In case you hadn't heard, today is National Punctuation Day. What a fantastic idea! Technology has a lot to answer for when it comes to the demise, or at least the careless use of, punctuation. One of my favorite books is a rant at the increasing ignorance of proper punctuation in modern English; a reminder of the difference punctuation makes to the meaning of a word or sentence; and an exhortation to . , : ; " in all the right places. If you've never spent an hour with Lynne Truss you should!
The founders of National Punctuation Day suggest the following ways to celebrate this exacting day:
- Sleep late.
- Take a long shower or bath.
- Go out for coffee and a bagel (or two).
- Read a newspaper and circle all of the punctuation errors you find (or think you find, but aren’t sure) with a red pen.
- Take a leisurely stroll, paying close attention to store signs with incorrectly punctuated words.
- Stop in those stores to correct the owners.
- If the owners are not there, leave notes.
- Visit a bookstore and purchase a copy of Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style.
- Look up all the words you circled.
- Congratulate yourself on becoming a better written communicator.
- Go home.
- Sit down.
- Write an error-free letter to a friend.
- Take a nap. It has been a long day.
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