{"id":1504,"date":"2026-07-30T08:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T03:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?p=1504"},"modified":"2026-08-14T17:17:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T11:47:08","slug":"common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Punctuation Errors in Academic Writing (and How to Fix Them)"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Punctuation errors are small but costly: they change meaning, slow reviewers, and undermine otherwise strong research.<\/li>\r\n<li>The most frequent problems involve commas, semicolons and colons, apostrophes, quotation marks, hyphens, and numeric punctuation.<\/li>\r\n<li>The same rule applies across fields, but the stakes differ in social science, physical science, and biomedical writing.<\/li>\r\n<li>A focused review, an automated checker, and professional proofreading catch most errors before submission.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc235602251\">Glossary of Key Terms<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc235602252\">Why Does Punctuation Matter in Academic Writing?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc235602253\">Which Punctuation Errors Are Most Common?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc235602254\">What Else Should You Check Alongside Punctuation?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc235602255\">How Can You Catch and Fix Punctuation Errors?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc235602256\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Punctuation is the traffic system of a sentence: it tells readers where to pause, stop, and group ideas. In dense research prose, a misplaced mark can change your meaning or slow a reviewer. This guide covers the most common punctuation errors in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-academic-writing-definition-types-examples-characteristics\/\">academic writing<\/a>, with examples from the social sciences, physical sciences, and biomedical sciences, plus simple fixes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Why_Does_Punctuation_Matter_in_Academic_Writing\" >Why Does Punctuation Matter in Academic Writing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Which_Punctuation_Errors_Are_Most_Common\" >Which Punctuation Errors Are Most Common?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#How_Do_You_Fix_Comma_Splices_and_Run-on_Sentences\" >How Do You Fix Comma Splices and Run-on Sentences?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#How_Do_Semicolons_and_Colons_Differ\" >How Do Semicolons and Colons Differ?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Apostrophe_Errors\" >Apostrophe Errors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Quotation_Mark_Mistakes\" >Quotation Mark Mistakes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Hyphens_En_Dashes_and_Em_Dashes\" >Hyphens, En Dashes, and Em Dashes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Punctuation_with_Numbers_and_Units\" >Punctuation with Numbers and Units<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Punctuation_in_Citations_and_References\" >Punctuation in Citations and References<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Capitalization_and_Abbreviations\" >Capitalization and Abbreviations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#What_Else_Should_You_Check_Alongside_Punctuation\" >What Else Should You Check Alongside Punctuation?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#How_Can_You_Catch_and_Fix_Punctuation_Errors\" >How Can You Catch and Fix Punctuation Errors?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#What_are_the_most_common_punctuation_errors_in_academic_writing\" >What are the most common punctuation errors in academic writing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#When_should_I_use_a_semicolon_instead_of_a_comma\" >When should I use a semicolon instead of a comma?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Do_I_put_the_period_inside_or_outside_quotation_marks\" >Do I put the period inside or outside quotation marks?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Is_the_Oxford_comma_required_in_academic_writing\" >Is the Oxford comma required in academic writing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#What_is_the_difference_between_a_hyphen_en_dash_and_em_dash\" >What is the difference between a hyphen, en dash, and em dash?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#How_do_I_punctuate_citations_with_et_al\" >How do I punctuate citations with et al.?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#Should_there_be_a_space_between_a_number_and_its_unit\" >Should there be a space between a number and its unit?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#%E2%80%9CIts%E2%80%9D_or_%E2%80%9Cits%E2%80%9D_which_is_correct_in_a_research_paper\" >\u201cIts\u201d or \u201cit&#8217;s\u201d: which is correct in a research paper?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Does_Punctuation_Matter_in_Academic_Writing\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc235602252\"><\/a>Why Does Punctuation Matter in Academic Writing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Punctuation matters in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-good-research-paper\/\">research paper<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-dissertation-best-practices\/\">dissertation<\/a> because a single mark can change what a sentence claims, and repeated errors signal a carelessness that reviewers may extend to your data.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A misplaced comma can reverse a restrictive meaning.<\/li>\r\n<li>Missing marks create run-on sentences that tire readers.<\/li>\r\n<li>Inconsistent style suggests a rushed manuscript.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The impact varies by field. In the physical and biomedical sciences, a misplaced decimal or unit mark can distort a measurement, while in the social sciences a stray comma can change how a claim reads.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>For complex manuscripts, a professional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/services\/english-editing\">English editing service<\/a> resolves punctuation and clarity together.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Punctuation_Errors_Are_Most_Common\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc235602253\"><\/a>Which Punctuation Errors Are Most Common?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The most common errors involve commas, semicolons and colons, apostrophes, quotation marks, hyphens, numbers, citations, and capitalization. Each section below shows the fix across 3 disciplines.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Fix_Comma_Splices_and_Run-on_Sentences\"><\/span>How Do You Fix Comma Splices and Run-on Sentences?