Evolution of Punctuation

Do even a short Google search about changing grammar and punctuation and the articles will hit the big points: use of singular “they”, split infinitives, double versus single spaces, and starting sentences with conjunctions.  But there are a number of other changes that slipped past the grammar gurus, including misunderstanding about starting sentences with conjunctions.

Conjunctions first. I’ve been an English teacher, so I understand the difficulties of instructing young minds in the use of commas and proper grammar. Yet somewhere along the way, it became easier for English teachers to simply say “don’t use conjunctions to start sentences” instead of teaching the use of a comma and a complete sentence. For example: “Because it rained.” is not a complete sentence. Rather than explain yet once again why and how to fix it, teachers merely said, “don’t start with ‘because.”  However, a simple addition to the sentence fragment: “Because it rained, we went to the museum instead of the zoo.” completely redeems the sentence. I do realize that in formal writing, academic writing, and even literary writing, starting sentences with conjunctions is frowned upon. However, even in literature, the use of conjunctions to start sentences can be well crafted.

And sixty cents of it was in pennies. O’Henry. The Gift of the Magi

‘But the Emperor has nothing on at all!’ cried a little child. Hans Christian Andersen. The Emperor’s New Clothes.

‘And what are you reading, Miss —?’ Jane Austen. Northanger Alley.

It amazes me that school children were long inculcated in the proper usage of grammar without confusion until the last half of the 20^th Century at which point adults assumed children were too stupid to memorize and correctly use grammar and punctuation rules. Now elementary and middle school literature is rife with sentence fragments and poor grammar, yet we continue to tell students, “don’t do this!” No wonder they are confused.

As for punctuation rules, pick up any book prior to 1990 and you’ll find a comma inserted before “because” in sentences. Now, students are taught to leave it out. The reverse is seems to be true for using commas between two sentences joined by “and.”  Now it’s include, but I recall learning in elementary school that two complete sentences joined by “and” did not require a comma as the conjunction took the place of the comma.

The ongoing battle between one or two spaces after periods or the “curly” versus “straight” quotations marks has always been a bit ludicrous to me. Having grown up with manual typewriters and later electric ones before the invention of the computer, I know the spaces were based on font sizes and are no longer required for digital work. The quotation marks are stylistic issues with word processing programs.

Still, it goes to show that punctuation, like grammar, is a living entity and one must constantly stay alert for changes. As a writer, I need to be aware that readers don’t always understand or know grammar and punctuation rules, so a bit of grumbling from that quarter can be safely ignored. As a reader, I understand that writers do proofread their stories and sometimes mistakes slip through, and while those mistakes can be annoying, they neither change nor affect the quality of the story.

The only “unforgivable” sin I hold fast to as a reader is the misuse of “me” in a sentence. “I” before the verb; “me” after the verb. This also applies to the use of “us vs we.” “We” before the verb, “us” after the verb. If you’re confused, break the sentence into two separate sentences. That is all. Have a great day!