Happy National Punctuation Day! What Does Your Favorite Punctuation Mark Say About You?
If you could only use three punctuation marks for the rest of your life, which three would you choose? Definitely the period. And surely, we couldn’t write anything without a comma. What about the question mark? Keeping the exclamation point is a must! And there’s really no better way to insert a dramatic pause than an ellipses… right?
While each of the 14 standard punctuation marks brings clarification, deeper meaning, and emotion to the written word, not everyone agrees on which punctuation marks are the most important. We all have our personal favorites that help define our brand voice (or personal writing voice) and express who we are.
In celebration of National Punctuation Day, celebrated on September 24 since founded in 2004 by Jeff Rubin, we’ve analyzed each punctuation mark and the people who love them most to find out what personalities connect best with each type of punctuation. Here’s what your favorite punctuation mark says about you!
The Comma – Thoughtful & Organized
Comma lovers are thoughtful and organized. They take time to pause, deliberate, and carefully ponder ideas before speaking or putting their words to paper. They value organization, which is why so many comma lovers find the Oxford comma so appealing. Just like the punctuation mark itself, comma lovers are invaluable team members, helping their coworkers connect ideas and stay on top of deadlines. (We’re obviously fans at Comma!)
The Period – Focused & Hardworking
Period people are focused and hardworking. They value having a defined end to projects, meetings, and sentences rather than dragging things out unnecessarily. They’re dependable and reliable. Just like you can always count on a period to end a sentence before it gets out of control, period people are the teammates you trust to get their work done on time and keep the rest of the team in line.
The Question Mark – Inquisitive & Curious
The question mark is for inquisitive minds who always want to learn more. They’re deep thinkers who analyze all of the details in order to see the bigger picture. Their curiosity helps them think about problems in different ways, resulting in more creative solutions. Questioners prefer to have all of the details before starting a new project. You can always count on them to think things through and ask all the right questions.
The Exclamation Point – Positive & Joyful
Fans of the exclamation point are positively joyful! They love life and are constant rays of sunshine. Their enthusiasm is unmatched. A friend to everyone they meet, they speak and write with a giant smile! Exclamation point fanatics make wonderful coworkers, but they have to be careful that their exuberance doesn’t overwhelm or overshadow more laidback punctuation types.
The Apostrophe – Concise & Efficient
What’s even the point of writing if you can’t, won’t, or don’t use apostrophes? Apostrophe appreciators are concise. They value the short and sweet. If something’s unnecessary, they don’t do it. This makes them extremely efficient workers. Apostrophe appreciators highly value receiving clear assignments so they know exactly what work belongs to them or someone else.
Quotation Marks – Humble & Good Listener
Just like quotation marks are used to indicate when words belong to someone else, those who are devoted to quotes are never slow to give credit when it’s due. They’re humble to a fault and sometimes struggle to receive praise for their own efforts. They are great listeners who really value the different perspectives that others bring to the table.
The Hyphen, En dash, & Em dash – Specific & Bold
Hyphens and dashes are preferred by those who know exactly what they want to say. For them, being too specific is impossible — the more details, the better. They don’t hesitate to add information or ask for more details if they think it will help clarify the situation. Their boldness often opens the doors for others to ask similar questions they were too intimidated to bring up first.
The Ellipses – Dramatic & Strategic
Ellipses fans have a flair for … wait for it … drama. They’ve learned how to effectively use a long pause to capture an audience’s attention or shine the spotlight on specific information. Storytellers at heart, they easily see how little parts work together to achieve an end goal. This makes them fantastic strategists. With an ellipses fanatic on your team... the strategic possibilities are endless!
The Brackets & Parentheses – Detail-oriented & Thorough
Those who prefer brackets and parentheses are all about the details. They make great editors and notice the smallest errors. (They are incredible teachers because of their thorough, detailed explanations.) They love to share their knowledge and experience with others and they strive to share as much information as possible in case it might be useful later.
The Colon – Prepared & Wise
Members of the colon club tend to be well-prepared. They always have one eye on the future and know when something important is coming. They don’t mind learning a lot of information to help them be prepared, and their extra knowledge often makes them wise in their industry. They look for the following: great ideas, helpful information, and actionable tips. They can easily tell you the most important information in a summarized list.
The Semicolon – Confident & Daring
The semicolon squad are the jocks of the punctuation playground. They’re confident in their skills and not afraid to show them off. Willing to do what no one else is, they see taking risks as an exciting adventure with the possibility of great rewards. Their confidence inspires others to push their limits and improve their own skills and talents.
Whether you’re a joyful exclamation point or a hardworking period, you are needed. You help bring life and meaning to the words on the page. Thanks for recognizing with us on this National Punctuation Day how the punctuation marks in your life make you (and your content) magical.
From commas and periods to em dashes and parentheses, Team Comma keeps all the punctuation marks in our writing toolbelt to write complex and simple sentences for your brand. We’d love to help! Schedule a free consultation with the Comma Copywriters team today.
