Get ready to celebrate the semicolon, appreciate the apostrophe and congratulate the comma. Why, you ask? Because September 24 is National Punctuation Day! (Yes, it's really a thing.)
Where would we be without those heroic little marks telling us when to pause, stop or get really excited while we're reading and writing? All our words would be strung together in endless run-on sentences, and trust me—no one wants that.
But National Punctuation Day is more than just an occasion to honor question marks, periods and em dashes. It's about using punctuation correctly and spotting errors in usage.
Need a fun refresher? Pick up one of these reads for a lighthearted look at all the punctuation that makes our words, phrases and sentences awesome. You might just discover a new favorite! (Mine's the exclamation mark.)
For Kids
Punctuation Celebration: Colorful illustrations complement this collection of 14 poems introducing different punctuation marks and their uses.
Punctuation Takes A Vacation: When Mr. Wright suggests his class take a "vacation" from learning about punctuation, the punctuation marks themselves misunderstand him and leave the blackboard for their own adventure!
Exclamation Mark: The exclamation mark is sad—he just doesn't seem to fit it with the other punctuation. Will he be able to recognize his talents and learn just how important he is?
For Grown-Ups
Kiss My Asterisk: This humorous (and slightly irreverent) approach to punctuation gives you the non-nonsense low-down on how to get it right the first time, every time.
Shady Characters: The subtitle to this historical overview is "The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols & Other Typographical Marks." Intriguing, no?
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Punctuation purists, this one's for you! Here's your chance to feel righteous and superior about the blatant misuse of our beloved marks both in print and online.
Add a comment to: National Punctuation Day