Why Punctuation Marks Matter in Resume Writing

The correct punctuation in written English helps you articulate the ideas clearly, accurately and fosters the understanding of your message. It gives your text a logical structure, making it easier to read and comprehend. The proper use of punctuation also indicates your strong communication skills, which is valuable in any professional correspondence. That's why proper use of punctuation is critical for professional writing.

When writing a resume, it's essential to present yourself in the best possible light. This means paying close attention to all aspects of resume writing, including the layout, word choice, formatting, and punctuation. Punctuation in resume writing is as important as your skills. Missing punctuation marks are a bad sign!

Many job-seekers don't take it seriously and it's not the news that the majority of us limit the grammar check by starting the sentence with a capital letter and ending it with a period. However, for a breathtaking resume far it's not enough.

So why let the weak grammar to spoil the result of your work? Our professional resume writers explain the reasons of taking care about punctuation in your resume and recommends how to do it effectively. By the end of this article, you will learn more about different punctuation marks, rules for inserting standardized marks, and other style guides related to written communication ethics.

Why Is Punctuation So Important in Resume Writing?

What Our Analysis of 500+ Real-Life Resumes Revealed

In a recent internal review, we examined 517 randomly selected resumes submitted by job seekers across various industries. Our findings highlight a surprising fact:

• 42% contained punctuation mistakes that affected clarity or professionalism.
• 21% used inconsistent comma and period placement in bullet points.
• 18% had excessive use of capitalization and exclamation marks.
• 11% misused apostrophes (e.g., "it's" vs. "its").

While these may seem like minor errors, recruiters notice them - and often associate sloppy punctuation with poor attention to detail.

"I've rejected candidates for VP-level roles based on careless punctuation. If they can't communicate clearly on a resume, what will their emails look like?"
- Anonymous Tech Recruiter

Don't let a missed comma cost you the interview. Scroll down for expert tips on punctuation in resumes.

If you wonder how punctuation affects your resume, you should keep in mind that your reader will form an impression about your professionalism by reading your document. Therefore, your punctuation credibility in resumes is what predetermines your potential interview invitation. Yes, if punctuation in resume writing is not correct, you may lose your chance to get a job offer! It does mean you need to use complete sentences only in your resume. However, it does mean that proper punctuation and grammar in job applications are essential for your professional success. The following resume punctuation guide will help you discover the secrets of proper use of punctuation rules while working on your resume.

Final Checklist for Error-Free Resume Punctuation

• Use periods consistently at the end of bullet points (or not at all-just be consistent).
• Avoid exclamation marks - they make your resume look unprofessional.
• Use commas to separate items in a list or clauses in a sentence - not randomly.
• Never confuse "its" and "it's" - this is a red flag for recruiters.
• Capitalize proper nouns only - not every word in a sentence.
• Don't overuse semicolons or colons - use them only when grammatically correct.
• Keep punctuation inside quotation marks in experience descriptions.
• Check apostrophes for possessive use - "team's success," not "teams success."
• Proofread your resume aloud or use a resume proofreading tool.
• Ask someone else to check your punctuation before submitting.

Here's why clear and consistent punctuation deserves your full attention when writing a resume:

1. The text in resumes is usually packed with information and details. These details are condensed into long sentences to convey your major strengths to the employer. However, in long sentences, punctuation missteps can distort your meaning and give the wrong message to the reader.
2. Correct punctuation and grammar communicates a certain set of skills which are valuable for employers: attention to details and language skills, for example. Moreover, flawless resume punctuation communicates an organized mind and striving for excellence. This stems from the conviction that a resume serves as a proof of your attitude to work and genuine interest in a position.
3. Flawless grammar and punctuation let you come across as a well-educated person. This accuracy informs that you made an investment in getting a good education. The ability to communicate clearly in good English is valued for so many positions, including management and customer service ones.
4. If you are a writer, resume serves as an example of your skills. For writers/editors by trade, flawless grammar is twice as much important as for those applying for non-writing job. When reading your resume, a hiring manager will see it as an example of your writing and will only give you enough consideration if your writing sells your skills well.
5. Among two candidates with similar experience and skills the hiring manager is likely to interview the one who has an error-free resume.

Punctuation isn't the only ingredient of a successful resume, but it definitely contributes to the impression your resume makes. Now, it's time to sift through your resume text and check the punctuation for consistency and accuracy.

The Most Common Resume Punctuation Mistakes to Avoid

In the English language, punctuation marks play an important role in communicating meanings. Misusing semicolons, an apostrophe or a comma can distort the entire meaning of a sentence or phrase for a reader. They can also give the impression that you are not familiar with the rules of formal writing.

Let's take a look at the most common punctuation marks that the job-seekers misuse and how to fix the situation.  These are important points: grammar and punctuation in job search. Thus, read carefully!

