Punctuation can be used to create clarity in sentences. It is used to organize one’s writing into a pleasant rhythm. Does it really make a difference when commas are forgotten? What difference does it make when we fail to do it accurately? Those irritating punctuation marks can't be that important, or can they?
Imagine if you could talk to others, but couldn't use hand gestures, facial expressions, or even a raised eyebrow. Half your meaning would disappear. When it comes to punctuation marks, they are important with the shades of meaning they provide. Who cares if punctuation is missing? It can make the difference between life and death. Here are some examples:
1.
Eat your dinner versus Eat. You’re dinner: This apostrophe is important. There are often
a lot of hilarious sentences that come about when people confuse “your” and
“you’re.” It’s best to remember that your is the
possessive form of you. It functions
just like my does in relation to me. If you get confused by that, you can memorize you’re as the short form of “you are.”
2.
I love cooking, my dogs, and my family versus
I love cooking my dogs and my family: Similar to number
two, the commas here keep the nouns “dogs” and “family” from becoming
unintentional objects of the verb “cooking.” In general, use commas to break up
the items in lists.
3.
Let’s eat, Grandma versus Let’s eat Grandma: The comma here is
critical. The comma tells the reader that Granny isn’t the object of the verb
“eat.” That is, with the comma, Granny isn’t on the main course tonight. The
function of the comma here is to show that the sentence “let’s eat” is directed
to an audience, Grandma.
“I don’t judge people based on race, creed, [color], or gender. I judge people based on
spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.” (www.LeFunny.net)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“3 Punctuation Mistakes That Can Make You
Look Like A Cannibal” by Kimberly Joki
·
“Punctuation”
(http://www.ef.edu/english-resources/english-grammar/punctuation/)
·
“Understanding Punctuation”
(https://www.scribendi.com/advice/understanding_punctuation.en.html)
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