Correct Punctuation

[Gemini Cricket]

I saw this today and thought it was pretty cool:

The Importance of Correct Punctuation

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

------------------------

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

Both letters have the same words, but they have different punctuation in them. Each letter has a different meaning. Love it.
It reminds me of the book "Eats, Shoots and Leaves".

[scaeagles]

Very entertaining.

[JWBear]

Reminds me of the famous book dedication error:

"To my parents, Ayn Rand and God."

[Motorboat Cruiser]

That's great, GC!

I can't really talk about bad punctuation though when I have plenty to brush up on. Writing more lately, I am realizing that my grasp (while certainly better than some), is still sorely lacking. I'm sure there is probably 3 or more mistakes in this post alone. The uncertainty bugs me to no end and I need to fix it.

Anyone have any suggestions for a book or two that might help?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Reminds me of the famous book dedication error:

"To my parents, Ayn Rand and God."

Sadly, many many people will argue that it's not an error. A comma before the "and" in a list of items is known as the "Oxford comma" and most modern style guides at best consider it optional, at worst say it should not be used at all. Personally, that ticks me off, and that's a great example of why it should always be used.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by MBC

Anyone have any suggestions for a book or two that might help?

Cry the Beloved Country.

(That's a joke. Anyone who was ever forced to read it in the orginal form will understand.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Oh, and while it makes an excellet example, "To my parents, Ayn Rand and God" is apocryphal.

[Alex]

I'm also a firm believer in the serial comma. Similar to Ayn Rand is the example Lani always gives for why it is important:

"My favorite people in the world are my parents, the Pope and Mother Teresa."

[Snowflake]

I like ee cummings no punctuation at all

You must spread some Mojo around before giving it to Gemini Cricket again.

Eats, shoots and leaves, a fabulous book!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Eats, shoots and leaves, a fabulous book!

Agreed. Except she argues against the serial/Oxford comma. I don't know if I can respect her after that.