Who cares about punctuation anyway?
Does it really matter if you drop a comma or skip an apostrophe?
Well, in a word, yes. Punctuation helps us navigate the ebb and flow of written language. It gently conveys the thoughts of the writer to the reader. Punctuation is the visual representation of the author’s voice. Those little marks so carefully placed (or intentionally misplaced) transmit the sound of that voice – from the page to our eyes to the ears in our head. How else do we hear the exasperation, the anger, the humour, the joy? Are we being asked, or are we being told? Is that a pregnant pause or a rush of emotion? A shopping list or a stream of consciousness?
Internet memes are a classic example of good punctuation gone bad (quite why so many memes have grammatical errors is another story for another time). Take the following:
‘I’m sorry I love you.’
Ummm (awkward silence). Is that regret or an apology?
‘I’m sorry; I love you.’
Well, punctuation changes the sentiment entirely.
‘A woman without her man is nothing.’
Really?
Perhaps (winks), ‘A woman: without her, man is nothing.’
‘My favourite things are cooking my family and my dog.’
Wait. What?
‘My favourite things are cooking, my family, and my dog.’
Careful commas avoid a whole lotta confusion.
And can you picture the difference between a ‘man eating chicken’ and a ‘man-eating chicken’?
Simple examples, but you get the gist.
Below is a wonderful piece on punctuation, featuring the elegant musings of the physician, etymologist, poet, and essayist Lewis Thomas. Enjoy!
