Punctuation, Part I

In this blog post I will explore the use of punctuation in a written work by basing my finding off of the book, Rules for Writers, as well as off my own experiences and writing history. I will highlight three topics in the Punctuation section of the textbook and discuss what I have learned on the new materials I have encountered.

Darin McClure. "Punctuation Saves  Lives!" 09/30/2011 via Flickr. Public Domain Dedication.

1. The Comma

As you have most likely seen this post's main photo, the use of a comma is very important in the worlds of grammar and writing. If the comma were not present, then grandma would have been eaten by now, but since it was corrected, everything other than grandma was eaten. Good eye to the person who say that mistake.

Something new that I have just recently found important to include in my writings is the use of a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins an independent clause. I started doing this process before reading the textbook, but I would still consider it a new learning.

Another convention that needs enforcement in my writings is the correct use of commas used to separate adjective clauses and adjective phrases. It is very important to use commas here or the verb or object can change and the meaning of a sentence can change dramatically.

2. The Semicolon

This tool is used to connect major sentence elements of similar grammatical level. Using semicolons can greatly tie together these ideas to help a reader better understand a single subject. If both statements are stated separately, then the messages could be portrayed very differently if they were conjoined.

The semicolon should be used between independent clauses linked with a transitional expression. Expressions include both conjunctive adverbs and transitional phrases. Some examples are: hence, instead, subsequently, for the use of a conjunctive adverb, and after all, in conclusion, on the contrary, for the use of a transitional phrase.

Another simple use of the semicolon that I found useful would be between items in a series containing internal punctuation. Without semicolons in this form, a reader would have to find the major groupings by alone, which obviously causes a break in information being given.

3. The Colon

The colon, unlike the semicolon, is used to primarily call attention to the words that follow it. It also has conventional uses. I found that the use of a colon is great for inclusion after an independent clause to attention to a list, an appositive, a quotation, or a summary or an explanation.

Other uses are in a conventional manner and include the use in: a salutation in a letter, for hours and minutes, proportions, in a title or subtitle, in bibliographic entries. I find these uses in conventional settings a good learning experiences as I will now use them in my writings where applicable or where needed.


Reflection: I peer reviewed two of my classmate's rhetorical project drafts. I read and analyzed Jayni's and Brandon's drafts. From their drafts as well as mine, I found that punctuation is very important in directing the correct message across to an audience. The absence or the presence of a certain punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence or even entire idea if used in an incorrect manner.

From Jayni's draft I found a sentence that was worded very awkwardly with the use of several commas in a likewise manner. Here is her sentence: "In order to decrease these harmful emissions, people have been searching for an alternative substance to use, and they decided upon natural gas." I gave a suggestion to change around the sentence with one less comma and the use of all present tense wording.

In Brandon's draft, I found a sentence that contains the use of quotations that are not exactly needed. The sentence reads, "It is at this point where she drops the "shocking statistic" to prepare for her claim." The quotations around "shocking statistic" are not needed as the paragraph was introduced as being about the author's use of said statistics in her writing.