Giving meaning

Consider the following quote from Mark Twain without punctuation: There are basically two types of people people who accomplish things and people who claim to have accomplished things the first group is less crowded. While you can grasp the meaning of the words, the absence of punctuation makes them confusing and much less powerful.

Now let’s add the punctuation: There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded. Punctuation is essential to give your readers visual cues to indicate how the sentence(s) should be read.

Now consider the following questions:

1. When you speak, do you recite the words quickly and without pause?
2. Do you read sentences out loud as a guide to see where punctuation is needed?
3. What do you think pucntuation can add to your sentences?

Read Chapter 3 from the Writing for success course, to learn more about punctuation. The exercises are not compulsory but they may help you get a better understanding of the intricacies of punctuation.