The Ultimate Guide On Writing Filipino And English Stories

Punctuations

One of the most noticeable errors in English stories are the wrong usage or lacking of punctuations. Here are some rules on how to use the right punctuations.

First, let me state the most commonly used punctuations in a story:

We have the period (.)
The comma (,)
Question mark (?)
Exclamation mark (!)
Ellipsis (...)
Apostrophe (')
And the quotation marks (" ")

1. The common switching of the usage of the comma and the period.

This is most noticeable on Filipino stories. Let me get this straight, the comma and the period are two very different things. Here is an example of a sentence with the said error:

I was going to eat the apple. But he took it.

Kakainin ko na sana ang mansanas. Ngunit kinuha niya ito.

See? It looks and sounds awkward.

Always remember to use a comma when the following words are for, and, nor, but, or, and yet. For short, F. A. N. B. O. Y.

If you apply the said rule on the sentences above your sentences, or should I say sentence, will now be:

I was going to eat the apple, but he took it.

Kakainin ko na sana ang mansanas, ngunit kinuha niya ito.

2. Wrong usage of question marks.

I remember once when I read some story that had an interrogative sentence that ended with a period. I face palmed so hard. So hard.

Wrong usage of the question mark may lead the reader into confusion. And in some cases, it will make it less attractive to the reader. Always end an interrogative (asking question) question with a question mark.

Don't: What if the nerd who was always bullied turns into a jaw-dropping goddess.

Do: What if the nerd who was always bullied turns into a jaw-dropping goddess?

3. Apostrophes.

When you miss even a single apostrophe on a word that needs one, it may lead to another meaning or confusion to the reader. Among the most noticeable errors in a story, I'll probably say the confusing or wrong usage of apostrophes will be number one.

Don't: Youre so pretty, Michelle.

Do: You're so pretty, Michelle.

Appropriate usage of apostrophes may be hard to understand, but it will take some time to finally learn it and apply it to your stories.

4. Abusing the exclamation marks and ellipses.

"Harry no!!!!! " said Helena as Harry cut off the rope.

"But........ I like Drake....... " Vicky muttered as she pouted.

No. That is not how you use those.

Always avoid abusing or overusing exclamation marks and ellipses (plural of ellipsis). The minimum and maximum number of periods in an ellipsis is three, and it will never be changed.

In some cases, exclamation marks can be put up to three of them if the emotion of the character is deeply intense. But in most cases, only one is used.

5. Quotation marks, not colons.

Most inexperienced writers use colons instead of quotation marks to state that a character is speaking. Just like this:

I opened the door of the classroom. Trisha greeted me as I sat down on a chair beside her.

Me: how you been?
Trisha: great :)
Me: me too xD

Aside from the irritating usage of colons, you've probably noticed that there are smileys. DON'T, AS IN DON'T, EVER, EVER USE SMILEYS.

If we would use quotation marks, believe me, it would be 100% better.

I opened the door of the classroom. Trisha greeted me as I sat down on a chair beside her.

"How you been? " I greeted in a jolly tone.
"Great!" She responded with a cheerful one.
"Me too. " I smiled sheepishly.