As a grade eight student, my son is starting to write more and more. As he writes he’s learning several things: like the need to spell better, sentence length, sentence structure and punctuation. Today I thought I’d talk about the best use of punctuation.
Punctuation is our use of a variety of dots and dashes. We use them to point the way for the reader. Pointing the way through our use of voice (the pace at which we read) and to divide our words, phrases and ideas into manageable pieces. How we use periods, commas, exclamation points and what not, shows our voice and helps the reader follow our words more clearly. This makes proper usage important.
One of the things I tell my son as I review his work is … how would you say this. As you revise it, read it over and everytime you pause, you need punctuation. Usually, it will be a period or comma, but sometimes it will be different. So stop, read, think, jot it down. If you are reading and there’s punctuation where you aren’t stopping, ask yourself why it’s there.
What is all this punctuation anyway?
. (period) ends a sentence
, (comma) most versatile of all your punctuation. It shows the author’s voice, shows continuity or the need for a break.
; (semi-colon) divides and organizes big chunks of information
: (colon) announces a word, phrase or clause
– (dash) sometimes is overused. Is best used to set a phrase apart or add punch to a closing line.
( ) parentheses are like a side trail that need to be manoeuvred around.
All other punctuation such as {}, !, ?, [], ABC all gives voice to the author. They show the pitch, tone and voice of the author. Each author will find their own path to how they use punctuation. After all, it’s OUR voice that we are sharing. Some will use commas and periods almost exclusively, and others will frequently toss in dots and dashes. It’s all part of making your writing your own. Just as you need to watch your adverbs and adjectives, you also need to watch how you use your punctuation.
So Get Out There
Write as you write. Mind you be reasonable about it. For instance, I’ve read people who insist on not using capitals, who won’t use periods, or who have odd gaps that leave you wondering where to read next.
So don’t be silly. You do need to follow punctuation rules. Remember, the goal is the HELP your readers find YOUR voice. Therefore USE the writing rules but make your writing your own. Pause when you would pause, hurry when it seems best to do so. Use excitement, and tension, and slowness. Make your words YOUR words.
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My eighth grader struggles remembering to use punctuation. Are you aware of any games out there that reinforce punctuation? He remembers things better if they’re fun! 🙂
a quick google search brought me to this page: https://www.education.com/games/punctuation/ Don’t know much about it. thanks for stopping in! 🙂
Very interesting take on punctuation. I do agree that it is important to use punctuation help our readers understand.
it is, you don’t always realize how vital it is. 🙂
I teach a high school writing class and punctuation is a common struggle at that age too! Many of them place a comma wherever they think there’s a pause and they are very often wrong, so I’d be careful about teaching that punctuation is needed at EVERY pause.
I never said that a comma.. at least I don’t think I said that a comma is always the answer. But a pause tells you something to, and I suppose the question is what does it tell you? But I have learned that punctuation is fairly personal, and how you talk and use language, influences where you place your pauses, breaks and continuations
I agree. Mostly. If a student is going to be in a formal writing situation, they are going to be required to follow formal punctuation rules. For example, the articles my girls are submitting for a competition. However, I love the way you state that when you are writing in less formal situations, your punctuation SHOULD reflect who you are, how you write, and what you are saying. I don’t think that formal rules should dictate everything but it is a very good place to start.
more good points for me to think on. distinguishing between formal and not as formal. 🙂 But at the same time, I’ve read lots of people who point out how grammar and punctuation changes depending on the expert writing or editing the sentence. So I tend to think that it’s not all as cut and dried as many like to say it is.