So far, we have talked about style in relation to: word choice, sentence length, and sentence type (keying in on using phrases and clauses). These choices help us think about tone, audience, readability, and different rhetorical effects depending on rhetorical choices we make at the level of the word and sentence.
On this page and the next page we will talk about punctuation.
The Punctuation Guide is a great reference for all of the different types of punctuation and how they are used in writing. There entry on commas can be especially helpful, as commas do so many different things in writing.
“Pausing” and Punctuation
On this page, I want you to start to notice different effects of different “pausing” punctuation, these being:
- Comma
- Period
- Semicolon
- Colon
- Parentheses
- Em-dash
For instance, when we talked about phrases, clauses, and sentence type in Learning Module 5 (with more here on phrases/clauses here), I used this example for how different sentence types can help keep information far apart or close together:
Very Far: It was a rough day for Melissa. She had to cover a second shift for her friend at work. And now she was stranded. Because her car broke down. Great.
Far: It was a rough day for Melissa. She had to cover a second shift for her friend at work. Plus, now she was stranded at work because her car broke down.
Close: It was a rough day for Melissa, especially since she had to cover a second shift for her friend at work. Plus, now she was stranded at work because her car broke down.
Very Close: It was a rough day for Melissa, especially since she had to cover a second shift for her friend at work; now she was stranded in her broken down car.
Very close with greater pause for dependent clause: It was a rough day for Melissa–especially since she had to cover a second shift for her friend at work; now she was stranded in her broken down car.
Very close with longer pause for rhetorical triplet: It was a rough day for Melissa: she had to cover a second shift for her friend, her car broke down, and now she is stranded.
Very close with a parentheses: It was a rough day for Melissa because she had to cover a second shift for her friend at work and now she was stranded on the side of the road (her car broke down).
Read through each of the above examples. When you read, how long are the pauses?
Task
In a comment below, rank each punctuation mark from shortest pause to longest pause you take while reading and explain why you ranked them the way you did:
- Comma
- Period
- Semicolon
- Colon
- Parentheses
- Em-dash
After commenting, click the button below to continue.
1. Em-dash
2. Parentheses
3. Semi Colon
4. Colon
5. Comma
6. Period
For #1-#4 I don’t notice myself taking that long of a pause, I tend to just read through the text with those punctuations shows. I am more used to seeing commas and periods than anything else, I usually have a short pause on commas, as for the periods, that is when I inhale and recover my breathe before starting again.
1) Comma
2) Parentheses
3) Em-Dash
4) Semi-Colon
5) Colon
6) Period
Period always comes last since that to me is finishing a thought in writing, allowing the reader to pause before entering the next sentence. Comma comes first since that is a minute pause before continuing onwards. Parentheses came second because I see parentheses like an appositive phrase in writing. Em-dash is just a seemingly longer version of a comma in my opinion which is why I ranked it after parentheses. Semi-colon and colon come in 4th and 5th because it’s like a separation of two independent clauses that are similar to each other. In other words, it’s like a period ending a sentence, but connects the sentences with a semi-colon or colon to make it one continual sentence with a pause separating the ideas.
Em- dash
Parentheses
Colon
Comma
Semi Colon
Period
I feel like the first two glue the text together more than bring a pause. To me, the semi-colon and the comma are pretty similar standard pauses, and the period really spreads it out with a bigger pause.
-Parenthesis
-En-dash
-Colon
-Semicolon
-Comma
-Period
I think I put them in this order partially because I think of how I would read them out loud. A period is the longest because it is an obvious move from one point or thought to another. A comma is slightly shorter as it may be just a place for a breath (as one would during a monologue) or a slight change in an idea. The less of a transition punctuation is making from one idea to the next continues to shorten the pause of that punctuation.
-comma
-Parentheses
-Em-dash
-colon
-semicolon
-period
I ranked them like this because If I was to use them in future essays or writings this Is how I think they would sound or how long the duration of the pause would be.
Em-dash: Usually connects two words
Semicolon: Connects two sentences together.
Colon: Shows a quote being said.
Comma: It’s a short pause.
Period: It’s a short pause but a bit longer than a comma.
Parentheses: Usually has a few words in it, at the end of a sentence.
1. Parentheses
2. Em-dash
3. Colon
4.Semicolon
5.Comma
6.Period
For 1-4 while reading I don’t tend to really pause much for them while reading and I don’t really notice myself doing it. For 5 and 6 I do tend to pause and I notice when I do it.
1. Em-dash
2. Parenthesis
3. Colon
4. Semicolon
5. Comma
6. Period
I ranked them the way I did because I feel like the last 3 are the ones where I take the longest pauses when I read, in comparison to the others.
Comma
em- dash
parenthesis
Semicolon
Colon
period
I put period last because i know that thats when a sentence concludes, I put comma first because I know that that’s a short pause. The others I kind of guessed where I feel like they should be.
1. Em-dash
2. Parenthesis
3.Semicolon
4.colon
5.Comma
6.Period
I ranked my punctuation in this order based on the way that I read sentences and how long I take in between two ideas. Periods are always last since they end one idea and begin another. Semicolon, colon and colon are all similar but I tend to pause longer on commas since I see them the most often. I noticed when I see an Em-dash or parenthesis I don’t pause for too long so I ranked them as #1 and #2.