Punctuation marks; The signals that guide effective communication

Language must be the greatest piece of art that the human species has ever devised. Though we take the written word, speech or conversation for granted, there’s a range of skills needed for one to become an accomplished writer, speaker, or narrator.

A clue for speakers, in particular, was offered by William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) in his play, King Lear: “Mend your speech a little, lest you may mar your fortunes.”

The skills involved in leveraging one’s fortunes – be it in speech or writing - involved an appreciation of the tools with which one communicates effectively.

For any narrative or presentation to be exceptional, it must be clear, informative, instructive, inspiring, and even entertaining. In these, punctuation serves as the pivotal tools in conveying meaning clearly and purposefully.

It is not merely what is said, but how it is said through effective pacing, pauses, stresses, and other such devices that enhance “the tone of voice”.