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Fix a comma splice or run-on by using a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction; a lone <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/comma-splice-and-comma-rules-in-academic-writing\/\">comma<\/a> cannot join 2 complete sentences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The serial comma before the final and or or, supported by clear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-are-conjunctions-types-rules-and-examples\/\">conjunctions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/types-of-sentence-structures-in-academic-writing\/\">sentence structure<\/a>, also prevents list confusion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The sample was small, the findings are tentative.<\/td>\r\n<td>The sample was small; the findings are tentative.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>We measured mass, volume and density.<\/td>\r\n<td>We measured mass, volume, and density.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>After treatment the tumor shrank.<\/td>\r\n<td>After treatment, the tumor shrank.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A simple test helps: if the words on both sides of a comma could each stand alone as a full sentence, you need a stronger mark, a conjunction, or a new sentence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_Semicolons_and_Colons_Differ\"><\/span>How Do Semicolons and Colons Differ?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/colon-vs-semicolon-rules-examples\/\">semicolon and colon<\/a> do different jobs: a semicolon links 2 related independent clauses or separates complex list items, while a colon introduces a list, example, or explanation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The study examined 3 variables; income, education, and age.<\/td>\r\n<td>The study examined 3 variables: income, education, and age.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The reaction was rapid, it released heat.<\/td>\r\n<td>The reaction was rapid; it released heat.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>Sites included Boston, USA, Lyon, France, and Kobe, Japan.<\/td>\r\n<td>Sites included Boston, USA; Lyon, France; and Kobe, Japan.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Notice the last example: when list items already contain commas, semicolons separate them clearly. This keeps a list of study sites or author affiliations from collapsing into 1 confusing string.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apostrophe_Errors\"><\/span>Apostrophe Errors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Errors with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/apostrophe-academic-writing\/\">apostrophe<\/a> are among the most visible: writers confuse its and it&#8217;s, misplace the possessive mark, or add apostrophes to plain plurals such as the 1990s.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The theory lost it&#8217;s influence.<\/td>\r\n<td>The theory lost its influence.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The particles&#8217;s charge was measured.<\/td>\r\n<td>The particles&#8217; charge was measured.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>Data from the 1990&#8217;s showed a rise.<\/td>\r\n<td>Data from the 1990s showed a rise.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A quick rule: it&#8217;s always means it is. If you cannot expand the word to it is, use its. The same logic separates who&#8217;s from whose in your writing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quotation_Mark_Mistakes\"><\/span>Quotation Mark Mistakes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In US style, periods and commas go inside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/\">quotation marks<\/a>, and single quotes mark a quote within a quote; placement differs in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/british-vs-american-english-spelling-punctuation\/\">British vs American English<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The values were \u201chigh\u201d, \u201cmedium\u201d, and \u201clow\u201d.<\/td>\r\n<td>The values were \u201chigh,\u201d \u201cmedium,\u201d and \u201clow.\u201d<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>Participants called it \u201canomalous\u201d.<\/td>\r\n<td>Participants called it \u201canomalous.\u201d<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The nurse said, \u201cthe patient reported mild pain\u201d.<\/td>\r\n<td>The nurse said, \u201cThe patient reported \u2018mild\u2019 pain.\u201d<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Keep quotation style consistent with your journal. US journals place commas and periods inside the marks, while many British journals place them outside. Pick 1 system and apply it everywhere in the manuscript.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hyphens_En_Dashes_and_Em_Dashes\"><\/span>Hyphens, En Dashes, and Em Dashes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/hyphen-en-dash-em-dash-rules-examples\/\">hyphen<\/a> joins compound words and some prefixes; an en dash marks ranges and links equal terms; an em dash sets off a break, though this guide prefers a colon or comma instead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>A well designed study reduces bias.<\/td>\r\n<td>A well-designed study reduces bias.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>A 10 fold increase was observed.<\/td>\r\n<td>A 10-fold increase was observed.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>A long term follow up was planned.<\/td>\r\n<td>A long-term follow-up was planned.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>To keep marks consistent, reserve the hyphen for compound words, express ranges as 10 to 20 or with your journal&#8217;s preferred style, and replace any em dash with a colon, comma, or semicolon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Punctuation_with_Numbers_and_Units\"><\/span>Punctuation with Numbers and Units<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Follow the conventions for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/numbers-units-measure-academic-writing\/\">numbers and units<\/a>: use a thousands separator, a leading zero before a decimal, and a space between a value and most unit symbols.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>A total of 1250 responses were collected.<\/td>\r\n<td>A total of 1,250 responses were collected.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The rod was 5cm long.<\/td>\r\n<td>The rod was 5 cm long.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>A dose of .5 mg was given.<\/td>\r\n<td>A dose of 0.5 mg was given.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Watch the exceptions: the percent sign and degree symbol usually attach with no space, as in 45% or 90\u00b0, while most unit symbols take a space. A few journals differ, so check the guidelines.