Punctuation: How important it is?
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
October 2, 2008 3:06am CST
I wrote in an earlier article on how some mylotters are not paragraphing or punctuating their discussions and responses.
That discussion can be found here: http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1726609.aspx
Now I cannot help but keep thinking about the discussion I started. And it kept bugging me why people do not like to punctuate their discussions or responses.
So, here I am again, trying to prove a point. 8p
Take this sentence for example: woman without her man is a savage.
A professor once came into class and wrote that above sentence on the board. Then he proceeds to ask the class to punctuate the sentence. Comparing the results of the men vs the women, this was what came of it.
The men punctuated as follows: Woman, without her man, is a savage.
And the women as follows: Woman, without her, man is a savage.
Or this other example:
Don't stop.
Don't, stop.
Which leads us right to the famous panda story.
[i]A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and starts shooting at the other patrons.
“Why did you do that?” asks the confused, surviving waiter amidst the carnage, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it at the waiter.
“Well, I’m a panda,” he says, walking out the door. “Look it up.”
The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation. “Panda– Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”[/i]
Which, of course, should have read “Eats shoots and leaves”.
See the stark difference in the true intention of the sentence with the shift of one comma? or how punctuation makes a simple string of words mean different things when punctuated differently?
Still not convinced. Read this -- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060806.wr-rogers07/BNStory/Business/
3 people like this
5 responses
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
6 Oct 08
Punctuation is Very Important. I've taught a Thai boy before. He told me that the Thai Language hardly uses Punctuation. If I remember correctly, the only Punctuation they use is Full stop. I realized this also had an influence on his English writing. He tended to write long paragraphs, his sentences were very long and he hardly use commas. Now, he is much better.
Punctuation is especially useful when it comes to reading. It's easier to understand what new broadcasters are reading when they pause at commas, full stops and etc.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
7 Oct 08
like i said, using punctuation is a habit. Once you get into the habit of using them, you will naturally use them when you type. Be it for a report or a response here at mylot.
Hmm... this is an interesting revelation. The Thai language uses very little punctuation? Interesting...
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
3 Oct 08
LOL =D The panda story is funny, and yet real ^_^ A prefect example to show ple, how the wrong usage of punctuation can lead to great mistakes ^_^ I'm someone whom doesn't know how and where to place my punctuations, so i will just place them where i feel that it's right to do so.. And of course, i will use my thinking too, so as to not end up like the panda story.. lol =D
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29085)
• United States
2 Oct 08
To me, it is very important when posting. I know that I always try to put any correct punctuation marks on my post. That way the members will not get confused with a post that I make. It also helps me to know where my sentence ends too.. Doing this, does cause less stress and aggravation.
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
3 Oct 08
people are relaxed here and like to not feel as if they are being judged by the perfection in their writing when they may have a job or something that they have to be perfect in.. unless its ridiculous everyone can understand anyways and not to mention there are people that dont know engish well that dont know how to
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Oct 08
Again, I must stress this. I am not against anyone who doesn't use paragraphs or punctuation.
Like I said in an earlier post. I too do a lot of typing on my computer. And when I compose my discussions here, I will invariably add the punctuations and the paragraphing as I go along. But that gripe about people not using paragraphs and punctions are in the other discussion.
Here, I am just trying to start a discussion on how important punctuation can be. And how they can make the same string of words mean different things with just a small comma or a full-stop.
Thanks for sharing your view though. No one is gonna be penalizing anyone here for in correct use of the grammar rules or the punctuations.
I cannot even follow them to the tee, much less expect it of anyone else.
1 person likes this
@mojcica (1511)
• Slovenia
2 Oct 08
Honestly I have no idea where to put comas when i write in english. I've notice noone using them, which to me is very strange, since in my language there are strict rules where they should be. And we all use them...simple as that. It is easier to understand what ssomeone is talking about without confusion.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Oct 08
Ha ha ha ha ha... I used to have that problem too.
But to make it easier to use them, these are the few rules I usually use to punctuate my writing.
As I put my thoughts down on paper or a document on word,
1) If there is a pause, I put a comma.
2) If there is an end to a single thought, I put a full stop.
3) If there is a longer pause, then I put a semi-colon.
The same few rules are used in composing this reply as well. And if I am going on to another point, or feel a sentence or paragraph is too long, I simply add a new line to break it up for easier reading.
No hard and fast rules to it here at mylot. 
1 person likes this
