Common Punctuation Mistakes in Fiction Writing

Think of punctuation marks like a team of crossing guards helping pedestrians find their way over busy streets. Without them, getting from one side of the road to the other would be less like a calm stroll and more like “Frogger.” You will reach your destination, but it will be a harrowing, uncomfortable experience.

Commas, hyphens, and all their lined, curved, and pointed friends head out into a moving tide of written information and signal to the reader when to stop, where to slow down, and how to move ahead.

Proper punctuation might seem like the domain of finicky editors and grammar purists, but that’s not the case. Inconsistent or flat-out incorrect use of punctuation disrupts flow and causes confusion, which has the net effect of breaking the reader’s bond with the story. Every time a reader doubles back on a sentence or paragraph to figure out meaning is an opportunity for the reader to give up on the book.

Here are a few examples of common punctuation mistakes in fiction that leave book readers stranded on the sidewalk, careful to sidestep an oncoming run-on sentence.

Misuse of apostrophes

The apostrophe has a simple job — it indicates possession (This is Joe’s jacket) and contraction (Don’t touch his jacket). But often it gets pulled into situations where it doesn’t belong.

Consider “it’s” and “its.” There are few grammar blunders that fire up readers more than this one, probably because it’s so easily avoided.

Example: He pulled the diamond from his pocket and held it up to the light. Though he had only a few seconds to make a run for the door, he stood frozen by the jewel, mesmerized by it’s bright shine.

“It’s” is the contracted form of “it is” or “it has.”

“Its” is the possessive for “it.”

If you can’t replace “it’s” with “it is” or “it has,” then it’s (as in, it is) wrong.

Another misuse of apostrophes is when they are inserted to pluralize.

Example: “Tonight, I’m grilling chicken and steaks,” Dad said. “If you want veggie’s, look elsewhere.”

Example: He opened the card with anticipation, but there was no $20 bill inside. All he got was a handwritten note: “Merry Christmas from the Johnson’s.”

Missing commas

Commas manage cadence and flow. They also break sentences down into shorter clauses that can be easily understood. When they’re not where they’re supposed to be, a sentence can go off the rails.

Example: Jack didn’t like being paired up with Frank, the runner-up in last year’s tournament because he made excuses after every bad drive, thin chip, or missed putt and Jack preferred to just play his round in silence.

Corrected: Jack didn’t like being paired up with Frank, the runner-up in last year’s tournament, because he made excuses after every bad drive, thin chip, or missed putt, and Jack preferred to just play his round in silence.

Incorrect em dashes

Em dashes have inspired many fiery debates about the role of AI in writing, but that’s a story for another day. And the difference between em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens is a grammar topic for an entire future post.

This is about correctly using em dashes to signal a break in thought, an interruption, or emphasis.

Here’s an example of a properly used em dash:

Joe wasn’t a demanding person, but he had one rule—don’t touch his jacket—and he expected everyone to follow it.

“Don’t touch his jacket” is set off by em dashes because it breaks from the grammatical flow of the sentence. Commas wouldn’t work there, and other punctuation like parentheses might be too abrupt for the context.

Meanwhile, here’s an em dash that’s out of place:

Joe wasn’t a demanding person—but he had one rule and he expected everyone to follow it.

There is no break here, so a comma should be used instead to construct a grammatically sound sentence.

Overall, the last thing you want is a reader who has to stop and figure out the meaning of a sentence or thought. Correct punctuation is designed to handle that on its own, essentially out of sight, without the reader even realizing they’re being guided by simple marks on the page.