Comments on: I Do Not Use Correct Punctuation. So What?

By: Jeff Bowe

Jeff Bowe — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:40:55 +0000

I concur that there is a difference between a blog and a term paper, and also corporate advertising and a news story. The issue is do our students today know that such a difference exists and do they understand which form and style is appropriate for each type of writing. I am appalled by spelling problems in any context. Fast or slow, they should not happen because the tools are so prevalent to correct them. “Affect” over “effect” would not be caught by a spell checker so I give that a bit more room. I am equally appalled by college students who turn in academic papers with improper sentence structure and then argue with me that a sentence must contain a noun and a verb, and that a paragraph needs more than one sentence and no more than one thought.

Blogs are a great place for stylistic writing and knowing Kyle, I have no problem with how he writes in his blog. If you look at his corporate writing including ad copy or press releases or decide to read an in-depth news article either online or in hard copy, you will appropriately find a more proper and correct style of writing. Reminds me of something a Realtor says–location matters.

By: robbyslaughter

robbyslaughter — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:35:45 +0000

Don't worry, you're just falling victim to Skitt's Law

By: robbyslaughter

robbyslaughter — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:32:23 +0000

I agree with Elizabeth Friedland.

Maybe she'll follow me back on Twitter now.

By: Perry McDowell

Perry McDowell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:02:16 +0000

Blogs are not journal papers. To me, a blog is a quick conversation between the blogger and me for my benefit. Just as I don't correct friends' grammar in conversations, so long as spelling and grammar are not too atrocious where it significantly slows down my comprehension or make reading painful, I don't care.

I would rather that the author feel comfortable sharing his/her thoughts and not have to spend the time to give an in-depth proof-reading before posting, which will result in more posts from someone whose wisdom or information I value, since I'm reading the blog.

Also, in this case, although using ellipses to indicate pauses is not technically correct, it is not a rare usage, and I don't mind it.

By: Debbie - Indiana

Debbie - Indiana — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:06:35 +0000

I'm also a 3-dot writer and for the same reason. I pause when I speak and I pause when I write. Writing a business letter, I will follow the rules of grammar (and hope I get them all right!), but conversing with friends via my blog and emails, it's a casual conversation … I'm talking with friends.

By: Linda Russell

Linda Russell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:00:27 +0000

I'm likewise fond of the ellipsis to indicate a pause in my informal writing. I would, however, question using it in something more formal like a cover letter for a job. As stated by others, ultimately content is most important and blogs don't follow the same formal style as some other written communication.

Out of curiosity, I checked the entry in the AP Stylebook punctuation guide. Part of the entry says, "HESITATION: An ellipsis also may be used to indicate a pause or hesitation in speech, or a thought that the speaker or writer does not complete." But, that's one style guide and another style guide's punctuation section may say something different. In any debate of this kind, people often blur the lines between grammar, punctuation, and style. Yes, they're related elements that contribute to how we write, but some are rules and some are preferences over which there is much debate. I say long live the ellipsis to indicate pause/thought in blog entries!

By: Lisa Keyes Scott

Lisa Keyes Scott — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:43:54 +0000

I'll take brilliant ideas over correct punctuation and grammar any day. What's unfortunate is that the punctuation police hinder others from sharing their unique perspective and insight. I'm not perfect, you're not perfect…but I still want your ideas!

By: Brett Atkin

Brett Atkin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:17:38 +0000

Are we talking about a blog post or a term paper here? In my mind, a blog post is about getting one's thoughts on "paper", not about the correctness of the punctuation. I think the medium of the communication should have some bearing on this discussion….

Crap, I used dictionary.com at least 4 times for this post and I'm (is it okay to use contractions?) sure I still screwed something up…

By: Erin McMahon

Erin McMahon — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:45:39 +0000

I'm with you Kyle.

The message is more important than its delivery, up until the point where the delivery is impacting the message. If one's improper use of grammar/spelling/punctuation is making it difficult or impossible for the reader to get the message, then you've got a problem. Where that point is will differ for some members of your audience of course, but I think you are far, far from it.

Regardless of whether you use affect or effect correctly, I can separate my faith in your linguistic capabilities from my faith in your thinking (and I think most others can too).

By: aawhitaker

aawhitaker — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:38:14 +0000

Looks like you opened up a can of worms here. I'm almost afraid to write something, make a mistake and get picked apart by the grammar-nazis. Should nazis be capitalized? Should I have not put a hyphen between "grammar" and "nazis"? Should I have not put quotes around those last two words?

Occasional mistakes are fine, but if you're overusing "…" or littering your writing with internet slang acronyms, then it becomes annoying and people will slowly stop reading your posts. But I don't think you have that problem, LOL : ) IMHO. L8ER.