OVERVIEW The Purpose of Grammar, Punctuation, and Clarity The primary purpose of punctuation is to ensure the clarity and readability of writing. Punctuation clarifies sentence structure, separating some words and grouping others. It adds meaning to written words and guides the understanding of readers as they move through sentences. Like most writers (even very experienced ones), you may find writing sometimes easy but more often difficult, sometimes smooth but mote often halting. Any writing you do for others occur in a context that both limits and clarifies your choices. You are communication something about a particular subject to a particular audience of readers for a specific reason. You may need to conduct research. You'll probably be up against a length requirement and a deadline. Punctuation marks indicate relationships among different sentence elements. As a result, these marks help clarify the meaning of written material. Similarly, a knowledge of mechanics—capitalization, abbreviations, numbers, and italics—help you avoid distracting inconsistencies.