Punctuation Checker
Check English punctuation spacing and matching marks, then locate each possible issue in your text.
Checks run locally when you press the button.
Punctuation checker specifications
| Rules | 9 independently selectable groups |
|---|---|
| Input | English text; local Worker scan |
| Positions | One-based line and column |
| Automatic fixes | Spaces and repeated commas or semicolons only |
Updated . For guidance on quotation marks in English, consult Purdue OWL: Using Quotation Marks.
How the punctuation checker applies its rules
Nine selectable rule groups scan the text when you press Check punctuation. The results show one-based line and column positions, a nearby excerpt, a rule name and a short explanation. Select any result to highlight its span in the input. Each line is considered separately for missing end punctuation; empty lines, list items, one- or two-word fragments and short title-style lines are skipped. A Worker performs the scan so the page remains responsive with long passages. Text is processed on your device without uploading it or using AI.
What these punctuation checks cover
- These are English typography checks, not grammar, spelling, meaning or style checks. A comma checker rule detects spacing and repeated commas; it does not decide whether a comma belongs in the sentence.
- Numbers such as 1,000, 3:30 and 3.14, ratios, URLs, email addresses, common file extensions and listed abbreviations are excluded from relevant spacing checks. Unlisted abbreviations and unusual filenames can still need manual review.
- Missing sentence spaces, quote mixtures and missing line-end punctuation are suggestions. Fragments, headings, quotations and abbreviations may be exceptions. Fix simple issues changes only extra spaces, spaces before punctuation, missing spaces after separators, and repeated commas or semicolons; it does not fix every report.
Punctuation checker questions
How can I check punctuation online without uploading text?
Paste your English passage, choose the rule groups and press Check punctuation. All scanning happens in this tab. The free punctuation checker lists only the enabled rules, and selecting a report locates its text span.
What does Fix simple issues change?
It removes extra spaces and spaces before punctuation, adds missing spaces after commas, semicolons and colons outside recognized exceptions, and reduces repeated commas or semicolons. Before and after text boxes let you review the changes. Brackets, quotes and sentence endings remain manual decisions.
Does no issues found mean my grammar is correct?
No. It means only that these rules found no issues. Syntax, spelling, meaning and writing style are outside the checks, and a suggested typography issue can have an exception in context.
