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Punctuation Junction
- Oct 19, 2009 at 1:01 PM
- By
- Comments (12) Total Views (145) Everyone can see this journal post.
Punctuation. What's its function? It seems as though a number of people have lost sight of the function of punctuation. It is often overused, underused and worst of all, just plain unused a lot in Internet writing. This makes reading some posts really tricky. Punctuation has a real purpose in writing and should never be left out, even in casual writing. At the very least a period at the end of the sentence is required. I can live without a comma, semi-colon and a colon, but I just can't live without a period.
If you don't used periods then people don't know where one thought stops and another begins it becomes almost impossible for them to understand the full message your words are to portray it also leaves the reader out of breath because a punctuation mark tells people where to pause because we can often read faster than our brains can process the words it is imperative that we take breaks in our reading this is one function that a period serves it gives our brain that moment to digest what we read I am not expecting perfection in every piece I read on the Internet but I think a period at the end of a sentence is not to much to ask
Now, if you made it through that last paragraph, congratulations. That was an example of what not to do in Internet writing. It is so hard to follow that most people would just abandon reading it all-together. It doesn't take a lot of effort to put in a period once in a while. Every time you have completed a thought, just reach that right ring finger down and press one little key. That is all there is too it. Then you hit the space bar twice followed by a capital letter to start the next sentence and - Eureka! Your never-ending stream of words has gone from incomprehensible rambling to an actual paragraph that people will take the time to read. If you want to get all fancy you can add commas and semicolons, etc., but a period will be the most appreciated addition.
Please, for the love of all that is wordy don't forget the function that punctuation serves. The eyes of all who try to read your writing will thank you profusely.
Tags: grammar, punctuation, spelling, no one is perfect but everyone should do their best.
Comments:
Excellent points. Oh and your second paragraph hurt my head.
Girl, is this directed at me? I didn't have time to use punctuation in my texts yesterday. :)
Right, Mary, you are totally my target audience. o.O
I didn't even notice anything wrong with your texts. My buns are not that tight.
LOL! Great journal! So True!
I was in a group the other night doing some research - hadn't spent much time in there before. Anyway, almost every post/reply was a neverending paragraph - they did use correct punctuation but no breaks in the info. It was making my head hurt to read huge amounts of info. with no break.
LOL! Great journal! So True!
I was in a group the other night doing some research - hadn't spent much time in there before. Anyway, almost every post/reply was a neverending paragraph - they did use correct punctuation but no breaks in the info. It was making my head hurt to read huge amounts of info. with no break.
Oh, yes. I have to have paragraph breaks too. When you are reading on the Internet you can't put your finger on the page like you do in a book (not that a book would be published with out paragraph breaks) so it makes it nearly impossible not to lose your place if you are distracted for a second. Not a good thing when you are interrupted 5,000 times a day by a child.
Oh, Kim, thank you! I wanted to write a post about this, but my head is still spinning from that bad experience. I. love. punctuation.
How about the sign at Sam's gas station that reads' Memeber's Only" ? Duh?? Joye has a fit every time we gas up!
How about the sign at Sam's gas station that reads' Memeber's Only" ? Duh?? Joye has a fit every time we gas up!
Gah! That would drive me nuts. Reason number 972 not to shop at any Wal-Mart owned establishment. They probably had some 7 year old kid in Indonesia painting the sign - with lead paint no doubt, and paid him a quarter.
Oct. 19, 2009 at 6:07 PM
How about the sign at Sam's gas station that reads' Memeber's Only" ? Duh?? Joye has a fit every time we gas up!
Gah! That would drive me nuts. Reason number 972 not to shop at any Wal-Mart owned establishment. They probably had some 7 year old kid in Indonesia painting the sign - with lead paint no doubt, and paid him a quarter.
(Original Poster)
I'd be lol'ing harder if it wasn't so (sadly) true...
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I made it through the second paragraph, only because I knew what you were doing. That was insane! People that dont use periods annoy me. Then if you ask them to please try again, they get nasty. If you are asking for advice, PLEASE make it where people can actually tell what you need.
GREAT POST :)