Top 10 Punctuation Mistakes English Speakers Make In Emails

22 August 2022

Punctuation is an area of language that is frequently overlooked by English speakers who focus on the choice of words, grammar rules, and different writing styles.

It is, in fact, a method of silent intonation. Creating tension and internal movements within your text that are similar to stops, pauses, or emphatic techniques used in oral conversations.

As reported by many users of our Punctuation Checker software, even native speakers find it difficult to properly use punctuation marks in all cases. Which frequently makes their email correspondence look less professional than desired.

Here Are 10 Prime Punctuation Mistakes English Speakers Make In Emails:

Below, are the 10 most widespread mistakes in this sphere that you can use as a reference for proofreading your texts and avoiding these confusing problems.

1. Quotation Marks

One of the most popular punctuation mistakes made by English speakers in emails is the unnecessary use of quotation marks. They should only be used in situations when you actually quote something.

Right:	Wrong:
As our client, Mark said, “This is the best customer service I have ever seen”.	You can get the ‘best service in our city’ if you contact us now.

2. Missing Commas

Missing commas are another widespread problem in email marketing. If you use long sentences (which we would not advise you to do in the first place), you must make sure that you use punctuation marks to divide them into logical fragments that are more ‘manageable’ to read.

Right:	Wrong:
Black Friday ends, but our discount programs for long-term clients remain indefinitely.	This product may seem excessively expensive at first glance yet it is worth the extra cost if you use it professionally.

3. Extraneous Apostrophes

Many writers tend to place apostrophes in the places where they should not be used. This mistake comes from mixing their use for contractions versus their use to form the plural form of nouns or other similar constructions.

Right:	Wrong:
You needn’t have done it.	Until Friday, you can buy ten bottle’s for the price of five.

4. Excessive Commas

Commas are usually used to separate multiple items within lists, series of adjectives, introductory phrases from the main sentence, or complete sentences.

Unfortunately, the rules of punctuation in this sphere are extremely complex and somewhat contradictory, which frequently leads to the use of excessive punctuation marks by writers.

Right:	Wrong:
Our newest product has received the highest ratings in a recent review from Agency A, and it is already available in our store.	Our product is a fantastic, one-of-a-kind, electronic communication device.

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5. Dashes and Hyphens

Some writers use dash signs instead of hyphens, which may be deemed a punctuation mistake making your emails look unprofessional. Make sure to use hyphens and dash marks correctly!

Right:	Wrong:
1. We offer high-quality electronics. 2. Our clients prefer tablets – they are more portable than traditional PCs and laptops.	1. We offer high–quality products and services. 2. Consider our latest offerings from Oppo – their smartwatches are almost as good as their Apple counterparts.

6. Exclamation Marks

While exclamation marks can be used to put emphasis on certain sentences or calls to action, they should be used sparingly.

Right:	Wrong:
Our Christmas sale will continue until the 30th of December or until our last stored products are sold, whichever comes first. Make sure to place your order early!	Our Christmas sale will only last one week! When our discounted items are gone, they are gone! Place your order now!

7. Colons

Colons effectively serve as highlights within your text to signal some in-depth information clarifying the facts discussed earlier.

The main ‘rule of thumb here is to never separate verbs from subjects and objects linked with them or nouns from the verb linked with them.

Right:	Wrong:
We presently offer our subscription plans in three variants: standard, premium, and custom.	The three subscription plans offered by us are standard, premium, and custom.

8. Parentheses and Brackets

These punctuation marks are frequently used in email marketing. However, many English speakers make the mistake of putting exclamation points, question marks, and periods before parentheses and brackets.

Right:	Wrong:
As soon as you receive your package (in a branded self-seal box), please, inform our manager about the successful delivery.	As soon as you receive your package, (in a branded self-seal box), please, inform our manager about the successful delivery.

9. Semicolons

Semicolons are usually used in cases when you join independent clauses within the same larger sentence without using conjunctions. When you use ‘and’ between the same parts, you should not use one, which is frequently forgotten by some English speakers.

Right:	Wrong:
We recruited the best engineers to design our product in 2020, and this decision has proven to be one of the best strategic choices we have made so far.	We recruited the best engineers to design our product in 2020, and this decision has proven to be one of the best strategic choices we have made so far.

10. Ellipsis

Ellipsis marks are usually used to replace some omitted sentence fragments or create a pause in your speech. This gives your readers some space for thought or you can leave your sentence on a cliffhanger prompting them to read on.

Unfortunately, many marketers overuse them and create unnecessary confusion and ‘trailing off’ effects as a result.

Right:	Wrong:
You will not believe how many marketers make the mistake of…	These marketing communication techniques are powerful but have a number of significant implications…

We hope that this brief guide will help you improve your writing style and achieve the perfect readability of your texts.

