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Punctuation

By rowland | Posted: 15 November 2008

Views: 567
What is punctuation?  .  " '- , () ?? !!:"

When we speak, we do all kinds of things to get our message across correctly. We vary our voice by making it higher, lower, louder or softer. We change the tone and the speed of delivery, put in pauses of differing lengths. As adults, all this is done automatically to express ourselves as "voice punctuation."

In a similar way when writing it is necessary to separate our sentences with a collection  of marks and signs which break words up into groups and give other helpful clues and information about their meaning. Without this it would be difficult and confusing to read sentences like this: 

(Ann Boleyn prayed and wrote final letters one hour after her head was cut off.) 	 
(Ann Boleyn prayed and wrote final letters, One hour after, her head was cut off.) 

The entire significance of this sentence has been changed by the insertion of a stop, and a comma and as a matter of interest for that reason legal documents are often written without any punctuation.

What do you think? I shave people for nothing, and pay for the privilege!

What! Do you think I shave people for nothing, and pay for the privilege?

What do you think I shave people for?  Nothing?  And pay for the privilege?

The "rules" of punctuation are by no means inflexible. No two writers punctuate in the same way-punctuation is a part of a writers style, but it must be understandable for all. If you spend your time and energy writing then surly you owe it to yourself to present your writing in the best possible light. Always, read through your final draft, altering, correcting and adding where necessary.
Regards Rowland
All articles on this website by rowland are copyright ©rowland and should not be reproduced without the author's prior written consent. All opinions are the opinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily the opinions of The Writers' Circle.
Comments 
wild bill28
17 November 2008
thanks Rowland but can you put to much are not a nuff any advice
would be a preshated on the home page it said to contact you about
editing things i have some idea i thank are good but don,t really know
louise
17 November 2008
Have you read Eats Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. I fully recommend it.
I hate sloppy spelling. 

It's like someone yawning when I'm talking, you know? Rude.

As for text-speak when you're not texing! Puleese! ;)
rowland
18 November 2008
Ah! the sainted Lynn Truss.  Yes, I have read her book and I found it very interesting. Punctuation has always been a matter of trends. Some of the world's most well known authors occasionally breach punctuation protocol even Bernard Shaw used to omit the apostrophe in words like 'don't,' 'can't,' etc. So, I try not to get too upset about breaches, provided that the meaning is perfectly clear. Spelling is however altogether a different matter and I feel always deserves special attention.
louise
18 November 2008
Oh, that pesky apostrophe! Arghhh
Don9307
27 January 2009
Punctuation, after all, is a break in the flow.  What you break the flow with is best to know.
mature gent
03 February 2009
Precisely ! my writing lacks the correct puntitation? and really it is total 'igorance' of 'what' and 'were' to put in those little ,.;" - having now reach a time in life that I find it hard enought to remember the 'day' let alone the right puntations! am I a total failure. Like most complete ameatures I love writing albeit badly. 
MATURE GENT
Mr Richard
04 February 2009
What about the semi -colon alegedly the noblest of punctuation marks .When is it fit to use one ? is it in place of a full stop,when you've used too many comas up?; or perhaps somewhwere else unthought of  by moi.
rowland
04 February 2009
I'm glad you mentioned the semicolon as both the colon and the semi colon deserve special attention. The semicolon occupies a position midway between the full stop and comma. It is stronger than the comma. Its main use today in the English language is used in lists, or instead of a connector or conjunction. The colon on the other hand is used to introduce something or to direct attention. For example: it is the preferred punctuation mark for introducing something which explains or illustrates or rephrases a previous statement.

Good writing Rowland
Don9307
13 April 2009
Another word about the semi-colon.   Aside from its use as described by Mr. Roland, there are times when the semi-colon has a definite and necessary usage in the English language.  The semi-colon is used to separate two dependent clauses, i.e. two clauses which are themselves complete thoughts (sentences), which are so closely related as to be contained in a complex sentence structure rather than as separate sentences.  Often, the semi-colon will be followed by a coordinating or correlative conjunction, but this is not absolutely necessary.
JD Higginson
25 April 2009
Eats, shoots and leaves is a brilliant example of punctuation at its unruliest. It should be hammered home at an early age. Basic education - sadly one that I had to teach myself.

JD
taylorswift97
28 January 2010
thanks! for, the? punctuation. tips;

Writer
rowland

Total posts:
105
Roles: Writer
Xabia Alicante, SPAIN
Rowland has been writing for pleasure all his life. His first award for writing came in 1953 aged nine years when he won a UK school story writing competition and has been smitten with the writing bug ... (Read more)