Punctuation, it...matters.

[dirtylittlecucker]

I struggle at times with, the comma. I feel like I use it too much and resort to making more sentences. Not the semicolon, however; I avoid it, like the plague...mostly because I cannot connect two unrelated thoughts in one stream of consciousness.
If I even understand it's purpose at all.
I'm interested in how you feel about punctuation. It's use or overuse, confusion
...have the rules changed?
Thank you, as always, for your input.

 

[rescatooor]

I struggle at times with, the comma. I feel like I use it too much and resort to making more sentences. Not the semicolon, however; I avoid it, like the plague...mostly because I cannot connect two unrelated thoughts in one stream of consciousness.
If I even understand it's purpose at all.
I'm interested in how you feel about punctuation. It's use or overuse, confusion
...have the rules changed?
Thank you, as always, for your input.

I'm not sure if it was intentional, but I did get a good chuckle out "Not the semicolon, however; I avoid it, like the plague."

 

[dirtylittlecucker]

I'm not sure if it was intentional, but I did get a good chuckle out "Not the semicolon, however; I avoid it, like the plague."

Mostly, it's unintentional. Mostly

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Hmmm... all I know is Grammarly finds place to put a comma, yet doesn't find all that many to remove.

Me personally, I think I may over punctuate or put them in the wrong place.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think punctuation matters a lot.

In good writing, every single comma, period, letter, etc. that you put on a page matters. Everything conveys meaning. If you don't know what you are doing, or if you are sloppy about it, then you won't convey what you are trying to convey as effectively.

You don't have to be a master of punctuation to be an effective Literotica writer. Most Lit readers are not overly demanding. But some are. And enough care that it will profit every author at least to get the basics right.

You don't have to follow the rules of punctuation slavishly. Many good authors do not. But it helps to know what the rules are in the first place so you are aware that you are breaking them and you know why and for what purpose.

So, for example, in response to the OP's post:

The comma after "with" should be eliminated. You don't put a comma after a preposition and before the object of the preposition.

"It's purpose" should be "its purpose." "It's" is a contraction for "It is." The possessive form of "it" is "its" without the apostrophe (this is a very common and understandable error).

 

[SamScribble]

Good punctuation is, largely, unseen by the reader.

 

[jehoram]

Good punctuation is, largely, unseen by the reader.

Kind of like the sound track of a movie -- if you notice it, it's not doing its job.

But punctuation is important. Some editor left out a hyphen when describing a program where students get their first taste of what it's like to perform in the job market, and the headline read "Students Get First Hand Job Experience."

 

[Comshaw]

I struggle at times with, the comma. I feel like I use it too much and resort to making more sentences. Not the semicolon, however; I avoid it, like the plague...mostly because I cannot connect two unrelated thoughts in one stream of consciousness.
If I even understand it's purpose at all.
I'm interested in how you feel about punctuation. It's use or overuse, confusion
...have the rules changed?
Thank you, as always, for your input.

The rules for comma use are too damned complicated and archaic for my little pea brain. I do it my own way.

If while speaking I would pause at a spot in a sentence, I put in a comma.

If I need to assure clarity, IE: "Time to eat girls." "Time to eat, girls." I put in a comma.

If and when I ever get around to trying to sell some stories it might be different, but for now, right or wrong, that's the way I use commas.


Comshaw

 

[TadOverdon]

I struggle at times with, the comma.

Lots of folks do. Were it not for the comma, half the editors in publishing would be unnecessary.

 

[dirtylittlecucker]

Thank you for your responses!!

 

[litfan10]

Remember:

Let's eat grandma.

Lets eat, grandma

Commas save lives.

 

[Handley_Page]

I think punctuation matters a lot.

In good writing, every single comma, period, letter, etc. that you put on a page matters. Everything conveys meaning. If you don't know what you are doing, or if you are sloppy about it, then you won't convey what you are trying to convey as effectively.

You don't have to be a master of punctuation to be an effective Literotica writer. Most Lit readers are not overly demanding. But some are. And enough care that it will profit every author at least to get the basics right.

You don't have to follow the rules of punctuation slavishly. Many good authors do not. But it helps to know what the rules are in the first place so you are aware that you are breaking them and you know why and for what purpose.

So, for example, in response to the OP's post:

The comma after "with" should be eliminated. You don't put a comma after a preposition and before the object of the preposition.

"It's purpose" should be "its purpose." "It's" is a contraction for "It is." The possessive form of "it" is "its" without the apostrophe (this is a very common and understandable error).

Amen to that, Bro.

 

[Agiel]

I haven’t yet read a story on this site in which a semi colon was necessary/correctly used. Writers who use it generally don’t have a clue what they’re doing and it, usually, should instead be a comma or a full stop.

Punctuation matters to readers who like to read the entire story and to whom the sex is an integral, and necessary, part of the story. Those readers whose only interest is the sex element and who skip through the rest of the story don’t have the least interest in punctuation.

Bear this in mind when writing your story and choosing your category.

 

[mynameisben]

Punctuation is the spice you add to the soufflé. Too much of it, and dinner is ruined.


Ben

 

[labeltornoff]

I think punctuation matters a lot.

