Exercise: Punctuation: Effective punctuation

The following sentences use the punctuation marks presented in this chapter very effectively. Read the sentences carefully; then choose one, and use it as a model for writing a sentence of your own, making sure to use the punctuation marks in the same way in your sentence.

  1. The dad was—how can you put this gracefully?—a real blimp, a wide load, and the white polyester stretch-pants only emphasized the cargo.

    —GARRISON KEILLOR, “Happy to Be Here”

    Question

    bTo9Ak7CE6RHITj3SSOlysEYz91B48JyRzgKjgkR5PGaF8uK6NuBGUHObA0JVBjFCpuB4DWJcsWlm3yHYLMFs31TYoywiMD6hJOY3+2ITiTwisIBAaIFCaQTM1XlEciZs0a3nuI2iJPBwCI9FFeeCfu44u5SfzDs1LejqtlhbVt3iHGqGBErzSePhuaTjI5X7SWnHtFoBAnxe+J166xqAzaG+iPEmxCKarngbrTtmaT7wzBkHiAZpEv23z3WONz97GNnWhtBFgt6tbNRw1zjQhHjzrhi6zovK0rWtkBoCMpxfew0HktJSC8xXPHmACzFuiI1rUW9yoPhUO0XKvqErHvd1LMPEmjCheMdID+F9oz9iZ8GMp773iwVGoco9v8X/H8OGMrTcQG9U8flL1s9t9f98umvTPFS8ONZmyKmUus=
    The dad was—how can you put this gracefully?—a real blimp, a wide load, and the white polyester stretch-pants only emphasized the cargo.—GARRISON...
  2. Not only are the distinctions we draw between male nature and female nature largely arbitrary and often pure superstition: they are completely beside the point.

    —BRIGID BROPHY, “Women”

    Question

    vRZW3OezbIsBtJU4/AX+O0OuUN88I/P/N9jiQblwtwExe5iFByybKJf9LS9ZigkOZQT4AGo79nnBvJPTfGNOdFM5C3NXtP6NbGNksCy4qPSbGxT4mlYvicorTszsI/5lhLl/TGUL8Lkzuny45mKDYNAkqeqZ+soRE80ec0Kss5QJ479wI/uRZ1FIpDUpE5+Nqy88ypZz0rZojX3o3GR2bYPBY/qgGtD/+FCj7PuiJV/IOHHWBjKduU7JsQMBYaSIkuHhmdWFZfznmRp2IOhjyWwuape0pSWqOBV1cLVwhFyRw4zAI4Dgfw==
    Not only are the distinctions we draw between male nature and female nature largely arbitrary and often pure superstition: they are completely...
  3. If no one, including you, liked the soup the first time round (and that’s why you’ve got so much left over), there is no point in freezing it for some hopeful future date when, miraculously, it will taste delicious. But bagging leftovers—say, stews—in single portions can be useful for those evenings when you’re eating alone.

    —NIGELLA LAWSON, How to Eat

    Question

    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
    If no one, including you, liked the soup the first time round (and that’s why you’ve got so much left over), there is no point in freezing it for...