I am elated to see punctuation getting the respect it deserves. After all, punctuation is as crucial to clear, effective, and professional writing as any word or phrase. We've all read something similar to this:
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One misplaced, omitted, or superfluous punctuation mark can derail the meaning of an otherwise superb essay. So, I encourage to take a moment in your writing today to give a little love to the punctuation in your paper. If you, like many writers, struggle with comma usage, take a few minutes to review a good comma tutorial. Want to make an impact with your words? Learn when to use - but not overuse - the dash. Not sure whether to hyphenate "super-duper"? Remember that dictionaries do still exist.
Can't get enough of punctuation? You can enter this contest from the National Punctuation Day council. The challenge is to write a clever, three-sentence paragraph that correctly incorporates 13 different punctuation marks, and winners have some punctuation-related swag heading their way! (It's tougher than it looks... I'm trying this one myself!)
So, whether you're bidding for question-mark-shaped candy or revising that MALS 5100 essay, pay punctuation its due respect!
P.S. > I know you're just dying to know what tops my punctuation list. Well, the answer is oozing throughout the above post... I just love the exclamation point! Why? Because it always means something dramatic. Sure, at times writers overuse it and render their passage the literary equivalent of a used-car ad, but it's oh-so satisfying to conclude with that SHIFT+1 movement! Besides, who doesn't add a little flourish with the left hand when typing an "! "? Write on!!
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