QuickParaphrase

Punctuation checker

Fixes only punctuation: commas, apostrophes, full stops, semicolons, colons, dashes and quotation marks. Your words stay exactly as you wrote them.

  • Punctuation only
  • Rule for each fix
  • Free, no signup
0 words · 0 / 6,000 chars
Corrected punctuation

Your result appears here. Press Check punctuation or Ctrl+Enter.

Punctuation rules it checks

MarkCommon mistakeFix
CommaAfter we ate we left.After we ate, we left. (introductory clause)
Comma spliceIt rained, we stayed in.It rained, so we stayed in. / It rained; we stayed in.
ApostropheThe dogs bowl. Its late.The dog’s bowl. It’s late.
SemicolonI was tired however I finished.I was tired; however, I finished.
ColonBring three things pens, paper, water.Bring three things: pens, paper, water.
Quotation marksShe said "hi".She said, “Hi.” (US style)

Why a punctuation-only check?

Sometimes you are not allowed, or don’t want, to change any words: a quoted transcript, a poem, legal text, or an essay that has already been approved. This checker is told to leave every word alone and touch only the marks between them. For a full proofread including spelling and grammar, use the grammar checker.

The Oxford comma

Whether you write “red, white, and blue” or “red, white and blue” is a style choice. The checker keeps whichever you already use consistently; APA and Chicago style require the serial comma, while many newspapers following AP style leave it out.

Frequently asked questions

Will the punctuation checker change my words?

No. It is limited to punctuation marks and the capital letter that starts a new sentence.

Does it fix run-on sentences?

Yes. It separates run-ons and comma splices with a full stop, semicolon or a comma plus conjunction, and explains which it chose.

Does it use American or British punctuation?

It follows the style already present in your text, for example keeping single quotation marks if you use them consistently.

Is it free?

Yes. Free, no signup, up to 6,000 characters per check.

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