Punctuations

Punctuations are the symbols that don't carry any meaning when typed alone however change the entire meaning of sentence drastically whenever used.

It is always difficult to ensure the usage for expressing the same thought as the writer wants. Punctuations are highly used to express the emotions, pitch, tone, exaggeration in a sentence. I have read Element of Style as well as other books to have a grip on all of these but the best explanation and easy to remember approach I got from Dianna Booher's E-Writing.

She has taken traffic signs analogy to explain them.

1) . and ? Come to a complete stop. Kill engine.

The thought has been completed and it's a full stop.

2) ! Come to a complete stop. Race engine.

This is most widely used punctuation now a days and one can associate it with the aggression of our generation. This tells about the completeness of sentence and also signifies that a lot more was there on writer's mind that he didn't say.

3) ; Come to a complete stop. Keep idling.

This is used to segregate one sentence in to two that was otherwise joint with 'And' or 'But'. This signifies that though the thought has been completed but related more is written next.

4) : Come to a complete stop. Keep idling. Look ahead.

This is used for complete sentence but the sentence itself conveys the idea that more information is ahead of this symbol. Usually a list follows after this symbol.

5) , Slow down.

This is the most misunderstood and used in the wrong places symbol. This has capability to drastically change the meaning.

This tells that sentence is not yet closed but the flow has.

6)  , words, Slow down and look out the window for what is there between.

Two commas and some words in between are used when less important yet related information is written for the sentence it is a part of. Removing the entire , words, doesn't change the meaning of sentence.

7) "quote" Listen or look out the window to see the specific scene

This is used to give more stress on some said sentence. This usually attracts the attention of reader.

8) ... Watch the hole in the road

This means that something has been omitted and is somehow not necessary to say.

9) - Look ahead!

This is used to highlight what is being said in the coming words. Dash is less formal than colon and is used to emphasize the rest of the phrase disconnected from the sentence.

10) - words - Look between

This is used to highlight the said related words in between a sentence, more attention seeking that , words,.

11) (words) Glance between

This is used to just give a little glance and give less importance to whatever mentioned, less attention than -words-.

12) - Hyphen Make certain distance from other vehicle in your lane.
Note-book, e-mail, web-site etc are words used collectively to give a different meaning. If the same combination is used without hyphen for long, eventually the hyphen is omitted.

Seeds of thoughts:

Read full page of newspaper and focus on punctuations. Go back the memory lanes when you had been on your vacations at hill station. Write right from leaving your home, reaching station, inside train or bus, reaching hill station, enjoying there, shopping there, new things your experience and returning back. Oh you never have gone to hill station. Don't worry, write about the summer vacations spent on your grandparents place but do write and focus on punctuations.  

- Amit Roop

Essay Writing

As a child, writing essay was kind of nightmare for me. I used to run around for help and one fine I got the key. One of my uncle visited my home and asked me the reason of getting restless for completing my homework. I begged, 'Please write a 150 words Essay for me.' He smiled, 'what’s the big deal? You can write on your own. Tell me, what’s the topic?'

'My best friend', I told. He said, 'I will tell you the trick and you will be able to write Essay on any topic.' I asked, 'Tell me uncle, please. 'He said, 'Let’s consider, I have to write an essay on this table.' He pointed to the table in the dining area. He continued, 'So I will analyze everything about this. Table is made of wood. There are many other tables made of plastic also, some even that of iron also. I have seen tables with iron frame and wooden top. Some have nicely worked on crafted wooden legs.

Some of the tables have very nice artistic tops. Some even have top made of transparent glasses. If it is a dining table 4 or 6 chairs will always be surrounding it. Dining tables are lucky to have delicious stuff put on them every morning and evening whereas some tables have fate to have only newspapers and magazines. Some people sit on chairs and put their feet on top of tables to relax. Some pet - doggies or kittens relax beneath it. 

Your dad has brought it home and now you love it a lot. Don't you? Earlier to that, this space of the floor was empty and maid was easily cleaning the place. Now a days, she leaves lots of clutter below it. This is portable and two persons can lift it and put wherever they like. 

Besides home, tables are heavily used in schools, offices, restaurants etc. If you visit furniture shop, they will show you many cheap-Chinese and costly-imported tables. Tables are highly used in Bollywood movies. When hero throws more than 80 KG rascal like a hand-ball over table, it gets broken to pieces and leaves lots of paisa-vasool feel-good for audience. 

After earthquakes hitting Nepal, the safety guidelines say that hide under the good quality table if you are unable to run away from your room.'

I was jotting down. Uncles concluded, 'I think now you can write Essay on anything.' I smiled back.

Seeds of thoughts:

Sit, focus and write an essay. Choose topic of your interest. I will give you some: Disciple, Etiquette, Passion, and Honesty. Oh, are they difficult for you? No problem, write on any topic you think easy but do write today.

 

- Amit Roop