“Punctuation comes from the Latin root punctus, or “point.” Those funny dots, lines, and squiggles help writers point the way. To help readers, we punctuate for two reasons: 1. To set the pace of reading. 2. To divide words, phrases,… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share Image
If a period is a stop sign, then what kind of traffic flow is created by other marks? The comma is a speed bump; the semicolon is what a driver education teacher calls a “rolling stop”; the parenthetical expression is… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share Image
“If the writer wants to create suspense, or build tension, or make the reader wait and wonder, or join a journey of discovery, or… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“Punctuation comes from the Latin root punctus, or “point.” Those funny dots, lines, and squiggles help writers point the way. To help readers, we… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
Everyone should read, we say, but we act as if only those with special talent should write. — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“The ability to read, society tells us, contributes to success in education, employment, and citizenship. Reading is a democratic craft. Writing, in contrast, is… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“To understand the difference between a good adverb and a bad adverb, consider these two sentences: “She smiled happily” and “She smiled sadly.” Which… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“Good readers may struggle with a difficult text, but struggle is not the goal of reading. The goal is fluency. Meaning flows to the… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“As you listen to political speech, notice those occasions when politicians and other leaders use the passive voice to avoid responsibility for problems and… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
I may have grown up in the Age of Aquarius, but I'm growing old in the Age of the Acronym. — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“If you want to write, here's a secret: the writer's struggle is overrated, a con game, a cognitive distortion, a self-fulfilling prophecy, the best… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“But doesn't add something to what has come before; but takes something away. At its most daring, it can feel like a Bat Turn,… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
Writing is not magic. It’s a craft, a process, a set of steps. As with any process, things sometimes break down. Even in a… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“Poorly written reports, memos, announcements, and messages cost us time and money. They are blood clots in the body politic. The flow of information… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
Riffing on language will create wonderful effects you never intended. Which leads me to this writing advice: 'Always take credit for good stuff you… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
“I promise you a case of writing paralysis if you think about too many of these tools when you sit down to write. Let… — Roy Peter Clark Copy Share
