Today, class, let’s consider a way to view punctuation.
Early in my career, I was taught to think of some punctuation in terms of pauses. Punctuation is a tool with many uses. But the pause thing imparts rhythm, helping the reader know how you want the piece to be read.
- A comma is a short pause.
- A semi-colon is a moderate pause.
- A period is a longer pause.
- A new paragraph signals a potty break.
Formal, technical, or in-depth publications tend to use more punctuation, especially commas. The New Yorker, academic journals–you spend some time chewing on those articles. Commas, semi-colons, and periods not only help separate key thoughts, but let you pause to catch your breath.
On the other hand, a high-end business newsletter targeted to busy executives will use short, emphatic sentences with minimal punctuation. Likewise with ads. That way, readers can skim the content without being slowed down by a bunch of pauses.
There are many nuances and exceptions, but it’s generally applicable (as I’ve experienced during the past 30 years).
Class dismissed. Which requires a period.
