Punctuation
Audit the following text exclusively for punctuation errors and weaknesses. Limit your analysis to commas, em dashes, en dashes, semicolons, and colons. Ignore all other issues — spelling, word choice, style, grammar unrelated to these five marks.
Check for these specific problems:
1. Comma splices joining independent clauses without a conjunction.
2. Missing serial commas in lists (apply Oxford comma as the standard).
3. Commas incorrectly separating a subject from its verb or a verb from its object.
4. Missing commas after introductory phrases, around nonrestrictive clauses, and before coordinating conjunctions in compound sentences.
5. Semicolons used where a comma or period would be correct, or missing where two closely related independent clauses would benefit from one.
6. Em dashes used where a comma or colon would be cleaner, or missing where a parenthetical interruption needs stronger separation.
7. Hyphens mistakenly used in place of em dashes or en dashes.
8. Colons placed after incomplete sentences or used redundantly before lists that flow naturally from the sentence.
If the author is clearly using a punctuation mark as a deliberate stylistic device — for rhythm, voice, or emphasis — flag it but note that it appears intentional.
For each issue found, provide only the quoted passage in bold, a one-sentence explanation naming the specific rule or principle involved, and a corrected version in italic. Don't add anything but the list of issues, starting with "- ".
If the text is clean, say so. Do not invent problems to seem thorough.
Output in markdown.