Comments on: Commas, quotes - and communication http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/commas-quotes-and-communication/ THE blog for copywriters and communicators Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:22:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Russell Quinn http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/commas-quotes-and-communication/#comment-34 Russell Quinn Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:51:57 +0000 http://ready6.dev.visionteam.dk/blog/?p=37#comment-34 It's also interesting to consider that language will only continue to evolve if new practises are introduced. Sticking rigidly to the "genetic code" of current grammar will bring it all to a crumbling halt. After all it wasn't long ago that "Se hlāford bindeþ þone cnapan" was the perfect English and no doubt "l8tr m8" will be in the future (it is a perfect successor due to its excellent reduction and optimisation!). It's fascinating that one would expect these steps to come from the "language professionals" industry, but I'm not sure how you follow communication guidelines while doing so. I guess that's for another day ;) It’s also interesting to consider that language will only continue to evolve if new practises are introduced. Sticking rigidly to the “genetic code” of current grammar will bring it all to a crumbling halt. After all it wasn’t long ago that “Se hlāford bindeþ þone cnapan” was the perfect English and no doubt “l8tr m8″ will be in the future (it is a perfect successor due to its excellent reduction and optimisation!).

It’s fascinating that one would expect these steps to come from the “language professionals” industry, but I’m not sure how you follow communication guidelines while doing so. I guess that’s for another day ;)

]]> By: David Hoskin http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/commas-quotes-and-communication/#comment-33 David Hoskin Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:57:48 +0000 http://ready6.dev.visionteam.dk/blog/?p=37#comment-33 It's vital to keep sight of the bigger picture, whatever you're writing. However, getting your point across clearly almost always means getting the details right. The rules of punctuation have evolved to assist clarity and are often crucial to the meaning. So I don't think they should ever be ignored. In the example of the quotations, no-one will misunderstand the quote, whether or not the commas is placed inside or outside the quotation marks. It's just good practice to follow the standard conventions for your particular type of English - and be consistent. (There are different quotation conventions for American and British English.) However, correct punctuation is absolutely crucial to the meaning in other sentences. How often have you been completely confused by a text message or email that has no capital letters and no stops or commas? It’s vital to keep sight of the bigger picture, whatever you’re writing. However, getting your point across clearly almost always means getting the details right. The rules of punctuation have evolved to assist clarity and are often crucial to the meaning. So I don’t think they should ever be ignored.

In the example of the quotations, no-one will misunderstand the quote, whether or not the commas is placed inside or outside the quotation marks. It’s just good practice to follow the standard conventions for your particular type of English - and be consistent. (There are different quotation conventions for American and British English.)

However, correct punctuation is absolutely crucial to the meaning in other sentences. How often have you been completely confused by a text message or email that has no capital letters and no stops or commas?

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