Punctuation Mastery

A Non-Technical Guide To Using Punctuation With Style

From the creator of one of Udemy's most popular courses, Writing With Flair: How To Become An Exceptional Writer, comes Punctuation Mastery, a non-technical guide to using commas, dashes and other types of punctuation more stylishly.

"Every once in a while, you find that one person who understands you, and teaches you exactly what you wanted to know..." -- JAYANTH S, UDEMY STUDENT

"Didn't realize punctuation could be so cool..." -- RYAN, UDEMY STUDENT

"Exactly what I needed to clear up all confusions I had about punctuation without reading through boring grammar lessons..." -- NIKKI BRUSOE, UDEMY STUDENT

PLEASE NOTE: This program is not for you if you're seeking a strict guide to formal punctuation rules, which can be obtained from any number of books and grammar experts. It offers the author's personal, often unorthodox, take on punctuation based on decades of experience in the news business. The program adopts mostly a non-technical, intuitive approach to the subject with the aim, above all, of fostering clear and elegant writing that is easy (and pleasurable) for readers to navigate.

Are you among the growing army of people seeking to make a mark on the world by writing an outstanding book or creating a magnificent blog read by thousands?

If so, you will find it easier to make an impact once you discover how to use punctuation more stylishly.

Conversely, if you don't yet know how to use commas, colons, semi-colons, hyphens, apostrophes and dashes with a certain kind of flair, you may never be able to weave magic with your words.

While studying all aspects of grammar in a formal setting is highly recommended, a strictly technical approach to punctuation can often leave students bored and uninspired.

That's why, here, you will find a more intuitive and flexible approach: one that focuses exclusively on the purpose of communicating powerfully and beautifully, rather than on just blindly following rules.

The goal is to help make your writing more effective, while steering clear of the dense jungle of jargon that can destroy your enthusiasm.

"One of the best courses I have ever taken..." -- RICHARD HAKE, UDEMY STUDENT

"Good for any writer looking to work on their clarity and form..." -- BRENDAN TERRY, UDEMY STUDENT

"Will agonize less when editing..." -- JOAN SALANITRI, UDEMY STUDENT

"Puts you behind the steering wheel..." -- CHRIS HEMMES, UDEMY STUDENT

"Take this course if you want to write like a pro..." -- AARON LEBLANC, UDEMY STUDENT

"Thought I knew how to effectively use punctuation..." -- IGOR MILOSAVLJEVIC, UDEMY STUDENT

"Covers just about everything..." -- KNOWLEDGE GATHERING, UDEMY STUDENT

"Will now write with more confidence..." -- DEVON HALL, UDEMY STUDENT

"Clarified a lot of questions..." -- ARIEL JACOBY, UDEMY STUDENT

"One of those people whose products I don't even think about buying. I just buy them..." -- IVAN JURAS, UDEMY STUDENT

So, if you spend ages wondering whether a comma should go here or there, and then doubt yourself straight afterwards because of all the complex rules around comma placement... Or, if you frequently end up with a random mess of semi-colons littering the page and distracting from your message... Or, if you don't yet know how to use a dash or colon to create dramatic tension in your writing....

Then this course, developed by someone who has written edited for top news organisations, including The Wall Street Journal, should help put you on a firmer footing.

To reiterate, this course is NOT for those interested in a "purist" approach to punctuation based on traditional grammar rules. There is certainly a place for such an approach, and you can, if you want, find it elsewhere. The program is for nonfiction writers seeking a more intuitive and commonsense guide to punctuation, as well as for those interested in learning about some of its more hidden aspects.

Some of the best professional writers don't treat punctuation as a set of rigid rules to obediently follow. They see it, rather, as a tool for making their communication more engaging and captivating.

Your school and college tutors may have discussed punctuation in a largely jargon-laden way that may have left you bored or mystified. You may even dread going back to the subject.

This course steers clear of all that. By the end, you may wonder why nobody told you punctuation could be so interesting.

You'll discover, for instance, that a comma doesn't just help create useful pauses in a sentence, but that it can be a mighty weapon letting you express your ideas with more clarity and gracefulness. You'll discover that colons don't just give you a neat way of introducing lists; they can be used to heighten drama and anticipation.

In fact, you'll come to see that each little symbol that you thought was so mundane has its own unique power to create special effects right across your writing.