Punctuations

April 20, 2010
Norman


To my college friends,


Hi,

I remember a story told by my middle school teacher to emphasize the 'importance of punctuation in English'. 

There was a judge, dealing with a criminal case in a court. After long years of investigation then came the judgement day. But unfortunately the judge went sick and flied to some other country for treatment. He knew the suspect of the case was innocent and the judge wanted him to release. Before the judge died in hospital he sent a telegram to another judge who is going to deal the case and give judgment. The telegram says,

"HANG HIM NOT RELEASE HIM" 

We know each word costs in telegram. So he minimized the count of words by avoided punctuations. What do you understand from the telegram sentence? It may be either

"Hang him not. Release him."

or 

"Hang him. Not release him"

The second judge preferred the latter one and ordered to hang the innocent to death. 

Thanks to my middle school teacher. I have been using punctuations properly then on to avoid misunderstanding.  

SR