Why does Dickens use so many commas?
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Why does Dickens use so many commas?
Mr Dickens uses COMMAS (,) and SEMI-COLONS (;) to help the reader to break the long sentences up. He is really making a list, a list of the descriptions of Scrooge.
Why do writers use a variety of punctuation?
Correct punctuation adds clarity and precision to writing; it allows the writer to stop, pause, or give emphasis to certain parts of the sentence. Special attention is given to the most common mistakes that occur when punctuation does not follow standard written English conventions.
What is the effect of semicolons and dashes?
While semicolons, colons, or dashes can connect two independent clauses by itself, you can also throw in a conjunction to make the relationship between the two independent clauses clearer. A sadness hangs in the plants that are dying for the winter; but take heart, young one, for they will bud anew in the spring.
Why is the semicolon (;) the most commonly misused punctuation mark?
The semicolon is the most commonly misused punctuation mark. Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses that are not joined by one of these conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (think of fanboys as an acronym to remember them all) .
Why does Jane Austen use so many commas?
But as Sutherland herself noted in her earlier book, Jane Austen’s Textual Lives: From Aeschylus to Bollywood, Austen often used punctuation to signal the rhythms of speech rather than the grammatical structure.
Why are periods important in writing?
Periods signaling the end of a sentence are necessary. They should be used properly unless you want to confuse your readers or are aiming to adopt some uncanny style.
How punctuation marks affect the reader?
Punctuation aids the reader in understanding the writer’s intended message. Sometimes the use of punctuation (like end marks) makes it easier to read and comprehend writer ideas. Depending on where they are placed or if they are used at all, commas, apostrophes, and other marks affect a sentence’s message.
Why are dashes used in writing?
It’s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. Dashes are used to separate groups of words, not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does. These dashes not only differ in length; they also serve different functions within a sentence.
It is often said that we use dashes to signal that something crucial is being added to a sentence and use parentheses to signal that the interruption is relatively unimportant (e.g., to give dates or citations or examples).
What is a dash used for?
A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text (not at the bottom: that’s an underscore). It’s longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. Dashes are used to separate groups of words, not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does.
Can semicolon replace comma?
Rule to Remember Use a semicolon to replace a comma when you use a coordinating conjunction to link independent clauses that already contain commas. Use semicolons to replace commas when individual items in a series are long or contain commas. Use a semicolon instead of a comma to separate the items.