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July 25, 2005
The Importance of Punctuation
(Filed under: Writing & Editing)Signs at bus stops in North Miami Beach declared:
Say 'NO' to Drugs from the NMB Police D.A.R.E Officers.
See what happens when you don't pay attention to grammar? A simple lack of punctuation can turn D.A.R.E. officers into drug dealers. Oops. (link via Think Personality)
Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks at July 25, 2005 3:09 PM
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Comments
Years ago, I wrote a story about teenage pregancy for the small-town newspaper where I work. One of our county commissioners at the time came up to me with a gleam in his eye the next day with the headline and my byline circled. "I'm surprised at you, John," he said. "It says right here: 'One in 10 teenage girls becomes pregnant / By John Carney, T-G staff writer.'"
Posted by: John I. Carney at July 25, 2005 4:22 PM
Lynne Truss wrote a great book on punctuation called EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES. It has a lot of funny examples of the misuse of punctuation. You might enjoy playing the Punctuation Game here: http://eatsshootsandleaves.com/ESLquiz.html
One of my favorite examples from the book illustrates the difference punctuation makes to the meaning of a sentence:
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
OR
A woman without her man is nothing.
Of course, I prefer the first sentence! (I hope I got the quotes right; my book is at home.)
Posted by: Paughnee at July 26, 2005 11:49 AM
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