ABSTRACT
Punctuation is probably one of the greatest bugbears of an English teacher’s life. No matter how frequently we teach students the correct usage of semicolons, colons and exclamation marks it seems that the theory can rarely be put into practice! Comma splices, subordinate clauses masquerading as main clauses, tentative semicolons chucked into sentences because they look clever – from Year 7 all the way up to Year 13, punctuation frustrates teachers and stumps students, restricting their ability to use it as both a creative and analytical tool. A solid grounding in punctuation can transform the quality of students’ writing, enabling them to use it alongside careful vocabulary and grammar choices to create a range of effects. Understanding how they can use punctuation to liven up and add sophistication to their own writing also helps them to notice and articulate how writers are using it for effect in the texts they are studying.
