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The UX of punctuation: Period, comma, colon, semicolon
On the connective tissue between UX and copywriting
Many modern punctuation marks have roots in oral traditions, serving as visual cues in written form that aided in the verbal delivery of texts. But until the 15th century, punctuation in written text was used variably; and appeared wildly haphazard.
The introduction of mechanical type in the mid-1400s led to rapid duplication of printed literature, followed by a transition from oral culture to a written one that necessitated the development of standardized—and widespread—rules for the use of punctuation marks.
In Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, Lynne Truss wrote: “We have a language that is full of ambiguities; we have a way of expressing ourselves that is often complex and elusive, poetic and modulated; all our thoughts can be rendered with absolute clarity if we bother to put the right dots and squiggles between the words in the right places.”
Punctuation marks are the UI elements of our written language. And just like those early oration marks aided the speaker in delivering an optimal performance, modern copywriters rely heavily on punctuation to provide an optimal reading experience, or in turn, a desired user experience.
They guide us through text, providing affordances along the way that clarify the emotions that we’re reading. They act as connective bridges between elements, aiding us like a companion on journey, and indicating when that journey has come to an end. Sometimes, the inclusion or omission of them is the difference between that journey making sense, or the user being completely lost.
Let’s kick off our journey to uncover the relationship between UX and punctuation with some of our most commonly used marks:
Period
This glyph—one of the first forms of punctuation—originated in 3rd-century Greek writing and served many purposes: The meaning changing based on placement within the text. A dot placed at the x-height or above (high dot) by the author…