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Punctuation_in_Citations_and_References\"><\/span>Punctuation in Citations and References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Citations need consistent marks: a period after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/using-et-al-for-in-text-citations-in-research-papers\">et al.<\/a>, a comma before the year in many styles, and a semicolon between multiple sources; the same care applies to every <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.us\/blog\/bibliography-what-is-bibliography-meaning-types-and-example\/\">bibliography<\/a> entry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>Smith et al (2020) argued this point.<\/td>\r\n<td>Smith et al. (2020) argued this point.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The effect was reported (Lee 2019).<\/td>\r\n<td>The effect was reported (Lee, 2019).<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>Several trials confirmed this (Roy 2018, Gomez 2020).<\/td>\r\n<td>Several trials confirmed this (Roy, 2018; Gomez, 2020).<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Capitalization_and_Abbreviations\"><\/span>Capitalization and Abbreviations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/capitalization-academic-writing\/\">capitals<\/a> for proper nouns and unit symbols named after people, and define <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/abbreviations-academic-writing\/\">abbreviations<\/a> on first use, writing most acronyms without periods.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Discipline<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Incorrect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Corrected<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The theory builds on marxist thought.<\/td>\r\n<td>The theory builds on Marxist thought.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The current was 5 a.<\/td>\r\n<td>The current was 5 A.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Biomedical sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>The D.N.A. sample degraded quickly.<\/td>\r\n<td>The DNA sample degraded quickly.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Because these are surface-level marks, a dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/services\/other\/proof-reading\">proofreading service<\/a> is one of the surest ways to catch them before you submit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Else_Should_You_Check_Alongside_Punctuation\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc235602254\"><\/a>What Else Should You Check Alongside Punctuation?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Punctuation works with grammar and style, so also check agreement, tense, word choice, and voice, since clean marks cannot rescue an unclear sentence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/subject-verb-agreement-academic-writing\/\">Subject-verb agreement<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/definite-article-indefinite-article-academic-writing\/\">article usage<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preposition-definition-types-and-common-usage-errors\/\">prepositions<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/verb-tenses-checklist-rules-and-examples-for-academic-writing\/\">Verb tense<\/a> and appropriate use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/modal-verbs-academic-writing\/\">modal verbs<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/active-vs-passive-voice-academic-writing\/\">Active vs passive voice<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/first-person-vs-third-person-academic-writing\/\">first person vs third person<\/a> choices.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/countable-vs-uncountable-nouns-academic-writing\/\">Countable vs uncountable nouns<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Precise <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/commonly-confused-words-academic-writing\/\">terminology<\/a> and clear meaning free of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-reduce-your-word-count-and-write-concisely-a-guide-for-essays-research-papers-and-dissertations\/\">wordiness and redundancy<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/importance-of-binomial-nomenclature-in-life-science-research\/\">Scientific names<\/a> in correct binomial nomenclature.<\/li>\r\n<li>Consistent formatting throughout your paper.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Can_You_Catch_and_Fix_Punctuation_Errors\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc235602255\"><\/a>How Can You Catch and Fix Punctuation Errors?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Catch punctuation errors by reading aloud, checking 1 mark type at a time, and running an automated checker before a human review; punctuation is easy to skim past silently.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Read aloud and pause at every mark to test whether it belongs.<\/li>\r\n<li>Check 1 punctuation type per pass: commas, then apostrophes, then quotes.<\/li>\r\n<li>Verify citation and reference marks separately from the main text.<\/li>\r\n<li>Confirm number, unit, and decimal formatting against journal style.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A tool such as <a href=\"https:\/\/paperpal.com\/tools\/grammar-checker\">Paperpal<\/a> flags many punctuation and style issues instantly, which makes your first pass faster and more thorough.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Option<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Keep in mind<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Grammar tool<\/td>\r\n<td>Fast first-pass checks<\/td>\r\n<td>Misses nuance and context<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Professional editing<\/td>\r\n<td>Punctuation, clarity, style<\/td>\r\n<td>Deeper investment<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Professional proofreading<\/td>\r\n<td>Error-free final file<\/td>\r\n<td>Assumes content is settled<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>For quick self-checks, <a href=\"https:\/\/paperpal.com\/tools\/grammar-checker\">Paperpal<\/a> reviews punctuation and style in seconds. For expert help, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/services\/english-editing\">English editing service<\/a> refines punctuation and clarity together, while a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/services\/other\/proof-reading\">proofreading service<\/a> delivers a clean final draft.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Whether you are polishing a first submission or a revision, professional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/services\/english-editing\">English editing<\/a> helps every mark support your meaning.