August 2, 2024
SAURAV PANDEY
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This is a classic mistake. An apostrophe is used to indicate possession (the cat's toy) but not to form plurals (cats, not cat's).
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Em Dash vs. En Dash: These are not interchangeable. Em dashes are longer and often used to set off a strong pause or interruption. En dashes are shorter and typically used for ranges (pages 10-20).
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Quotation marks are for direct speech or quoted material. Overusing them can make your writing appear informal or insincere.
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Semicolons can join two related independent clauses without using a conjunction. Don't use a semicolon where a period or comma would be more appropriate.
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Exclamation points are for strong emotions or emphasis. Overusing them weakens their impact.
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Don't use a question mark for indirect questions (He asked if I was going).
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Ellipses can indicate omitted words, but overuse can make your writing seem hesitant or unclear. There's usually a space before and after each period in an ellipsis.
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Parentheses should be used sparingly to enclose additional information. Overusing them weakens their impact.
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Hyphens are used to join words into a single unit (well-being, mother-in-law).
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The Oxford comma (the comma before the final item in a list) is a style choice. Some style guides require it, while others do not.