Punctuation
Punctuation is a universal struggle for writers. Fiction. Nonfiction. Social media. Business. Academics. Across the board, professionals who write, students learning to write, and authors of books and academic papers all struggle with punctuation.
Contrary to what many believe – or think they remember from high school English – flexibility and boundaries both exist with punctuation in writing. The Oxford comma is optional, for example, and how we speak is not a solid measure of where and how to punctuate. Oh, and the em dash (used in the first sentence of this paragraph) is not simply an indication of AI-generated writing.
Punctuation matters because it gives structure in this free-for-all world. It matters because it expresses emotion and, in some cases, contains it. Using punctuation correctly builds trust because it says you care enough to publish clean writing, which signals credibility and promotes clarity. The flexibility within structure that punctuation allows for also gives room for someone to express the many facets of their ideas, thoughts, and opinions.
Punctuation plays a significant role in clear and effective communication. If that’s true, why do so many people fail to even struggle with it and simply decide, even if unaware, what will be will be? Even if they do try to punctuate correctly, the struggle to do so is often frustrating and quickly abandoned.
The Struggle is Real
Sometimes, the struggle to punctuate properly happens because the focus lies with content. That’s legitimate when writing a first draft and refraining from editing for punctuation until content is secure is a solid practice. Not knowing basic punctuation rules is another reason for the struggle as is the rush to publish, something increasingly common and easy to do with today’s technology.
Common punctuation errors writers at every level struggle with include:
- Using commas like confetti
- Overusing what’s meant to be minimally used (e.g., em dashes and semicolons).
- Inconsistency with basic punctuation.
Why is the struggle to punctuate properly so real? Maybe some of us didn’t really listen during grammar lessons in school. Perhaps it’s that flexibility with punctuation seems to mean for some writers a total disregard for basic rules. The fact that less than 50% of adults haven’t read a book in the past year (2025 Freckle Report) may also be a part of the reason. Though reading a book doesn’t necessarily mean you’re reading writing with correct punctuation anymore, one of quality does help a person see the value of good punctuation.
The struggle is real, too, because taking time to punctuate correctly often causes discomfort (slowing down and thinking before sending, for example). Even the simple goal of improving your punctuation, in other words, involves addressing the Comfortably Uncomfortable balance in your life.
A Starting Point
Perhaps you simply don’t care whether you’ve used a comma correctly or if all those em dashes makes everyone think AI did your writing for you, but I suspect that isn’t true. I think most people care but aren’t sure what to do to improve their use of punctuation.
Where do you start, then?
While there is much more to punctuating well, consider my minimalist approach to punctuating correctly as a starting point.
- Trust your instincts. You probably know more than you think you do about punctuation, so trust your instincts. However, if in doubt, leave it out. Too much of something can render it useless, after all.
- Learn (or relearn) the basics. Learn basic comma rules and how to use apostrophes correctly. A little time spent understanding these two punctuation marks will transform your writing.
- Be consistent. Making a point to use any punctuation mark the same way all the time will likely lead to learning how to use it correctly most of the time.
The more I consider the processes and structures involved with writing well, the more I realize that learning to write well teaches elements essential for growing, learning, and improving in life, too. Imagine for a moment how your life – or just one area of it – might progress if you trusted your instincts, shored up the basics, and pursued consistency as a minimalist approach.
Communicating well matters. Credibility still matters. Clarity matters, too. So do structure and giving boundaries to emotions. Let refining your punctuation skills be an activity that not only improves your writing, even if all you write are texts and emails, but also proves you are capable of taking small steps toward growth and learning.