The Writer's Dillema

Although basic rules of punctuation need to be utilized when learning how to write, strict punctuation rules inherently prohibit freedom of expression and binds men to a set of arbitrary rules that has changed and will continue to change as technology and society progress.

The rules of punctuation are like training wheels. They teach young, aspiring writers how to properly communicate with the world.  As Thomas and Austen show through their pieces, good writers have to learn the punctuation alphabet before they can start experimenting with its usage (Source B, D). But as a writer's journey progresses, he or she becomes comfortable in steering their writing in the right direction. Writers should be allowed to take off their preliminary set of wheels in exchange for the freedom of exploring the uncharted territories of style and voice. All punctuation has its own connotation and meaning: Austen personifies the articles of punctuation in her piece (Source B) to show that punctuation has stylistic qualities that can enhance any writer's work. Her lack of punctuation also shows that punctuation is not necessary in order to clearly convey meaning. When the rules of punctuation are disregarded, the articles of punctuation are transformed from artistic hindrances to powerful weapons of literature. As Thomas clearly states, "while we might have more precision and exactitude for our meaning [when adhering to punctuation rules], we would lose the essential flavor of language, which is its wonderful ambiguity," (Source D). Furthermore, the rules of punctuation are not as clearly defined as traditionalists would have you believe. The Oxford comma, which clearly changes the meaning of the sentence (Source G) is an ongoing argument that is heavily debated. As Hitchings explains, "long-established rules for grammar and punctuation is largely imagined," (Source A).  Some punctuation marks like the hedera and pilcrow used to be in style at a moment in history but have since faded from the English language (Source A). Today, twitter and other social media sites have infused new forms of punctuation into society like the hashtag and the @ symbol. This goes to show that as society and technology progress, communication will as well. Change is inevitable because "language evolves in conjunction to culture," (Source A). There is no need to worry though because change is slowly beginning to be accepted. In the 1800s, Dickinson pioneered the use of dashes in place of conventional punctuation like periods. She used dashes as a stylistic device to create tone and convey theme (Source C). Today Dickinson is known as an evolutionary master and now writers all over the world follow in her suit. Even without knowing it, the writing gods and legends bend the punctuation rules. Dolnick, perhaps unknowingly, writes, "a writer was simply not to use semicolons. Ever." (Source E): the second sentence does not fit any standard rules of punctuation; in fact, the period isn't used for anything other than pure emphasis. As writers of the modern world slowly escape the confines of strict adherence to punctuation rules they transcend the limiting boundaries of prose and poetry. They become more than writers-they become artists.