Punctuation
Posted by childofthehive | Filed under Writing Talk
I am a great believer in the importance of correct punctuation. Misplacing a comma can change the entire meaning on a sentence. Don’t believe me?
Let’s look at the following sentence:
We had already eaten, Fred.
This sentence is quite simple. Its meaning: the writer is addressing someone called Fred and telling him that they had already had something to eat. Now let’s look at the same sentence without the comma.
We had already eaten Fred.
This sentence is an admission of cannibalism.
Good writing is about getting your meaning across to your readers. Punctuation is a tool to help you do that. If your punctuation is clear and correct, people will understand what you are trying to say. If your punctuation is incorrect, readers may misinterpret your meaning or get confused, wondering if you really mean what you think you mean.
I was shown a great example of how punctuation can completely change the meaning of a piece of writing. I was shown this at a creative writing workshop; I’m not sure where the tutor originally got it. Take a look at the two letters below. They are word-for-word identical but saying completely the opposite.
Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior.
You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy — will you let me be yours?
- Gloria
Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior.
You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours, Gloria
Tags: advice, punctuation, writing
