Ok, Now Say It With A Semicolon

Punctuation has an ever-important value in the ever-changing world of today because it promotes clarity and style in an organized and easily comprehendible fashion.  Hitching states that “rules for grammar and punctuation are vital for clear, effective and consistent communication” (Source A). Punctuation enables different generations to communicate easily by using the standard set of rules and regulations; without them mass confusion and headaches would ensue. Standard punctuation acts as the structure of a piece and creates a mutual agreement of what the meaning is. For example, in science the metric system exists so people can communicate their ideas to each other in a standard, accepted format. Punctuation acts as this for the literary world.  People who see no value in standard punctuation state that punctuation is “feigning liberation with one hand and tightening the leash with another” (Source B), by limiting creativity and expressive thought. This is untrue, punctuation is a tool used to highlight the meanings and ideas the marks are placed around; the actual words are what the creativity should stem from, the punctuation merely helps provide organization for the author’s insightful thoughts.  Punctuation prevents rambling and adds clarity, this is why “semicolons, along with a sack full of commas are… vital tools in keeping… the “stream of thought” from appearing to the reader as a wild torrent” (Source E). Punctuation is a tool that is used in shaping literature and is something that needs to remain constant in an ever-changing world.