Blog to Punctuate, Not Bewilder

It’s not hard to find websites listing funny examples of misleading punctuation – or lack thereof.

• A woman without her man is nothing.
  A woman: without her, man is nothing.
• Let’s eat Grandma.
  Let’s eat, Grandma!
• I have only twenty-five dollar bills.
  I have only twenty five-dollar bills.
• I’m sorry I love you.
  I’m sorry; I love you.
• The author finds inspiration in cooking her family and her dog.
  The author finds inspiration in cooking, her family, and her dog.

“Failing to use a punctuation mark, using it in the wrong place, or failing to proofread, vappingo.com points out, is one of the most effective methods of transforming a great piece of writing into something that sucks.”

From a practical point of view, Walsworth.com reminds writers, “Utilizing correct punctuation won’t help you make friends or boost your business, but using punctuation incorrectly will make your book, magazine or catalog copy stand out like a sore thumb.”

As a content writer and business blogging trainer, I cannot tell you how often I hear the argument about blogs being more informal and more conversational in tone than websites.  The conclusion drawn is that punctuation and spelling don’t matter in blogging. Big mistake – anything that puzzles readers interferes with their interest and engagement, defeating the purpose of the blog content.

A business writer’s basic tools, Tony Rossiter says in Effective Business Writing in Easy Steps, include:

• Plain English
• Vocabulary
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Grammar
• Preparing and checking the presentation

  Punctuation helps your blog do what it was meant to do, namely tell readers what you do and what you’d like them to “do about it”. Blog to punctuate, not bewilder!