When used properly, punctuation and mechanics conveys your words with their intended. However, when used incorrectly, they can transform the meaning of the most basic sentence and confuse your readers.
Browse the links below for the general uses of punctuation and mechanics. Special attention is given to the most common mistakes that occur when punctuation does not follow standard written English conventions. The guidelines and examples given here do not offer a comprehensive analysis of all punctuation uses, rather a quick overview of some of the most frequent punctuation mistakes students make in writing.