Free English punctuation workshop 2022

The deadline for registration has passed. If you wish to participate, write an email to cip@hum.ku.dk.

Control your Commas: Mastering English Punctuation

“I spent all morning putting in a comma and all afternoon taking it out.” (Oscar Wilde)

When do you put a comma before that? What about a comma before which or who? Are there any comma rules in English anyway? Or is it OK just to apply the rule: When in doubt, leave it out? Is there a difference between the boy’s room and the boys’ room? How on earth should you use a colon; or even a semi-colon?

Correct punctuation is extremely important, and there are a number of differences between Danish and English punctuation. Using punctuation correctly can greatly enhance the clarity and readability of a text; conversely, in the wrong hands, it can make the writer appear unprofessional and even lead to confusion and misunderstanding.

Punctuation can present problems, or at the very least uncertainty, for many Danes when writing in English. So, if the above questions have awakened your curiosity – because you aren’t sure of the answers, or perhaps because you are sure, but would like to know the underlying rules – then this workshop is for you.

The intensive two-hour workshop focuses specifically on the four punctuation marks that tend to cause most problems: the comma, the semicolon, the colon and the apostrophe. It will feature a mixture of teacher explanations, participant input and discussions, and participants will be given the opportunity to try out their new punctuation know-how via hands-on practical exercises.

Who should attend this workshop:

VIPs and TAPs who would like to improve their written English by nuancing and perfecting their use of punctuation in English.

Let’s eat Grandma or Let’s eat, Grandma? Remember: correct punctuation saves lives!