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc235602256\"><\/a>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_most_common_punctuation_errors_in_academic_writing\"><\/span>What are the most common punctuation errors in academic writing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The most frequent errors are comma splices, semicolon and colon confusion, apostrophe mistakes, misplaced quotation marks, hyphen slips, and inconsistent number, citation, and capitalization punctuation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_should_I_use_a_semicolon_instead_of_a_comma\"><\/span>When should I use a semicolon instead of a comma?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Use a semicolon to join 2 closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or to separate list items that already contain commas. A comma alone between 2 full sentences creates a comma splice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_put_the_period_inside_or_outside_quotation_marks\"><\/span>Do I put the period inside or outside quotation marks?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In US academic writing, periods and commas go inside the quotation marks. In British style, they often go outside unless they belong to the quoted material. Follow your target journal&#8217;s convention.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Oxford_comma_required_in_academic_writing\"><\/span>Is the Oxford comma required in academic writing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It depends on the style guide. APA and many journals require the serial (Oxford) comma before the final \u201cand\u201d or \u201cor\u201d; a few omit it. Whichever you choose, apply it consistently throughout.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_difference_between_a_hyphen_en_dash_and_em_dash\"><\/span>What is the difference between a hyphen, en dash, and em dash?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A hyphen joins compound words such as well-known. An en dash marks ranges, as in pages 10 to 20. An em dash sets off a break, though many journals prefer a colon or comma instead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_punctuate_citations_with_et_al\"><\/span>How do I punctuate citations with et al.?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Write <em>et al.<\/em> with a period after \u201cal\u201d, since al is the abbreviated part. In APA style, add a comma before the year and a semicolon between multiple sources within the same parentheses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_there_be_a_space_between_a_number_and_its_unit\"><\/span>Should there be a space between a number and its unit?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Yes, in most cases: write \u201c5 cm\u201d or \u201c10 mg\u201d with a space between the value and the unit symbol. The main exceptions are the percent sign and the degree symbol, which usually attach directly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CIts%E2%80%9D_or_%E2%80%9Cits%E2%80%9D_which_is_correct_in_a_research_paper\"><\/span>\u201cIts\u201d or \u201cit&#8217;s\u201d: which is correct in a research paper?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Use \u201cits\u201d for possession, as in \u201cits influence is weak\u201d, and \u201cit&#8217;s\u201d only as a contraction of it is. Because contractions are rare in formal writing, \u201cits\u201d is almost always the form you need.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key Takeaways: Punctuation errors are small but costly: they change meaning, slow reviewers, and undermine otherwise strong research. The most frequent problems involve commas, semicolons and colons, apostrophes, quotation marks, hyphens, and numeric punctuation. The same rule applies across fields, but the stakes differ in social science, physical science, and biomedical writing. A focused review, [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"This guide covers the most common punctuation errors in academic writing, with examples from the social sciences, physical sciences, and biomedical sciences, plus simple fixes. Catch punctuation errors by reading aloud, checking 1 mark type at a time, and running an automated checker before a human review; punctuation is easy to skim past silently. The most frequent errors are comma splices, semicolon and colon confusion, apostrophe mistakes, misplaced quotation marks, hyphen slips, and inconsistent number, citation, and capitalization punctuation.","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"manual","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"4e2c184a63c3534f5eb433139e55f886369c3842"},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Common Punctuation Errors in Academic Writing (and How to Fix Them) - Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Common Punctuation Errors in Academic Writing (and How to Fix Them) - Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Key Takeaways: Punctuation errors are small but costly: they change meaning, slow reviewers, and undermine otherwise strong research. The most frequent problems involve commas, semicolons and colons, apostrophes, quotation marks, hyphens, and numeric punctuation. The same rule applies across fields, but the stakes differ in social science, physical science, and biomedical writing. A focused review, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-30T03:10:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-14T11:47:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/punctuation-marks.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marisha Rodrigues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marisha Rodrigues\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Marisha Rodrigues\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/60d7626072744221b2260692486b6ff1\"},\"headline\":\"Common Punctuation Errors in Academic Writing (and How to Fix Them)\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-30T03:10:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-14T11:47:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/\"},\"wordCount\":1748,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Academic Writing\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/\",\"name\":\"Common Punctuation Errors in Academic Writing (and How to Fix Them) - Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-30T03:10:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-14T11:47:08+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/common-punctuation-errors-in-academic-writing-and-how-to-fix-them\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Common Punctuation Errors in Academic Writing (and How to Fix Them)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\",\"description\":\"Get insightful educational articles from the world of academia for researchers, students and authors. 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