Semicolons By Dolnick: A Punctuation Mark

In “Notes on Punctuation” Lewis Thomas states the different forms of punctuation used in writing. Through this excerpt, the writer Lewis Thomas uses different figurative devices in order to portray a sense of humor while explaining the usage of punctuation. Lewis’s develops the idea of when and how to know when to use the different types of punctuation. These punctuations are used in different ways depending on the tone or to let the reader know when to pause or stop. Each writing style uses these punctuations at varies times, depending on the style.

For example, she writes about the “family of punctuation” and emphasizes that each mark plays a key role to better understand how punctuation fits into literature. The author not only uses the personification of the punctuation to simplify and contrast them for each other, Truss most notably uses anecdotes of situations in which she either personally has seen the error or has received from readers. For instance, at the start of the book, Truss writes how easily it is for a person to find a sign that states “I’ts party time” (2). Throughout her book, she uses examples and anecdotes that are relatable and similar to the ones states to demonstrate how common they are and engage the audience. As a result, Truss’ application of informative examples and anecdotes add a dimension to the book that separates it from other grammar and punctuation books, as it is more unconventional and

Henriquez’s use of different sentence structures allows her to develop more complex and elaborate points. One of these structures was the use of commas to add additional information to her points. “At every place setting, she turned melamine bowls, like miniature igloos, over packed mounds of rice on matching plates.” In this specific sentence, the author used commas to add a detail to help visualize the small mounds of rice. Adding these specific details allows the author to paint a true picture of the occurring events. The author utilizes this specific tool on numerous occasions throughout the article, but towards the end when the author writes, “The dog, who was our only companion, stretched out under the table, cooling his belly against the floor,” here, the use of commas allows Henriquez to emphasize the idea that the tradition of lunch together has died. “[W]ho was our only companion,” contends that there is much sadness that the entire family is not gathered around a table celebrating a meal with one another’s company. Moreover, the author continues to use syntax with the use of hyphens. Within the article, similarly to commas, the author uses hyphens to further add detail to specific ideas. “Two aunts, two uncles, six cousins, and at least a dozen friends so intimate that we called them family also lived in Panama City, so every day my grandmother set two tables—one in the kitchen and one in the adjacent dining room—in

After reading “Semicolons: A Love Story” by Ben Dolnick, my view and knowledge of semicolons changed. The first thing I learned is that I had no idea someone could write about punctuation by telling a story and relating it to personal experiences. For example, the author begins the article talking about when he was a teenager that he did not pay much attention to semicolons. Over time the author started noticing and was fascinated with how these semicolons were used as well as how he could use them in his own writing. Another thing that I learned was the definition of a semicolon. The author states “a semicolon is used to separate parts of a sentence that need a more distinct break that a comma can signal, but that are too closely connected

Nono. Nonono. Simple. She just flew.” Here, there are several examples of Morrison’s masterful use of syntax.

The Black Box, by Michael Connelly, is an excellent, stellar crime story whose strengths are in diction. The novel focuses on a detective named Harry Bosch, who has never finish solving the execution-style murder of the journalist Anneke Jespersen, who has been shot during the Los Angeles riots. The Black Box perfects the characteristics of diction by giving the reader lots of lively and alluring examples of literary devices that allow readers to be mentally engaged with the book. Harry says: “At his age that could start a volley of questions about retirement” (65). This is a strong example of diction because “volley” makes the description more vivid, interesting and engaging. Another example is “Bosch heard his partner’s fingers

"The order of print is linear, and is bound to logic by the imperatives of syntax. Syntax is the substructure of discourse, a mapping of the ways that the mind makes sense through language."

4. Allen’s language is pervaded by understatements, contrasts and absurdities. Give examples from the text:

Languages are always changing and punctuation is no exception. On April 24th 2015, “That Is Not How You Use An Exclamation Mark, Kim Kardashian” by Katy Waldman features a tweet by Kim Kardashian which was, “Today marks the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide!” (Waldman). While Kardashian was probably trying to honor the Armenians for which she descends from, her use of an exclamation mark changes the meaning. An exclamation mark portrays joy and focuses on the feelings of person rather than the event they are commenting on.

I was able to learn some rules of punctuations from English 1 last year, and I practiced and read more about punctuations from various websites. Although most people are able to fix their punctuations properly, I feel good about the fact that I can do the exact same thing that other people can do.

So punctuation, cuisine, and the subjective case are all demonstrably less than objective, except for you and it, which are identical in both cases; yet, I adore them all, as both my Father and my Mother love my sister and me! And there is more to relish in God’s buffet-line smorgasbord than piquant SAT scores and savory STEM Core classes; such as one’s opinion of haute couture beachwear, algebra, and fresh hot croissants - not to mention our bizarre relationship with the covetous, malnourished picnic ant, hoping for a leftover morsel. Ants in Hawaii implore gnarly, noshing surfers: “Dude, may I have a minuscule bite of this moldy baguette?” and the response: “I’m going to drown you in Raid!” is, I confess, tempestuously melodramatic seashore

Effectively, his deliberate use of syntax creates a structure in his essay which immerses the reader into the passage and allows his message to be conveyed. Often in the essay, he adopts compound-complex sentence structures to maximize his level of description and to fully establish the imagery he intends to create. Moreover, when he establishes depictions of action, motion, and speed, he creates considerably longer compound-complex sentences; using five or more clauses and at least one dash to thoroughly depict action, to eliminate any sense of pause, and to fully intrigue his readers. Such a usage of syntax is also parallel to when he writes that “...it was filled with motion, speed.” His lack of “and” but rather the word “speed” preceding a comma further represents the elimination of a sense of pause and his use of syntax in order to create a sense of speed and intensity. In the last paragraph, he continues his extensive use of compound-complex sentences and he suddenly slows down and ends his final part on shorter complex sentences.

In this paper i will be analysing and discussing the semiotics on an episode of The Simpson series.

Contingency and circumstance are decisive in better understanding thinkers and writers, most especially when their works are unsystematic.

From the perspective of the author of this paper, semiotics is the science of the semiosical process, whereas the semiosical process entails what is alluded to when John Dewey states that: