Punctuate This!

[Guest]

So, how would you punctuate this?

"A woman without her man is nothing"

To be a successful experiment, this has to be done blind, ie. we can't see how everyone else has punctuated the sentence.

I think it would be fun - that is if others are up for this - if you PM'd me with the way you would punctuate it.

I'll give it 24 hours, then post the results, including how everyone did it. I'll also give a bit more info tomorrow.

Lou

 

[Guest]

Just bumping this up, so that more people can see it, and join in. I've had some very interesting responses so far.

 

[SnoopDog]

Ok, I got the rules, you want us all to post it publicly, so here's my solution.....nah, just kidding, I'm not so dumb after all.
Just wanted to post something to give your thread a small bump.
Snoopy

 

[Guest]

Another BUMP!

 

[minsue]

Bumpity

 

[Guest]

One final bump, before I go to bed. I've had some great responses so far, thanks!

Night all.

Lou

 

[gauchecritic]

Bumping til I find the 'pissed' thread.

Gauche

 

[CharleyH]

Bumping til I find the 'pissed' thread.

Gauche

Im here Gauche - if I could actually see the drunk thread - I'd post . . . lonely and TIPSY

OOps never lonely - but still tipsy

 

[Carl East]

Bump, good night all.

Carl

 

[minsue]

Bumping again even though I sent Lou my response hours ago. I want to read lots of answers tomorrow people. Get cracking.

 

[Wills]

Boiiiinnngg.

 

[minsue]

Good Morning!

Bump

 

[Guest]

Just giving this one last bump.

I'll be posting my very interesting findings in a few hours time.

Lou

 

[Guest]

 

[Black Tulip]

I'm waiting.

Can't hold my breath any longer, as I'm turning blue.

 

[Guest]

24 hours isn't up yet.

I'll post it all soon.

 

[lewdandlicentious]

I'll be in bed by then!!

BIG day tomorrow!

 

[Guest]

It's coming, it's coming!

 

[lucky-E-leven]

!

It's coming, it's coming!

Are you sure it's not

CUUUUUMMMMMMMIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~lucky (curiosity is killing me)

 

[Guest]

This is the original sentence, "A woman without her man is nothing"

These were the answers given by some of the members of the AH. Some gave brief explanations about why they punctuated it the way they did.

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

A woman without her man? Is nothing!

I can't decide which I like best?

Colly: A woman. Without her, man is nothing.

Wills: It's a breathless message from a Private Investigator who cannot spell to his client, Antony.

"A - woman with o(u)ther. Man is nothing."

or

"A woman, without her man, is nothing."

Black Tulip: A woman, without her, man is nothing.

Carl East: "A woman, without her man, is nothing."

SnoopDog: 'A woman ! Without her, man is nothing !'
That was obvious, wasn't it. I mean you know you are the superior sex and we guys just haven't caught on that fact yet.

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

Lime: Woman! Without her, man is nothing.

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

Box: I've seen this before.

Men punctuated it "A woman, without her man, is nothing.

Women punctuated it: A woman! Without her, man is nothing.

I think either one is a gross overstatement. Either man or woman can be a lot without the other but usually they can both be more with the other.

Gauche: A woman without her man is nothing.

Just in case the accent doesn't strike you properly; I'm referring to another woman's man.

Ice: Fun thing. I know there are obvious answers to that punctuation. Hare are two that took me some (very sleepy) mind bending to come up with:

The lesbian POV
A "woman" without "her", man, is nothing.

A widow
A woman without, her man is nothing.

Pure: A woman without her man is nothing.

Lucky: A woman, without her. Man is nothing.

Dampy: A woman: without her, man is nothing!

Octavian: A woman; without her, man is nothing. (I must note, out of the many options, this is the one I prefer and actually went for, when I first saw the sentence.)


Apparently, all males usually write:
"A woman, without her man, is nothing."


And, all females usually write:
"A woman: without her, man is nothing."


Most of the AH members, who sent me their way of doing it, do actually follow this pattern, but there are a couple of men who saw it the “woman’s” way, and one or two women who saw it the “man’s” way. I don’t know if there is anything deep, or even significant, about these “results”, but one certain friend of mine (Lew ) gave this explanation (if you can call it that).

“That's because men read it, see one sentence and punctuate it accordingly.

Women can't accept that sentence the way it is, so find a way to twist and distort the words!

Typical of a woman really!”

I know he said that tongue in cheek, but he could have a point. Perhaps it’s that women think about things in a more complex way: lateral thinking and all that. Who knows?

However, it does prove one thing (which is my main point in all this)… Punctuation is everything.

I enjoyed this, anyway!

Thanks, everyone who participated.

Katie

Edited, because I forgot to add in the italics in a certain crucial place. Doh!

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Thanks Katie. Fun and interesting.

~lucky

 

[gauchecritic]

two more

A woman without Herman is nothing.

A woman without, her man is nothing.

(old use of without)

Gauche

 

[Guest]

Re: two more

A woman without Herman is nothing.

LOL (larfed out loud, to you)

Perdu

 

[Liar]

Aw, o man! "Wit, ho! Uther man!" is nothing.

 

[NoJo]

Good one, lou: I saw "The Philadelphia Story" the other night:

Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart are taking the piss out of Hepburn's straight-laced Fiance after he finds Hepburn and Stewart have spent the night together:

Grant: "He's right: After all, dear, a husband expects his woman-"
Stewart: "-to behave, naturally."
Hepburn: "-to behave naturally."