The Importance of Punctuation

So many people think writing is easy. They feel that they just need to sit down and write something and next thing you know, they will be receiving the Nobel Prize.

Well, writing is easy. And it is not easy.

So many people do not understand that punctuation can make or mar a story. It doesn’t matter how brilliantly you may have written. If your punctuation is awful, you have spoiled everything. Nobody has the time to try and decipher what you are trying to say.

Punctuation help make writing easier to read and understand.

Let’s look at two things you must not ignore.

Paragraphing

Spacing is very important. You see that white space in between paragraphs or sentences is very very important. It is the time you give your reader to breathe., to rest their eyes, to let them know that something new is underneath.

Writing has evolved over the years and nowadays, paragraphs don’t need to be jampacked because you want one paragraph to address one central topic. No. instead, use sub-headings to help separate your topics.

Don’t write long paragraphs anymore. Use 3-5 sentences in a paragraph then give space and move to another paragraph. Do you know that if I jampack all these sentences in one long paragraph, reading it will become a tedious affair? Let’s try it.

Spacing is very important. You see that white space in between paragraphs or sentences is very very important. It is the time you give your reader to breathe., to rest their eyes, to let them know that something new is underneath. Writing has evolved over the years and nowadays, paragraphs don’t need to be jampacked because you want one paragraph to address one central topic. No. instead, use sub-headings to help separate your topics. Don’t write long paragraphs anymore. Use 3-5 sentences in a paragraph then give space and move to another paragraph. Do you know that if I jampack all these sentences in one long paragraph, reading it will become a tedious affair? Let’s try it.

So which one is easier to read and understand?

Full stop and Comma

These two punctuations help readers space their reading. You know the voice inside your head that you use to read, full stop and comma will help that voice read the sentences well and understand it better.

A full stop tells the reader that the part is over and a new sentence is coming. Comma makes the voice pause briefly, before continuing the sentence.

When we talk, we don’t speak in long, monotone voices. We pause slightly, we raise our voice at certain points for emphasis and for effect. Comma helps readers achieve this.

Now read these paragraphs below without any full stop or comma and see if you can understand it.

These two punctuations help readers space their reading you know the voice inside your head that you use to read full stop and comma will help that voice read the sentences well and understand it better a full stop tells the reader that the part is over and a new sentence is coming comma makes the voice pause briefly before continuing the sentence when we talk we don’t speak in long monotone voices we pause slightly we raise our voice at certain points for emphasis and for effect comma helps readers achieve this

Do you see how hard it was to understand these sentences? You cannot even tell when a sentence ends and when another begins.

Glory Abah

Creative Writing Coach, Publishing Expert