7 Punctuation Fixes to Spring-Clean Your Writing

Spring is the season of clarity—fresh air, open windows, and the urge to declutter. But what about your writing? If you're polishing a short story, revising your novel, or getting ready to submit your manuscript, don't overlook one of the easiest ways to level up your prose: punctuation.

As a professional book editor, I've seen how misplaced commas, overused exclamation points, and punctuation inconsistency can distract from your voice and slow down your reader. The good news? A little punctuation spring-cleaning goes a long way.

Here are 7 punctuation fixes that can freshen up your manuscript fast:

Commas can be tricky, especially in long sentences or dialogue. I often see missing commas after introductory phrases or misused ones in compound sentences. A stray comma can change the meaning—or simply make your reader stumble.

Spring Tip: Read your sentence out loud. If you need to take a breath, your reader probably does too.

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Semicolons are powerful—but often misused. They link two complete thoughts that are closely related. If you're not confident, it's okay to avoid them. A clean break (aka a period) often does the job better.

Spring Tip: Think of the semicolon as a minimalist: it only works when everything around it is in balance.

Keywords this section covers: book editor for fiction, punctuation help for authors

It's tempting to use exclamation points to show emotion—but less is more. Use them sparingly, especially in fiction. Let strong verbs and sharp dialogue carry the tone instead.

Spring Tip: One exclamation mark per page (or less) is a good rule of thumb.

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This tiny punctuation mark causes big confusion. Remember: It's = it is. Its is possessive. And plural nouns? They don't need apostrophes. Ever.

Spring Tip: If you can't replace it's with it is, it's wrong.

Keywords this section covers: book editing help, proofreading for self-published authors

In American English, periods and commas go inside the closing quotation mark, not outside—even if it looks odd.

Spring Tip: Choose a style guide (Chicago, APA, MLA) and stick with it.

Keywords this section covers: fiction editor USA, grammar and punctuation help for writers

When writing, it's important to distinguish between thoughts and spoken dialogue. Thoughts are typically internal, not spoken aloud, so they don't need quotation marks. Using them incorrectly can confuse your reader.

Spring Tip: Use italics for thoughts or phrases that are internal to a character—no need for quotation marks!

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• Hyphen (-): joins words (e.g. award-winning)
• En dash (–): indicates range (e.g. April–June)
• Em dash (—): adds emphasis or interrupts (e.g. just like this—dramatic, right?)

Spring Tip: Use em dashes for pacing or tension—but sparingly. Too many, and they lose impact.

Keywords this section covers: line editing for books, book editor for novels, self-publishing editing support

Just like your home, your writing needs a seasonal refresh. Tidying up punctuation is a simple, powerful way to make your prose shine. If you're not sure where to start—or you're overwhelmed by grammar rules—a professional manuscript editor can help you see what needs trimming and what deserves to bloom.

Looking for a fresh edit this spring?
I offer affordable editing services for short stories, novels, and everything in between—from developmental editing to line editing and sensitivity reading. Let's get your words garden-ready.

👉 Learn more about my editing and sensitivity reading services here
👉 Or contact me directly for a sample edit or quote.

Happy Passover, happy spring, and happy writing!