In the highly competitive world of today, the quality of your email correspondence may determine the attitude of your readers and make you look more reliable and competent than your rivals.

If you have discovered multiple problems in applying the above-mentioned rules, you may want to check our other guides. You can also use our punctuation-checking software to be 100% certain about your writing style quality.

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Arnab

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

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How to Reduce the Cost of College Textbooks

Textbooks are a painful purchase for any student. Year after year, prices continue to rise, often resulting in textbook fees being added to the pile of crippling student loan debt facing the nation. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can reduce the cost of your books. College Textbooks can make things simple for a student. There is almost never a need to buy a brand new textbook at full price, so explore your options before you commit to anything. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t plan on buying all of your books in one transaction because purchasing them individually will net the most savings. Forget the Campus Bookstore Unless you are bound by a tuition stipend or other financial means to purchase your books at the campus bookstore, stay away. This is the guaranteed way to pay the highest prices for textbooks, even when buying used. The bookstore used to be the source for students, but thanks to technology, there are plenty of other ways to get the books that you need for a lot less. The exception here is for research purposes; in most cases, the campus store is going to have the highest prices. However, there may be a rare occasion where they don’t. Feel free to call or visit and get a list of prices for the books that you need, just for the sake of comparison when you go online to shop around. Always Buy Used Unless there is a specific text you will keep forever or absolutely need the brand new edition of for some reason, buy your books used. These are at least ⅓ less than the cost of brand new books, and offer the same information on the pages. Some are in better condition than others, but most used resellers will provide condition information and pictures of the book you are purchasing so that you can see what you are actually getting. You can find thousands of used copies online at prices that you can afford. When you are buying used books, check out their resale value and the return policy of the seller you purchase from. Reselling your books after the semester is over is a great way to recoup some money that can go towards next semester’s books. Or, you can take the money and treat yourself for saving hundreds on your textbooks by buying used in the first place. The return policy is important because if a book arrives in unusable condition, you need to be able to send it back. Your class won’t be nearly as informative with a partial textbook, after all. Rent or Borrow Books The school or public library might have books that you need for classes. Before you spend a dime, look into these sources for common texts, literature books, and other texts available for you to borrow. Libraries are a great resource that often gets overlooked. The downside here is that you may only be able to borrow a book for a part of the semester. Ask about their renewal policies when considering this option. College Textbooks can make your life easier by all means. There is an increasing market in the campus bookstore realm for textbook rentals. This is another exception to the “avoid the bookstore” rule, of course. The most expensive texts are usually available for rental from your campus store, which might be the best financial option. Before you rent, though, make sure that you know what you are signing up for. Take extra good care of the books so that you aren’t charged for damage upon their return, or forced to purchase them outright (which is what you were trying to avoid in the first place). You can also rent textbooks online, or download ebook versions of the texts that you need for your college classes. Sell Your Old Books You can reduce the cost of your next semester’s textbook bill by selling your old books. Don’t sell them back to the campus bookstore, because they usually don’t offer much. Plus, you might only get credit to use in the store. Instead, consider selling them online or through community marketplaces. Advertise them around campus for other students, too. When you sell textbooks online, you can often choose the price and compare what others are selling. That gives you a better idea of how much you can actually earn. Feel free to look around and get a few different quotes before you commit. Most re-seller websites that buy college texts will allow you to enter the ISBN and get an estimate of how much you will get for the books you are selling. See where you can get the most money for your books, even if you have to sell them in a few different places. A Little Research Goes a Long Way Your college book purchases don’t have to break the bank. Whether you need to reduce the cost on the front end or just make up the difference and sell textbooks to help cut the costs, there are plenty of options available. Just give yourself a little time to explore your options. An extra hour of your time could save you hundreds, no matter what degree you are studying. Read Also: 5 Ways College Students Can Minimize Back To School Stress 5 Tips For College Students On How To Begin Investing Using Their Saved Pocket Money The Importance Of Writing Business Reports In College

