Let's Eat Grandma! How Punctuation (Or Lack Thereof) Can Lead to Cannibalism

     Punctuation has been around for centuries, and while it has undergone minute changes, the basis for the rules has remained the same. Similar to an old house, the foundation of the punctuation rules must remain put, or the whole of it would fall apart. Punctuation rules as they are are used to make writing better understood and clearer, especially in pieces defined by logic and objectivity that cannot be left to interpretation (imagine a brain surgeon interpreting instructions on how to perform a dangerous surgery- that might not end well). The essay "Notes on Punctuation", written by Lewis Thomas, scientist and Harvard graduate, conveys how the adherence to traditional punctuation rules can "[clarify] meaning" (Punctuation, Social Media, and Evolving Rules of Communication) by serving as "indicators of tone" (Notes on Punctuation). Tone helps the reader to better understand the meaning of a piece of writing. If the correct usage of punctuation can convey tone, then it is useful in discovering the purpose of a piece of work. Each piece of punctuation has its own unique connotation. The semicolon has an especially strong connotation, as shown by both "Notes on Punctuation" and "Semicolons: A Love Story". What is special about the proper use of a semicolon is that it tells you "that there is still a question about the preceding full sentence" (Notes on Punctuation), which gives the reader a "pleasant feeling of expectancy". This can help to clarify the meaning of a sentence, therefore giving the reader a better understanding of what the author is trying to convey. In addition, even with following the traditional rules, semicolons have "pleasing possibilities" (Semicolons: A Love Story) in how they can "so compactly [capture] the way in which our thoughts are both liquid and solid, wave and particle" (Semicolons: A Love Story). This is a prime demonstration of how punctuation is not restricting, but instead another outlet with which writers can express themselves while still adhering to the foundation of punctuation rules. These rules of punctuation that the English society have upheld for so long are important to provide clarity and purpose to a piece of writing. Without them, understanding a piece of work might prove to be much harder, and many might go misinterpreted.

Follow punctuation rules- save a grandma.