In good writing, every single comma, period, letter, etc. that you put on a page matters. Everything conveys meaning. If you don't know what you are doing, or if you are sloppy about it, then you won't convey what you are trying to convey as effectively.

You don't have to be a master of punctuation to be an effective Literotica writer. Most Lit readers are not overly demanding. But some are. And enough care that it will profit every author at least to get the basics right.

You don't have to follow the rules of punctuation slavishly. Many good authors do not. But it helps to know what the rules are in the first place so you are aware that you are breaking them and you know why and for what purpose.

So, for example, in response to the OP's post:

The comma after "with" should be eliminated. You don't put a comma after a preposition and before the object of the preposition.

"It's purpose" should be "its purpose." "It's" is a contraction for "It is." The possessive form of "it" is "its" without the apostrophe (this is a very common and understandable error).

———

Another Amen.

I find I am my own worst editor. An impartial critical eye is an invaluable resource. In my experience there is a fine line between over-and under-use of commas. For me, the key is reading my work aloud. If I reach a comma and find it awkward to stop, it probably doesn't belong. If, mentally, you pause before continuing, consider a comma; if not, avoid it. (Please note the use of semicolon. I like them, when used wisely. I also like the em dash (—) as a dramatic break. I find them useful as an alternative to incessant commas.

For those who would say, what about Faulkner or Joyce—who has been considered pornograph—and their disdain for 'standard' punctuation, I say, the bar for creating one's own grammar is high, and the consequences of failure are severe.

Do what makes you feel good, but remember: E. B. Whit is your friend.

 

[dirtylittlecucker]

Punctuation is the spice you add to the soufflé. Too much of it, and dinner is ruined.


Ben

I like that!

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I haven’t yet read a story on this site in which a semi colon was necessary/correctly used. Writers who use it generally don’t have a clue what they’re doing and it, usually, should instead be a comma or a full stop.

I'm a fan of semi-colons. Much of my writing pre-Lit was fanfic where the source material used loads of them, so I got used to using lots of them, but now try to use them much more sparingly, because they make a story look more literary rather than an easy erotic read.

Run-on commas are a pet hate of mine, even if they are becoming more accepted in published text. Most of them should be semi-colons.

 

[oggbashan]

Part of my problem with punctuation is that I cannot see the difference between a comma and a full stop (period) on the screen.

The other problem is that Grammarly suggests many more commas than I think are justified.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm a fan of semi-colons. Much of my writing pre-Lit was fanfic where the source material used loads of them, so I got used to using lots of them, but now try to use them much more sparingly, because they make a story look more literary rather than an easy erotic read.

Run-on commas are a pet hate of mine, even if they are becoming more accepted in published text. Most of them should be semi-colons.

I use semicolons sparingly. They have their uses, but more often than not in fiction the sentences read better when they rely on commas and periods.

The best use for a semicolon, in my opinion, is when you combine two independent clauses (complete sentences), and the second one further clarifies the first one. Example:

Joe was disappointed in his first day on safari; he saw hyenas but no lions.

It can also be used to combine independent clauses that are joined by words like "however."

Ex.

Joe went on a safari; however, he didn't see any lions.

In fiction I think it usually looks and sounds better to ditch the semicolon and "however" and just use "but" and a comma.

Joe went on a safari, but he didn't see any lions.

I totally agree about runon sentences (or comma splices) stitched together with sloppy comma use. I dislike them. They're one of the downsides to the "I see a comma as a pause" approach. My preferred solution is more periods rather than more semicolons.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Kind of like the sound track of a movie -- if you notice it, it's not doing its job.

But punctuation is important. Some editor left out a hyphen when describing a program where students get their first taste of what it's like to perform in the job market, and the headline read "Students Get First Hand Job Experience."

But the sound track is always louder than the dialog track. You can't help but notice it.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

There is an old typesetters rule for commas and periods. I don't remember...and I can't find it in a search.

Something about reading the text, when you pause to understand what you just read you put in a comma. Then when you run out of breath you put in a period.

That may not be what it is but it's how I remember it.

 

[TadOverdon]

I use semicolons but, like SimonDoom, sparingly in fiction.

The thing I appreciate about Grammarly are the times it tells me to take out a comma.

 

[mynameisben]

I avoid using the semicolon wherever I can. The semicolon is so rarely used (and even more rarely used properly) that when it is used, it unnecessarily draws attention away from the story and shoves the author's level of erudition in the reader's face. Its usage practically screams, "Look at me! I'm so fucking smart, I know how to use a semicolon. And you don't!"

There are alternatives.


Ben

 

[KeithD]

The semicolon as a perfectly good usage in sorting out a complex series:

Her lingerie was all black, accentuating the creamy white of her skin tone; her stiletto heels were red, taking my attention to the firmness of her calves; and her hair was down, the first time I'd seen how long it was.

 

[jehoram]

Part of my problem with punctuation is that I cannot see the difference between a comma and a full stop (period) on the screen.

I remember seeing a typeface or font that was especially designed for people who had vision problems, and the commas and periods were easily distinguishable. That was some time back, and I can't remember the name of the font or its source, but you might want to make a search for it.