PUNCTUATION-AT-A-GLANCE: © Susanna Rich The Flexible Writer (Allyn & Bacon, 2003)
|
Name
|
Mark
|
Origin
|
Meaning
|
Gesture
|
Use
|
Example
|
|
apostrophe
|
’
|
“step up”
|
contract
possess
|
flick away
beckon
|
contraction
possession
quote inside quote
|
it’s
John’s
“He’s‘good’”
|
|
comma
|
,
|
“cut”
“separate”
|
introduce
|
mark off
|
introduction
list
modifier
transition
|
At
first,
a,b,c,d
Bo,
the son,
however,
|
|
colon
|
:
|
“limb”
|
point
|
index fin-gers point
|
list
emphasis
|
these:
a,b,c
She
knew it: this was it.
|
|
dash
|
—
|
“rush”
|
emphasize
|
rush
|
emphasis
interruption
|
Jane—my
love—
|
|
ellipsis
|
…
|
“fall short”
|
omit
|
cut
|
omission
|
And
then…
|
|
exclamation
|
!
|
“shout out”
|
emphasize
|
jab
|
emphasis
|
Help!
|
|
hyphen
|
-
|
“under one”
|
treat as one
|
connect
|
link
line ending
|
high-priced
end-
ing
|
|
parentheses
|
(
)
|
“put aside”
|
set aside
|
hide
|
insertions
|
Jane
(whom I adore)
|
|
period
|
.
|
“cycle”
|
end
|
finish
|
sentence
|
Walk.
|
|
question mark
|
?
|
“ask”
|
inquire
|
invite
|
questions
|
Why?
|
|
quotation
marks
|
“
”
|
“exactly”
|
highlight
|
highlight
|
direct quote
irony
titles
|
“Why?”
It’s
“cool.”
“Noel”
|
|
semicolon
|
;
|
“half limb”
|
half stop
|
balance
|
sentences
|
Run; stop.
|
|
underlining & italics
(only one)
|
_________
italics
|
“emphasize”
|
draw attention
|
draw attention
|
emphasis
mention
titles
|
She knew.
I
is
a letter.
Moby
Dick
|
|
capitalization
|
Capitalization
|
“head”
|
show importance
|
lift
|
beginnings
proper nouns
|
I
am I.
Mississippi
|
Punctuation is a fundamental tool
for transcribing human voice, gestures, and body language onto the page. If you were Jane, how would you prefer your
beloved to refer to you?
Jane (whom I adore) *implies secrecy or something to be taken
for granted
Jane—whom I adore *implies exuberant display
Jane: whom I adore! *emphasizes
Jane, whom I adore? *is an aside, a by-the-way
Jane, whom “I adore” *implies irony, an inside joke
Jane, whom I Adore *implies big love
Jane, whom I ADORE *is a billboard, flashing lights
As you write, imagine what hand gestures would accompany your words if you were speaking them in person, and how you would like others to perceive your message.
