The Importance of Punctuation

[Uncle Al]

This is supposed to be a joke but, it really exemplifies the
necessity of using punctuation in a written sentence.

How to change the meaning of a sentence.

I'm giving up drinking for a month.

Sorry, bad punctuation.

I'm giving up. Drinking for a month.

Uncle Al

[crfriend]

I'm giving up. Drinking for a month.

Or, to fiddle with it just a bit, "I've given up: drinking for a month!"

This is the sort of thing that can be a whole lot of fun. If nothing else, it keeps one's friends on their toes -- as my lady-friend is learning.

[Kirbstone]

...and I hope you historians are aware that Moses was the Son of Pharoah's daughter. He was also the Daughter of Pharoah's Son. Both those facts stated without any punctuation.

Tom

[r.m.anderson]

And - yet ye preach the gospel from the good book !
Who wrote the good book - and was punctuation is use at the time to have any meaningful effect ?

Don't put any periods in the scrolls - ye may render the parchment a torn fragment - no signing on the dotted line either.
Avoid the hash (#) mark at all costs - there are no percentages (%) in it -
Only the good Lord knows where it is at (@) - what is this internet and wi-fi thing anyway - something from another universe
Go forth and multiply (x) but let me do the other calculations (+ - and ÷) I don't want any careless apts floating around.

Malarkey left over from St. Pats day - - - there is no punctuation in drinking - the glass with holes doesn't hold any substance !

[Uncle Al]

<snip>Go forth and multiply (x) but let me do the other calculations (+ - and ÷)
I don't want any careless apts floating around.<snip>

Do you mean Apartments(apts) or Applications(apps)

I wouldn't want a "floating" apartment either. Nothing firm to stand on

I don't get airsick but looking at the sky, painted on a floor(especially in
a bathroom) is visually disturbing. Or walking on a see-through glass
passageway would really get my stomach churning


Uncle Al

[Brad]

For an entertaining look at punctuation, see Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss.

[crfriend]

For an entertaining look at punctuation, see Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss.

That is most heartily seconded! That should be a mandatory read.

[Sinned]

It should be a mandatory textbook in any English course. But then we may end up with students having a basic understanding of the English language constructs.

[Fred in Skirts]

In all of the schools these days they no longer teach students how to write in cursive and spelling is not taught either. As for how to construct a sentence forget it!

Those in charge want to keep them dumb, so that they can stay in charge.

[Sinned]

I pulled this one from the web:

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?

Jane

Or the alternative:

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,

Jane

[crfriend]

Dennis -- brilliant! Scintillating, even. Ms. Truss would be proud. (And, yes, I have a copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves on my nightstand.)

[trainspotter48]

Here's a piece of text with and without punctuation:-

Ceasar entered on his head
His helmet on his feet
His sandals in his eye
An angry glare

And now with the correct punctuation

Ceasar entered, on his head
His helmet. On his feet
His sandals, in his eye
An angry glare

As you can see, the punctuation makes a world of difference to the meaning.

[Uncle Al]

We MUST include Grammar in this as well as Punctuation

Grammar JPG 2022-05-14.jpg

Uncle Al

[Jim]

I think this is an example of spelling differences, not grammar.

[Uncle Al]

I think this is an example of spelling differences, not grammar.

Nope, this is grammar.

Your Nuts means they, the nuts, are owned by you.

You're is a contraction of You Are, therefore

You're Nuts means You Are Nuts(crazy).

I'll go back under my rock now and

Uncle Al