Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Punctuation marks are power tools: Learn how to use them
I never told you why punctuation marks are the power tools of writing, did I? Let me explain:
If you look at writing as written language aimed to convey meaning, and you break the written language into small parts, you’ll find:
1. Words (in all their different variations) and phrases
2. Sentences
3. Paragraphs
4. Punctuation marks
The words and word phrases are building blocks combined to form sentences. Sentences are single ideas presented as units of meaning. A few sentences together form a paragraph. Each paragraph should say something about one thought. Punctuation marks are the tools used to make your meaning clear.
Let us look at the following example:
Mary is a pretty smart woman.
What does this mean?
This is a colloquial way of saying that Mary is very clever and astute. In this sentence, “smart” is an adjective that describes a noun, “woman”. “Pretty” gives us more information about the adjective “smart” and is therefore an “adverb”. Pretty confusing, isn’t it?
You could create the same meaning by using different words, as in the sentences: (1) Mary is a very clever woman; and (2) Mary is an astute woman.
Now, to make it even more confusing: How would you indicate that Mary is beautiful, well dressed and maybe astute, as well? This is where punctuation marks become useful.
When you insert a comma between “pretty, smart”, both of these words take the function of the adjective. In other words, the comma changes the meaning of the sentence to say two things: “Mary is a pretty woman” and “Mary is a smart woman”. When we put these two sentences together, it becomes: “Mary is a pretty, smart woman”. Not so confusing, after all.
Can you see why a comma is a powerful writing tool? And how the wrong use of a comma can be a fateful mistake in an advertisement or in a contract? There are only a handful of punctuation marks that you have to know to make sure your writing says what it is meant to say. Learn how to use them. It is worth it.
Now for the test:
You are now aware that apostrophes as well as commas can be used incorrectly in your writing. Below is another fun exercise to test your knowledge. It is one of my favourite examples from the delightful book by Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves.
The letter was intended to be a “Dear Johnny”, in which a lady is saying her boyfriend off, but the writer got confused with her punctuation and the letter ended up as an outpouring of her love. Quite a grave mistake, I’d say.
Change the punctuation marks (not the words or the word order) to change the letter to mean the opposite.
Dear Jack
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy – will you let me be yours?
Jill
Win!
Send the corrected Dear Jack letter to: susanwilliams.williams2@gmail.com to stand a chance to win a three-hour training session for four people in Johannesburg. Closing date: 31 August 2010. The Editor’s decision will be final.
Indicate in your email:
1. Name of owner/manager
2. Business name
3. Business address and contact details
4. Type of business
5. Why you would like to win this competition
For more information on workshops, specifically aimed at listening and business writing skills, as well as other narrative methods to grow your business, please contact Prose&Coms, at: susanwilliams.williams2@gmail.com
This blog appears as a regular column the Afridevelopment newsletter for small business owners. http://afrid.co.za/cms/index.php
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