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Learn punctuation; it is your little drum set, one of the few tools you have to signal the reader where the beats and emphases go. (If you get it wrong, any least thing, the editor will throw your manuscript out.) Punctuation is not like musical notation; it doesn’t indicate the length of pauses, but instead signifies logical relations. There are all sorts of people out there who know these things very well. You have to be among them even to begin. Annie Dillard
Hi Sisters, it’s raining here. Perfect writing day. I’m just above average with punctuation because of the comma and have to take out my little red grammar book often. I’m not certain a comma isn’t needed after the word comma in this first sentence. Double negative on purpose, btw.
I have yet to learn how to know if a U.S. editor prefers the British lack of serial comma or the usual American way. Might he truly punish the American serial comma by throwing the entire work out?
Or does this quote refer to actual error as opposed to style preference?
I wonder if I need a publisher who rejects over versions of correctness or prefers my work be less clear than it could be. I would appreciate more explanation, here, or a link to past posts making this one more understandable. Thanks!
Or better yet, perhaps this is first in a series on punctuation?
We weren’t planning a series on punctuation, but could give it some thought.
Not sure I agree with Annie that an editor will throw out your entire work solely because of punctuation. But mistakes in basic punctuation do reflect on the author’s knowledge of the craft and care of the work.
This is so true and so important.
Oh dear, I’m in trouble . ..big time.
But thank you and God bless you!
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