Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Punctutation

Consider the following two letters, same words, different punctuation:

Dear Jack,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy - will you let me be yours?
Jill

Dear Jack,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men I yearn! For you I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Jill

Pretty funny, no?

It's all from Lynne Truss' book Eats, Shoots & Leaves, a bestseller all about punctuation. Witty book and highly recommended.

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