Evolution

Although immeasurable time has passed since the foundation of punctuation was laid down, the catalyst time has changed its relevance. The era of strict adherence to punctuation, marked by extensive usage and structure, has been dimmed by the oncoming new age. Less punctuation usage does not decrease the level of understanding within a piece, but merely evolves a writer's meaning through conciseness. Due to this, even the ever-changing world should acknowledge a subtle change in these ironclad rules.

 Many would refute that today's world requires the archaic and strict conformity punctuation offers. Have we really changed that much from the historical way of writing? Scrutiny of historical writings makes it easy to see why. Yet, Hitchings examines the change from "long-established rules" to "a break from tradition" (Source A). Even the renegade literary heroes of old - Austen and Dickinson - exemplify the individual meanings each punctuation mark has and the connotations they hold (Source B/C). Lewis Thomas' Notes On Punctuation also reflect on the characters of each individual symbol of punctuation (Source D), and Dolnik reminisces about his past relationship with semicolons and how they connotate "a mere matter of style" (Source E). Cosco examines the usefulness Twitter has dealt with in regards of concise writing and audience refinement (Source F). Assuredly, the world has changed, and punctuation is not necessary to the extent it has had in the past. Changes have occurred: technology is new and ever-changing, and society has the option to not conform to the conventional rules of punctuation any longer. Yes, the times have changed.

Punctuation focuses more on the grammatical and orderly side of written language - without any regards to the true message or style embedded within. Yet it seems "consistent communication" is at a continual stand off with today's "language [that] evolves in conjunction with culture"(Source A). Twitter and other social media sites have character limits forcing writers to be concise. With these limits, writers have to pick and choose words, phrases, and even punctuation (Source F). However, tweets and posts still proclaim their messages even with little or no punctuation. Society has evolved to the use of hash tags, a new punctuation, in order to convey feelings and tones or essence. Even text messaging has created shorthand language. Today's ever-advancing technology creates the need for conciseness and, in turn, less punctuation. Like evolution, punctuation has to evolve gradually and embrace the sui genesis of an ever-changing world.