisie Williams,” shows that you love all these people independently.
Quotation Marks
Writers use quotation marks in various ways, such as identifying a conversation or explaining approval and disapproval. They are also one of the most overused types of punctuation when used in sarcastic conversations.
Hyphens
Hyphens are another type of punctuation often misused by native English speakers. When used correctly, they can significantly shift the context of a sentence.
- Example 1: I had to do twenty-one hour shifts.
- Example 2: I had to do twenty one-hour shifts.
In the first example, the individual had to do 21 one-hour shifts, while the second example shows 20 one-hour shifts.
Other Punctuation
There are undoubtedly several other types of punctuation, such as semicolons and periods. Each is quite important to ensure you’re getting information across properly so as not to mislead your audience. Above all else, improperly placed punctuation can make a piece of writing appear informal and lazily written.
Conclusion
Checking your punctuation online is essential to the readability of your work. Without proper placement, you can easily manipulate sentences to mean the opposite of what you intended. Using Grammarly, you can quickly and automatically check for punctuation errors.