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The Importance of Proper Punctuation
Aafaque Ehsen:
The Importance of Proper Punctuation
Much of the confusion in writing is due to improper punctuation.
The purpose of all writing is to communicate. Punctuation marks are the road signs that guide our readers through our writing. They help readers along to the destination we want them to reach. If they do not do so, meaning will be lost. What the reader understands from our writing depends a lot upon punctuation too.
The finest writing is one about which the reader feels that the writer is talking to him. When we talk, we use variations in the pitch and tone of our voice. We also use facial expressions and gestures. These three elements combine with the words we speak to create maximum understanding of what we say. Words alone are not enough when we speak. This also applies to writing. Here lies the importance of proper punctuation.
Speech contains pauses, stresses, inflection (changes in pitch and tone). Punctuation marks tell our readers how what they are reading would sound if they could hear it. Every mark of punctuation is a universally recognized symbol. Proper use of these symbols helps the readers clearly understand what they read.
Correct punctuation is not mechanical or arbitrary. It is an essential part of effective writing. One can say that punctuation is to writing what notation is to music.
The aim of every punctuation mark should be to help make writing clear. Punctuation is all about clarity in communication.
In future posts, we will focus on proper usage of individual punctuation marks.
Akbar Javeed:
Will be looking forward with keen interest to the future posts.
Noor Ul Irfan:
--- Quote from: Akbar Javeed on December 31, 2011, 02:13:15 PM ---
Will be looking forward with keen interest to the future posts.
--- End quote ---
Me too.
Ishtiaq Ali:
Punctuation does make or mar any piece of writing.
Nigel Pickard:
^
No room for any doubt there.
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