This document provides guidance on proper punctuation usage to ensure clarity and avoid unintended meanings. It emphasizes that punctuation should be used only when it helps clarify the intended meaning. Incorrect or missing punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence or cause reader confusion. Several examples are given of how punctuation affects sentence interpretation, such as distinguishing essential and nonessential clauses and avoiding ambiguous meanings. The document stresses the importance of clarity and accuracy in writing.

1. Punctuation
A little bit of comma sense

2. The basic guideline
Punctuation is to make clear the
thought being expressed.
If punctuation does not help make
clear what is being said, it should not
be there.

3. If you’re not careful …
Incorrect punctuation can:
- change the meaning of your sentence
- cause the reader to get confused

4. A want ad
Wanted: Piano to replace daughters lost in fire.

5. A want ad
Wanted: Piano to replace daughters lost in fire.
Correct:
Wanted: Piano to replace daughter’s lost in fire.

6. Headline
Father to be stabbed to death in street

7. Headline
Father to be stabbed to death in street
Correct:
Father-to-be stabbed to death in street

8. What does this mean?
I saw a man eating lobster.

9. NOT
I saw a man-eating lobster.

10. The butler stood in the door and called the
guests’ names.

11. NOT
The butler stood in the door and called the
guests names.

12. At summer camp, I missed the odor of my dad’s
pipe, and my boyfriend.

13. NOT
At summer camp, I missed the odor of my dad’s
pipe and my boyfriend.

14. Clarity and Accuracy
• Even when there is no punctuation
involved, make sure your sentences say what
you intend them to say.

15. Real Newspaper Headlines
• Prostitutes appeal to pope
• Stolen painting found by tree
• Miners refuse to work after death
• Milk drinkers are turning to powder
• Drunk gets nine months in violin case
• Juvenile court to try shooting defendant
• Complaints about NBA referees growing ugly
• Panda mating fails; veterinarian takes over
• Astronaut takes blame for gas in spacecraft
• Hospitals are sued by 7 foot doctors
• Iraqi head seeks arms

16. Punctuate this love letter
from EducationWorld.com
my dear pat, the dinner we shared the other
night – it was absolutely lovely not in my wildest
dreams could I ever imagine anyone as perfect as
you are could you – if only for a moment – think
of our being together forever what a cruel joke to
have you come into my life only to leave again it
would be heaven denied the possibility of seeing
you again makes me giddy with joy I face the time
we are apart with great sadness john p.s. I would
like to tell you that I love you I can’t stop thinking
that you are one of the prettiest women on earth

17. My dear Pat,
The dinner we shared the other night – it was
absolutely lovely! Not in my wildest dreams could
I ever imagine anyone as perfect as you are.
Could you – if only for a moment – think of our
being together forever? What a cruel joke to have
you come into my life only to leave again; it
would be heaven denied. The possibility of seeing
you again makes me giddy with joy. I face the
time we are apart with great sadness.
John
p.s. I would like to tell you that I love you. I can’t
stop thinking that you are one of the prettiest
women on Earth.

18. My Dear,
Pat the dinner we shared the other night. It
was absolutely lovely – not! In my wildest
dreams, could I ever imagine anyone? As perfect
as you are, could you – if only for a moment –
think? Of our being together forever: what a cruel
joke! To have you come into my life only to leave
again: it would be heaven! Denied the possibility
of seeing you again makes me giddy. With joy I
face the time we are apart.
With great “sadness,”
John
p.s. I would like to tell you that I love you. I can’t.
Stop thinking that you are one of the prettiest
women on Earth.
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