Punctuation Matters (or does it?)

Punctuation Matters (or does it?)

My teenage children call me a ‘dinosaur’ because I correct their punctuation.

“You’re so old-fashioned, dad! People don’t care about that stuff anymore. Just focus on the meaning and not on any unimportant mistakes”.

And maybe my kids are right? Is it pedantic to correct the punctuation in sentences like these?

  • Your a pilot, arent you?
  • Its a beautiful day.
  • It's not my car, it's her's.

What do you think? Does punctuation still matter? Does it help communication or is it simply an attempt to impress or show off?

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  • Plane carrying debris from the UK, crash lands at JFK airport.
  • Plane carrying debris from the UK crash, lands at JFK airport.


  • Let’s work together to provide the poor quality, cheap healthcare.
  • Let’s work together to provide?the poor quality, cheap healthcare.


  • Here’s a photo of a man eating chicken.
  • Here’s a photo of a man-eating chicken.


  • Wanted: one nightstand.
  • Wanted: one-night stand.


  • A woman without her man is nothing.
  • A woman: without her, man is nothing.


  • Dinner is ready. Let’s eat kids!
  • Dinner is ready. Let’s eat, kids!


  • I find happiness in cooking, my family & my dog.
  • I find happiness in cooking my family & my dog.


  • Patient: unable to eat, diarrhea.
  • Patient: unable to eat diarrhea.


  • The panda eats, shoots, and leaves.
  • The panda eats shoots and leaves.


  • I’d like to thank my parents, John, and Mary.
  • I’d like to thank my parents, John and Mary.

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If you think it matters, what punctuation mistakes irritate you the most?




Punctuation - the difference between … knowing your shit and knowing you’re shit. Excuse my French !

Mike Nendick

I am a Human Factors and System Safety Specialist, who likes to work with people who share my outlook on life. I believe in integrity, kindness, empathy, respect for others, and improving systems for their users.

1 年

Punctuation and semantics mean a great deal to me. Lol. ??

Gwyn Denton

Adult ESL Teacher - AMEP CSWE Smart & Skilled ? TAFE NSW ? Project learning ? Asylum Seeker Advocate

1 年

Great examples - ??

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Andrew Rossiter

Linguist, writer and website editor - retired academic

1 年

Punctuation.... Not just important, but one of the five key key points of English Grammar (from https://linguapress.com/grammar/fundamental-principles.htm )

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Aboyi Faith Omope

Sales manager at Goat Apparels, Commission sales manager at Rida herbal medicine, Teacher at private sector and director of Faith Bear Home Daycare , Commission sales associate at African food.

1 年

Nice topic, many learners of language today have same attitude about punctuation. They feel it should not be necessary. Without punctuations (the right punctuations) sentences won't be well understood. We should never give up but continue to help them understand the importance of punctuations.

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