One of the most important documents in American history hinges its meaning based on punctuation. This is why punctuation is important.
The document in question is the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was authored by Thomas Jefferson (3rd President of the U.S.), which (was the work of many hands [paraphrase]).
The difference discussed in the article is the difference between a period/full-stop and a comma in the following quote, particularly after the word Happiness:
"“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
The difference between the two punctuations is as follows:
Period/full-stop (.) - Used at the end of a sentence to express a complete thought.
(e.g. I ate pizza.)
Comma (,) - Used to show a pause in a sentence OR to separate items on a list.
(e.g. I ate pizza, and I went to the movie theatre.)
(e.g. My pizza had cheese, pepperoni, green peppers and black olives.)
According to the article the difference between punctuations hinders between expressed individual rights, and expressed individual rights coupled with government's duty to uphold those rights.
Do you think this is the case? Look at the quote with the punctuation change and see if the meaning changes.
"“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
Click on the link below and see for yourself.
New York Times Article - A Period Is Questioned in the Declaration of Independence
The document in question is the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was authored by Thomas Jefferson (3rd President of the U.S.), which (was the work of many hands [paraphrase]).
The difference discussed in the article is the difference between a period/full-stop and a comma in the following quote, particularly after the word Happiness:
"“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
The difference between the two punctuations is as follows:
Period/full-stop (.) - Used at the end of a sentence to express a complete thought.
(e.g. I ate pizza.)
Comma (,) - Used to show a pause in a sentence OR to separate items on a list.
(e.g. I ate pizza, and I went to the movie theatre.)
(e.g. My pizza had cheese, pepperoni, green peppers and black olives.)
According to the article the difference between punctuations hinders between expressed individual rights, and expressed individual rights coupled with government's duty to uphold those rights.
Do you think this is the case? Look at the quote with the punctuation change and see if the meaning changes.
"“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
Click on the link below and see for yourself.
New York Times Article - A Period Is Questioned in the Declaration of Independence
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