The Importance of Correct Punctuation
(From Games Magazine 1984)
Time: 30-40 minutes
Skills: Punctuation
This activity is used to stress the importance of using correct punctuation in writing. Depending
on how you punctuate the paragraph below, it can be read as either a love letter, or a “Dear John”
letter.
A brief review of punctuation marks and their uses, especially (semi-colon and colon
use)
Punctuate the first paragraph to read as a love letter and the second paragraph to read as a
“Dear John” letter.
Explain your punctuation choices.
DEAR JOHN:
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
GLORIA
DEAR JOHN:
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