Discover The Amazing Benefits Of Verbal Fluency Nootropics

People rely on language to communicate thoughts and ideas every day. The ability to understand another person isn't just related to knowledge of each word, though. People also need to understand context and emotion, and that requires a high level of verbal fluency. Because no matter how understated we think of it, verbal fluency is an indispensable consideration. But how to get it right? In order to bring effective solutions for all such queries, we have crafted this comprehensive guide for you. Make sure you read it till the very end and unravel the benefits of verbal fluency nootropics. What Is Verbal Fluency? Before discussing specific verbal fluency nootropics, let's pin down a definition. Verbal fluency is defined scientifically as a cognitive function facilitating information retrieval. However, it can be viewed as the ability to easily and quickly express thoughts using familiar words and phrases in grammatically correct ways without having to stop to think about them for too long. People who struggle with verbal fluency often struggle to find the right words, repeat themselves, or mix up the order of words in sentences. These may seem like issues related to innate cognitive abilities, but thankfully, they're not. Anyone can improve their verbal fluency. There are numerous instances when we can recite a corpus of vocabulary words. But we cannot speak them fluently. For instance, when we recite the definition of “love” or “sunny,” very rarely are we able to combine all the words together in one sentence. However, this is different from using words to communicate your thoughts. What Do Nootropics Refer To? In order to understand the benefits of nootropics, one must first know what they are all about. In order to improve our mental power, consuming a tablet does much of the work. So, whether you are an elderly individual, a university student, or a full-time employee, nootropics work for all. Therefore, it is a bit surprising that their use is also referred to as smart medications or cognitive enhancers. The term “nootropic” comes from the Ancient Greek word- o (noos), which means mind, and trop meaning a turn. The term was originally coined to depict compounds that have strict requirements but have a positive impact on mental skills. How Nootropics Can Improve Verbal Fluency Nootropics are man-made or natural substances that enhance brain function in healthy people. Some may have a hard time conceiving of a nootropic specifically for verbal fluency, but in fact, that's a much more realistic way to look at these supplements. People think of nootropics as "smart drugs." But, in fact, they have much more targeted effects on specific aspects of cognitive function, including those associated with verbal fluency. Given below are some common nootropics that help in enhancing verbal fluency: Piracetam Among the most effective nootropics are racetams, which we will mention later. For now, piracetam remains the most popular racetam. Studies depict that it has been the most effective therapeutic when it comes to enhancing verbal fluency. Those who were given Piracetam for 6 weeks straight could speak more fluently. Further, it is also effective for general learning and visual-spatial reasoning. Oxiracetam & Aniracetam Aniracetam is another group of racetam that is helpful to enhance verbal fluency. It is structurally the same as Piracetam with a weak affinity for brain receptors. This explains why it does bit affect the brain strongly as compared to Piracetam. The use of Aniracetam is very common in boosting the cognitive performance of adults. Treating cognitive weaknesses like poor reasoning or cognition also becomes east with aniracetam. Adrafinil Adrafinil is another racetam that is effective for boosting verbal fluency. Various studies have found that verbal fluency is improved significantly with Adrafinil as it also has sustained and immediate benefits. Those taking this nootropic could communicate more openly now. A similar nootropic is modafinil which can treat sleep disorders and narcolepsy. Both these racetams have the ability to enable verbal fluency. Nootropics And Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals within the brain, and some of them play a vital role in supporting verbal fluency. Nootropics that act on neurotransmitter receptors for glutamate, GABA, dopamine, and acetylcholine can all support healthy brain function in the areas required to achieve high levels of verbal fluency. Most Effective Supplements For Verbal Fluency Research into nootropics has been on the rise in recent years, leading to the discovery of many natural substances that improve cognitive function. Not all of them improve verbal fluency, but supplements that contain these substances tend to be most effective in that realm: They include: Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogenic herb that promotes healthy changes in dopamine and serotonin levels. Tyrosine is an amino acid that acts as a building block for not just dopamine but also epinephrine and norepinephrine. Aniracetam is a fat-soluble supplement that increases oxygen consumption in the brain. Curcumin is a neuroprotectant flavonoid found in the turmeric plant that improves working memory and reduces mental fatigue. L-Theanine is a naturally occurring substance that improves memory and focus. Lion's mane is a mushroom that can improve cognitive abilities that help with verbal fluency, such as memory, learning, focus, and concentration. How To Choose Supplements For Verbal Fluency Some people prefer to take supplements that contain just one of the ingredients described above, while others employ a practice called "stacking," in which they combine nootropics for maximum effect. Either of these approaches can be appropriate as long as consumers take the time to thoroughly investigate the products they buy. Not all supplement manufacturers are equally reliable, so make sure there are third-party lab test results available that show both the purity and potency of the key ingredients. Discover Quality Nootropics For Verbal Fluency There is now a wealth of evidence that natural substances such as those described above can help people improve different aspects of their verbal fluency. Because these supplements are unlikely to produce unwanted side effects, people often try multiple products before deciding which one contains the best blend of herbs and other substances to meet their needs. Read Also: Online Schools The Only Source For Personalized Education 7 Reasons Why Online Education Is Very Popular How Contents On Web Influence Students

