Punctuation and Poetry

Hello, all! Starting tomorrow (2 Nov), I'm hosting a workshop over at *Writers-Workshop based on punctuation in poetry. If this is something you're interested in or have trouble with, we'd love to see you participate. Check out *Writers-Workshop tomorrow for more details.

In the meantime, here's a little prep work:

Some people believe poetry shouldn't be punctuated and others are still taught to put a comma after every new line. So where is the balance? What does one - especially one new or growing in poetry - do? Well, that's simple: a poet must punctuate with purpose!

In order to punctuate with purpose, however, a poet must understand two things: what she wants to achieve with the poem, and what a piece of punctuation can achieve in a poem. This means a poet must understand more than the common rules of punctuation; she must know the effect that certain punctuation can have on a reader or in a text.

Before we discuss the effect, however, we have to be clear that we know the actual uses and basic purpose for each of the punctuation points. Take note: this is only a very general guide to what each mark is intended for - a foundation, if you will. In any well-crafted spot of writing, sophisticated writers can manipulate punctuation and its rules as skillfully as they can manipulate words.

Watch for a more in-depth guide to punctuation and punctuation in poetry at the close of the workshop. I can't wait to read and review all your poems.


The Period

.

Also known as the full stop, the period is one of the most common punctuation marks. It's purpose is to separate one complete thought from another.


The Question Mark

?

A question mark is used when the complete thought or statement is actually a direct question being asked of someone else. This includes rhetorical questions or questions asked that are not necessarily looking for an answer.


The Exclamation Point

!

Used on dA to represent a banned member, the true purpose of an exclamation point is to mark the end of an empathetic or emotionally-charged statement or command.


The Comma

,

The comma actually has several uses and, in many cases, it's taught that a comma represents a natural pause. However, as my natural pausing habits may not be the same as your natural pausing habits, this leads to confusion and comma misuse and abuse.

What, then, are natural pauses? Well, one place to pause - or use a comma - is to separate items in a series of three or more things (the bat, the glove, the shoe and the shirt). Another place to use a comma is before a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, yet, so, for) in a sentence (I wanted to go to the store, but my mother told me I had to clean my room first.). Still another place we tend to pause naturally is after an introduction element such as: Walking down the dark street, Jenna paused to glance behind her.

But wait! There's more. A comma is also used to offset apositives and the like. However, to avoid the confusion that comes with grammar terms and vocabulary, allow me to simplify: commas are also used to separate unnecessary descriptions from the rest of the sentence, such as you see in "Beyonce, who has lost her mind, is releasing a new CD soon." The phrase "who has lost her mind" adds to the sentence, sure - but it is not necessary to understanding the main point of the sentence (Beyonce releasing her new CD soon). Because it's a phrase that can be removed from the sentence and still leave a statement that makes complete sense, we use commas to offset the description and avoid confusion.


The Colon

:

A colon is used before a list (to introduce a list). However, a colon is also used to introduce additional description or explanations about the phrase or clause that comes before it. It's a piece of punctuation that represents an inviting pause - the sort that asks you to read on for a better understanding.


The Semicolon

;

That brings us to the semicolon. A semicolon is used to separate a very long or complicated list - especially those already plagued by too many commas. However, it has another use as well.

Semicolons separate two closely-related complete thoughts. A semicolon should never be used to separate two incomplete thoughts, or one complete thought from an incomplete thought, unless it's being used to sort out that crazy list. Instead, the semicolon is a mark of implication. Instead of outright stating the relationship between two things, the author implies is through the use of the semicolon.

It's a complicated piece of punctuation, but you can see it at work here: "The child tried very hard to stay awake on Christmas Eve; he was convinced he would catch Santa in the act." Here, we are implying that the child is staying awake so as to catch Santa. Both statements stand on their own as complete thoughts (the child tried very hard to stay awake and the child was convinced he could catch Santa), but the semicolon shows they are closely related to one another.


The Dash

—

A dash acts as a 'super' comma. It represents a longer pause than a comma does, and it's also used to offset or emphasize various descriptions. If you search for it, you can see several ways in which a dash can be used in this journal entry alone.

If a comma will happily work in your writing, do not use the dash.


The Slash

The slash or slant should only be used to represent a choice between two (and only two) options. For example: This class is pass/fail; or, Kierkegaard was trapped in an perpetual either/or. In other words, a slash should only be used if you could take it out, put the word "or" in its place, and still have the statement make sense.


Remember, this isn't so much a resource as a quick reminder about what punctuation points are out there. Stay tuned for a more comprehensive or in-depth guide to punctuation and, more specificaly, punctuation in poetry.

Workshop Entries

videotape by ~videotaped
Ode to Hair by ~mintleaves
Waking Up by =inspiredimperfection
No One Knows by ~Imperial-Obsession
itkeepsmeupatnight by ~rainbowsaur
I hate chicken wings by ~ilutiern
-- by ~teenagegeek
diminished abyss proofread by ~phillGH
Leave the Door Open by =KrystalIce
The Sunset Line by ~dimerization
Haibun Love by ~8ankH
Parabola by ~infrangiblegreen
untitled i by ~wonderfulrachel
I Have My Receipt by ~Nefex
The Grammar Gangsters by ~CyberPhantom
Lines by `GaioumonBatou
Late Afternoons in Poland v06 by *GrimEden
Bathroom Sound Waves by =Drunken-Splice
Punctuating with Purpose by ~brytning
Trust by =UnfeelingAlloy