• Misused periods in bullet points

This mistake occurs when you use periods at the end of bullet points inconsistently throughout your resume. Thus, your resume looks careless. Therefore, either use periods consistently for full sentences or omit them entirely for fragments-just stay consistent. Such punctuation errors in resumes are very common. Bullet point punctuation in resume should be corrected!

• Overused exclamation points

You should not add exclamation marks at all, even if you want to emphasize your achievements. Resume punctuation correction requires confident language. So, just let the numbers speak for themselves-no exclamations needed. Otherwise, your resume will look unprofessional or overly enthusiastic.

• Incorrect use of apostrophe

Among common punctuation mistakes in resumes, this one is not very common. However, you should be attentive not to write plurals like in the following example: Managed team of 10 employee's. What to do? Just remove apostrophes in plurals unless you're showing possession (e.g., team's performance).

• Comma splices

Joining two independent clauses with just a comma (e.g., "Led weekly meetings, improved team productivity") is a mistake to avoid. Instead, you should use a semicolon, conjunction, or split into two sentences (e.g., "Led weekly meetings. Improved team productivity.").

• Inconsistent use of Oxford Comma

Oxford commas are widely used in academic writing, research papers, and article. So, most people think it's correct to use them in sentences of a resu

me. Yet, you can skip them and this will be considered a correct use as long as you skip them throughout the document.

• Wrong capitalization

Job-seekers fall into two traps. The first one is not capitalizing certain words like job titles, company names or the first words in the sentence. The second is, on the contrary, starting each word in a phrase with a capital (example: Performed employee Hiring, Training, and reported to HR Manager). Here are the rules of proper punctuation. If you use two sentences in a paragraph or a bullet, you should start the first sentence and the second sentence with a capital. You also need to capitalize job titles and proper names like company names, cities, etc. If you use bullets, capitalize the first word in the line.

Punctuation plays a vital role for presenting your ideas correctly, helps you make the right emphasis, shows the reader where to make pauses and helps make your point in general. At the same time, many resume rules are flexible and if you want explanation of a certain subject (say, how to use quotation or a comma), consult a resume professional.

13 Practical Rules for Resume Punctuation

The best punctuation for resumes is the correct one. You need to apply specific punctuation rules to perfect your resume and avoid the situation when your reader is negatively impressed by your document. This section of the article has punctuation marks explained. You should strive for correct punctuation for resume clarity. Use the following rules as a resume proofreading checklist.

1. Use of colons
   It is recommended that you use colons after e-mail, home address and phone number (i.e. Phone: XX-XX-XXX) In the resume text, colons are conventionally used to join two clauses when the second is related to the first. It can look like in the example below Proficient in the following programming languages: C++, Java, and Python.
2. Use of semicolons
   As opposed to colons, semicolons are used to separate the independent clauses which are not related to each other. If you write the long list of elements, and this list already has commas, you can use semicolon to divide it into two or three group of elements.
3. Use of commas
   Basically, the rules for using commas in your resume are the same as for general writing in English. Here are some basic rules you can use for reference:
   • To separate the elements in a series, for instance, when giving a long list of your skills Example: Language proficiency: English, German, and Russian
   • To connect two independent clauses
   • Use commas before and at the end of the list of elements (a serial comma). Although there are doubts whether you should use a comma before and, it's a good idea to add it just to make your writing look more professional.
4. Use of hyphens
   Hyphens have the intent of compounding adjectives before a noun (example: long-term collaboration, client-oriented approach). Moreover, hyphens are used when listing two or more adjectives that modify the same noun (such as short- and long-term contracts).
5. Use the spaces correctly
   Although spaces are not a part of punctuation, they do contribute to the way your written text looks. It's easy to mess up the use of spaces if you cut and paste the text while writing. Remember to use only one space after the period and other punctuation marks. Luckily, word processors such as MS Word usually highlight the wrong use of spaces, so an automatic grammar check can be a good start.
6. Be strategic about capitalization
   It goes without saying that each new sentence should start with a capital letter. In all other cases, capitalization is used to draw the reader's attention to most important information in your resume. What should be capitalized? The section heading, name of the position and name of the company should start with a capital letter. Capitalization is also used for proper names (i.e. name of the product you launched). In all other cases, using capital letters is not necessary and can even spoil the visual impression from your resume. Don't capitalize the position names in your job description, as well as names of the departments. It looks pretentious and doesn't indicate your knowledge of punctuation.
7. Use bullet points
   Today's well-written resume is hard to imagine without the bulleted lists. Use them for job description, summary, and list of skills. Lists are easier to browse than the blocks of plain text and they give your resume a structure.
8. Use of full stops
   In written English, full stops mark the end of the sentence. How do you use them in a resume? End each sentence with a full stop in your Career Summary section or in case you are using paragraphs to describe your experience. Some writers also recommend that you end each statement in a bulleted list with a dot as well, but this is optional. If you choose not to use the full stop in bulleted lists in the Experience section, be sure to do so consistently in the document.
9. Use of exclamation marks
   Exclamation points are used to show excitement. This is probably the main reason you should avoid using them in professional writing. Even if you write ‘I am so excited about this position!', this may be perceived as too casual. The professional tone of your resume and cover letter rarely allows the use of exclamation marks, so it's better to save them for social media and personal correspondence.
10. Use of question marks
    Question marks are used to indicate a direct question. The resume is all about your past experience and skills and doesn't assume asking questions. Hence, no question marks in your resume.
11. Use of apostrophe
    The general rule is, apostrophes are used to show ownership or to replace omitted letters in the word (such as they've). It applies to resume writing as well – use the apostrophes as you typically do it in written English. However, be sure to proofread the document carefully to avoid the misuse, for example, using its instead of it's.
12. Use of quotation marks
    Use quotation marks in your resume if you decide to incorporate quotes or endorsements from reliable sources, i.e. previous clients, employers, colleagues, etc. The quotation marks should go at the beginning and the end of the direct quote, with the first letter of the quote always capitalized.
13. Be consistent