7 Reasons why your Child is Underperforming in School

Underperforming at school has been a problem for many parents across the United States. While it does cause stress and raise issues, thankfully there are ways in which this problem can be alleviated. The cause of this problem can be either internal or external and it is best for parents to keep a positive outlook for their children instead of doling out punishments. A proactive attitude has shown to be the most beneficial way to tackle this underperformance. Typically, there are 7 factors that contribute to underperformance in school. 7 Reasons why your Child is Underperforming in School: 1. Permissive Attitude at Home: This is one of the most obvious core issues of underperformance in international primary school Singapore. Some parents simply are not strict and do not offer enough guidance to their children at home when it comes to completing school work and taking it seriously. Most children will not take the initiative to do their homework or do projects without some guidance from their parents. It has also been found that parents who use technology to skirt their responsibilities at home cause negative consequences regarding their children’s motivation to get important tasks done. Children need constant attention to develop good habits that'll help them perform academically, letting them have too much screen time will not help them develop much-needed discipline. 2. Student Lacks Motivation: Some parents may notice that their child seems very unmotivated when it comes to their school work. Sometimes they come home and simply refuse to do their homework or talk about their days. Parents may also be getting emails from the teachers saying that they are having a hard time getting the student to participate and complete classwork. Some important steps parents can take in order to alleviate this problem include meeting with their child’s teacher, creating a better sense of structure at home, and breaking up assignments into manageable pieces. Sometimes children feel overwhelmed, taking these steps can help to show them that you are there to support them during tough times. If the student is not interested or lacks motivation, part responsibility for the same lies in the school itself. Children have highly inquisitive minds, which need to be fed information and education in an exciting and engaging manner. Once they start perceiving it as boring, their mind starts getting distracted. In the Lorna Whiston preschool, teachers use puzzles, activities, group games, and other fun elements to make the kids grasp the learning in a way, which is attractive to them. 3. Stress: There are many factors a child may experience both at school and at home that cause them stress which results in poor grades. Think about their home life, is there a lot of fighting going on between family members? Do they have too many responsibilities that make them tired? Are you as a parent experiencing a high amount of stress? Children pick up on their parent’s moods and it can affect their well-being. Managing your child’s stress level is important if you want to see their grades improve. If there is fighting going on between parents or siblings you should consider going to couples or family therapy. It is important for children to feel like their home is a safe space and it is impossible to foster that feeling when there is tension among family members. Stress can also come from external factors such as the child having a hard time making friends. Parents can help their children by enrolling them in extracurricular activities that are of interest to them so they can meet like-minded peers and cultivate new friendships. 4. Bullying: UCLA psychologists assert that children who are bullied have significantly lower grades than their peers who do not experience bullying. The reason bullying may cause underperformance in school is that students who experience it are less likely to participate in class discussion and are less likely to seek help and ask questions due to fear of being singled out by other students. Bullying also causes low self-esteem and raises stress significantly. If you believe your child is experiencing bullying it is important to talk to them, but understand that some children are ashamed and will not admit to being bullied. It is important for parents to keep in contact with their child’s teacher and express their concerns about bullying to see if the problem can be fixed. Reducing bullying tends to be a collective change where parents, students, and the administration must work together. With the change in technology and wide-spread use of social media, cyberbullying has become a large problem in schools. Parents should be sure to monitor their children's electronic devices and social media accounts. 5. The Material is Too Challenging: Sometimes students may not be able to keep up with the pace the rest of the class has set. The problem can even be as simple as the student needing the material explained to them in a different way. If this is the case, consider getting your child a tutoring service such as A-Team Tuition Gold Coast. Sometimes all a student needs is a little extra attention on the subject matter. 6. Test Anxiety: This is a common problem among students today. Even though your child knows the material and can do their homework with ease, they still do poorly on their exams. This is called test anxiety, and it causes an overwhelming feeling of stress while they take exams making them unable to focus on the material. If your child is experiencing test anxiety talk to their teacher and see if any accommodations can be made. Ways in which test anxiety can be relieved include preparing thoroughly for the material, taking the test alone or with a divider up, and focusing on breathing with positive thoughts. According to experts at the best prep school in Singapore, teachers often fail to acclimatize the kids as far as tests and examinations are concerned. Without prior practice and exposure, they get scared when they are graded and have to adhere to strict rules and regulations during the examinations. A good way to overcome test anxiety is to make sure that the kids are familiar with the overall models of assessments. Starting early will help them get the familiarity and build confidence. This can be done through a series of practice tests done in an informal manner. 7. Poor Organization: Every student must prepare good organizational habits if they wish to be successful academically. If your child has a hard time dividing their time, preparing for exams, and keeping track of their assignments, then it may result in poor grades. Come up with a routine for them and help them keep a planner. If they have one place such as a binder to keep all their work, it will be much easier for them to be successful in class. Children getting low grades in school is a concern for all parents but luckily you can take initiative to help your child be successful. Sometimes all it takes is a little extra attention and devotion to bring their grades and self-esteem back up. Read Also: 5 Golden Rules of Children Language Learning How to Select the Best Investment Plan for Your Child? How Education Powers A Better World? Effective Contribution Of Educational Apps Children Are Citizens: What Are The Civil Rights Of Children In Public Schools?

Top 10 Punctuation Mistakes English Speakers Make In Emails