Punctuation Matters!

1. Punctuation Matters! Gifted & Talented- Summer Institute Courtesy of: Word Press

2. Why Punctuation Matters: • Example 1: • “Most of the time, travelers worry about their luggage.” Now delete the comma after the fourth word to totally change the meaning of this sentence: • “Most of the time travelers worry about their luggage.”

3. Example 2: • “Stop clubbing baby seals.” And with a comma added, you get this:

4. Example 3: • It should read: Rachel Ray finds inspiration in cooking, her family, and her dog.” • Here’s how the magazine printed the headline:

5. Example 4:

6. Example 5: • It’s not just the addition or lack of commas that can change meaning. This example shows how the placement of punctuation, such as full stops/periods, commas, and question marks, can turn something that seems loving and innocent into something more sinister: • Dear John: • I want a man who knows what love is all about. • You are generous, kind, thoughtful. • People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. • You have ruined me for other men. • I yearn for you. • I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. • I can be forever happy. • Will you let me be yours? • Gloria

7. Example 5: • Now let’s see how those same words read with the punctuation in different places: • Dear John: • I want a man who knows what love is. • All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. • Admit to being useless and inferior. • You have ruined me. • For other men, I yearn. • For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. • When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. • Will you let me be? • Yours, • Gloria

8. Now You Try! • Directions: The following are unpunctuated sentences that come from a real document that lacked punctuation.  Supply the necessary punctuation changes.  You may change lowercase letters to capital letters (and should do so where punctuation requires such a change); however, do not change the wording.

9. 1.  Everyone experiences stressful situations at least occasionally therefore we all develop ways to deal with stress. • 1.  Everyone experiences stressful situations,at least occasionally; therefore, we all develop ways to deal with stress.

10. 2.  Some of us find healthy techniques for handling these situations others deal with them in unhealthy ways that may even make the situation worse. • 2.  Some of us find healthy techniques for handling these situations; others deal with them in unhealthy ways that may even make the situation worse.

11. 3.  Among the healthy ways to cope with stress are to find diversions that will distract us temporarily from the source of stress to develop the psychological tools that enable us to prevent stress from becoming overwhelming and to seek professional help whenever our own methods seem inadequate. • 3.  Among the healthy ways to cope with stress are: to find diversions that will distract us temporarily from the source of stress, to develop the psychological tools that enable us to prevent stress from becoming overwhelming, and to seek professional help whenever our own methods seem inadequate.

12. 4.  Before we can deal successfully with any kind of stress we must understand what is causing it if we do not comprehend the cause of a problem a solution may remain beyond our reach. • 4.  Before we can deal successfully with any kind of stress,we must understand what is causing it.  If we do not comprehend the cause of a problem, a solution may remain beyond our reach.

13. 5.  Sometimes the only answer is to escape from stressful situations temporarily for example we can engage in a hobby or some other activity that diverts our thoughts from the anxiety-producing situation. • 5.  Sometimes,the only answer is to escape from stressful situations temporarily; for example, we can engage in a hobby or some other activity that diverts our thoughts from the anxiety-producing situation.

14. 6.  Although such activities do not solve the problem they may at least put us in a better frame of mind consequently we will be better prepared to deal with it later. • 6.  Although such activities do not solve the problem, they may at least put us in a better frame of mind; consequently, we will be better prepared to deal with it later.

15. 7.  Indeed since we often cause our own stress by worrying about tomorrow's anticipated problems all we need to do sometimes is to convince ourselves that they are not today's problems and to remain in the present some forms of procrastination can have positive outcomes. • 7.  Indeed, since we often cause our own stress by worrying about tomorrow's anticipated problems, all we need to do sometimes is to convince ourselves that they are not today's problems and to remain in the present.  Some forms of procrastination can have positive outcomes.

16. 8.  Because stress is often caused more by our own reactions to an event than by the event itself we may reduce tension by modifying our reactions and our state of mind one way to do this is meditation. • 8.  Because stress is often caused more by our own reactions to an event than by the event itself, we may reduce tension by modifying our reactions and our state of mind.One way to do this is meditation.

17. 9.  When we meditate we clear a channel for analysis and we become more capable of viewing a stressful situation in perspective furthermore as the mind focuses on soothing thoughts the body tends to become more relaxed. • 9.  When we meditate, we clear a channel for analysis, and we become more capable of viewing a stressful situation in perspective; furthermore, as the mind focuses on soothing thoughts, the body tends to become more relaxed.

18. 10.  Sometimes however we may be incapable of dealing with stress on our own resources and we will need professional help. • 10.  Sometimes, however, we may be incapable of dealing with stress on our own resources, and we will need professional help.

19. 11.  A counselor or even a close friend may sometimes provide the help we need all this person may have to do is listen to us because just venting our fears or anxieties may loosen the grip that these emotions have on us. • 11.  A counselor or even a close friend may sometimes provide the help we need; all this person may have to do is listen to us because just venting our fears or anxieties may loosen the grip that these emotions have on us.

20. 12.  Though it is impossible to avoid all stressful situations we can lead happy and purposeful lives if we learn how to manage our reactions to the inevitable pressures of life. • 12.  Though it is impossible to avoid all stressful situations, we can lead happy and purposeful lives if we learn how to manage our reactions to the inevitable pressures of life.