Punctuation Without Tears

So, from the outset, get into your mind that punctuation is flexible and varied.

A children’s picture book and an instruction manual on making a thermonuclear bomb will use very different writing styles. It’s natural that their punctuation will be different, too.

That may sound too good to be true, but it makes sense when you remember that the purpose of punctuation is to help readers understand what you write.

My second piece of advice is:

Punctuate according to the context

Do whatever makes your writing easiest to understand

For centuries, people have tried to turn punctuation into a science with dozens of rigid rules

Punctuation is About You

18. U.S. English and British English — It’s the Same

He is the author of a number of bestselling novels and history books, and appears as a commentator on television and radio. He has a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

He tweets at:

@DominicSelwood

He writes occasionally for The Spectator — Britain’s oldest periodical — and other newspapers and magazines.

columnist for Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.