Partial seizures and asymmetric abnormalities seen on electroencephalogram (EEG) are infrequent in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, but when present, can lead to a misdiagnosis of partial seizures. We report four patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy who had generalized spike or polyspike and wave discharges on EEG in addition to clinical and EEG evidence of focality. The clinical course and response to therapy was similar to that in typical juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.