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From the OWL resource Adding Emphasis in Writing

This resource was written by Purdue OWL.
Last full revision by Dana Lynn Driscoll.
Last edited by Allen Brizee on September 18th 2007 at 5:07PM

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Punctuation Marks for Achieving Emphasis

Some punctuation marks prompt the reader to give a word or sentence more than usual emphasis. For example, a command with a period does not evoke the same emphatic response as the same command with an exclamation mark.

Watch out!

A dash or colon has more emphatic force than a comma.

The employees were surprised by the decision, which was not to change company policy.

The employees were surprised by the decision—no change in company policy.

The employees were surprised by the decision: no change in company policy.

All Sections in Adding Emphasis in Writing: Punctuation Marks for Achieving Emphasis:

  1. Visual-Textual Devices for Achieving Emphasis
  2. Punctuation Marks for Achieving Emphasis
  3. Choice and Arrangement of Words for Achieving Emphasis
  4. Sentence and Clause Arrangement for Emphasis
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