❗ Punctuation Checker

Find missing commas, stray apostrophes, misused semicolons and a dozen other punctuation issues in any English text. Free, no sign-up.

What is the punctuation checker?

Punctuation rules are complex — Oxford commas, comma splices, em-dash spacing, possessive vs plural apostrophes — and even native speakers slip up. A dedicated checker enforces the consensus rules consistently. LanguageTool includes thousands of punctuation-specific rules.

How does this punctuation checker work?

Paste your text. The tool calls LanguageTool's API and filters the results to highlight punctuation-category issues. Each match shows the exact problem and a suggested fix.

When should you use this tool?

Use it on every important email, every published article, every formal letter, every transcript you're publishing, and every academic submission. Sloppy punctuation undermines credibility even when content is strong.

Tips & best practices

For consistency, pick a style guide (Chicago, AP, GOV.UK, your own house style) and follow it everywhere. The Oxford comma is contentious — pick a side and stay consistent. Em-dashes are stylistic; commas are mandatory.

Frequently asked questions

What's a comma splice?

Joining two complete sentences with just a comma. Use a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction instead.

When do I use a semicolon?

To join two related complete sentences without a conjunction, or to separate items in a list that already contains commas.

Are em-dashes always wrong?

No — they're a stylistic choice. AP style discourages them; literary writing embraces them. Be consistent.

Related tools

Explore more grammar & proofreading on the tool hub — or jump straight to the Spell Checker, Grammar Checker, Online Proofreader.