Another important point about the grammar in your resume is consistency. Consistency means that you use the same punctuation type throughout the resume.

For example, there's an ongoing debate about whether you should use a period after each sentence in a bulleted list. If you decide on using it, be sure to add the period after the each statement in resume. The same goes for formatting – if you write the position name in capitals, capitalize all of them. Consistency about the use of capitalization communicates the same qualities that a flawless punctuation does – attention to detail, consistency and accuracy in work.

The flawless punctuation itself isn't the key to generating interviews for you. However, it is the finishing touch that adds your resume more value in the eyes of the employer. It doesn't take too long to do a grammar check, but it can definitely be excellent grammar that will motivate the hiring manager choose your candidacy over others.

What Happens If You Don't Use Punctuation Correctly?

Wonder why is punctuation important? Let's see what happens if you don't use punctuation marks in your resume. Using incorrect punctuation on your resume can cost you job opportunities, sometimes without you even realizing it. Employers often receive hundreds of applications, and small errors can be a red flag that leads to your resume being discarded. Here are three examples of how poor punctuation can affect your chances:

Example 1: Lack of Periods in Bullet Points

When some bullet points end with periods and others don't, it creates a visual inconsistency. Why are punctuation marks important? For example, if you have a list of three achievements and only the middle one has a period at the end, there is an inconsistency. Employers may see this as carelessness, especially in jobs that require precision, such as administrative, legal, or project-based roles.

Example 2: Misused Apostrophes

Using "employee's" when you mean "employees" (plural, not possessive) makes you look unprofessional.
This simple mistake may make the hiring manager question your writing skills and your grasp of basic grammar, important in roles that involve documentation or communication. Still unsure how punctuation affects your chances? Let's check one more example.

Example 3: Comma Splices

Joining independent clauses with just a comma (e.g., "Led meetings, increased efficiency.") is grammatically incorrect. It can confuse the reader and disrupt the professional tone of your resume. Poor sentence structure can diminish the impact of your accomplishments and may lead to your resume being passed over for one with clearer, cleaner language.

How does punctuation impact your professional message? In short, incorrect punctuation undermines your credibility. It distracts from your achievements and gives the impression that you lack attention to detail-a critical quality for most jobs. In a competitive job market, even small errors can cost you interviews and potential employment.

Professional resume proofreading

If you need to have your resume proofread professionally, contact our experienced resume editorsAt a very affordable charge, our writers can significantly improve the grammar and punctuation of your current resume and make it submission-ready. And you'll have more time to get prepared for personal or online interview

Using punctuation properly in business writing is essential for clarity and professionalism. If used incorrectly, it causes misunderstanding and may distort your message. And, in case with resumes, the recruiter might interpret poor punctuation as lack of attention to detail and weak writing skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance of punctuation marks with examples?

Punctuation marks help organize ideas clearly and professionally. For example, "Let's eat, Grandma" vs. "Let's eat Grandma" shows how a comma can change meaning entirely.

Why is punctuation important in job applications?

Correct punctuation ensures your message is taken seriously. It signals attention to detail, which recruiters associate with professionalism and clarity.

What happens if you don't use punctuation marks in a resume?

Missing or misused punctuation can confuse the reader and damage your credibility. Many recruiters discard resumes with frequent grammar or punctuation mistakes.

Should I use punctuation in resume bullet points?

Yes, but be consistent. You can choose to end all bullet points with a period or leave them without - just apply the same rule throughout.

How can I check punctuation in my resume?

Use resume proofreading tools or ask a professional resume writer. Don't rely only on spellcheck - it often misses punctuation errors.

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