Click on the punctuation images below

for information about each one.

Think an ellipsis is when the moon moves in front of the sun?

Celebrate 17th National Punctuation Day®

September 24, 2020

NATIONAL PUNCTUATION DAY®

ANNOUNCES 2019 CONTEST WINNERS







To remind you, contestants were asked, “What punctuation error annoys you the most?” They were asked to find an online meme that illustrates the one punctuation error that sets them off, that makes them scream, that gets them into correction mode. They were asked to e-mail that meme to NPD headquarters along with no more than 250 of their most clever, brilliant, dazzling words to make their case why this particular punctuation error not only drives them nuts, but also has occasionally transformed them into the punctuation police.



Every year we get a plethora of entries from students in Washington-Liberty High School (Arlington, Virginia) teacher David Peters's class. This year was no exception. Judges picked the top five from Peters's classroom, with an extra nod to Martha Hays, whose treatise on the Oxford Comma was not only clever, but educational. Who knew that more than one rhinoceros are rhinoceri?



And, kudos to Benjamin Quinones, of Lincoln High School in Shinnston, West Virginia. He got off the best line of all entrants, reflecting his concern for the safety of hunters. It was subtle, but hit its mark with our judges. See if you can find it. The winners are:

• Porter Davis, Canfield Middle School, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

• Aiden Good, Christ the King School, Rutland, Vermont

• Benjamin Quinones, Lincoln High School, Shinnston, West Virginia

• Keri Yanero, Lincoln High School, Shinnston, West Virginia

• Baylee Marcum, Elysian Fields High School, Elysian Fields, Texas

• Hailey Carr, Elysian Fields High School, Elysian Fields, Texas

• Keely Goelden, Elysian Fields High School, Elysian Fields, Texas

• Eva Nichols, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia

• Krystyna Piccorossi, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia

• Maddie Sims, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia

• Martha Hays, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia

• Rose Pinkert, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia



The winning entries may be found here.



Winners will receive the usual assortment of branded National Punctuation Day gifts, including a commemorative pen, ruler, question mark-shaped stress toy, and bookmarks. Also, each will receive a copy of The Elements of Style, the Bible of writing style for more than 100 years.



Dumbest Sign of the Century, to date On south Western Ave. in Chicago. Sent by Joanne Archibald. Rosine’s, Monterey, CA

Home of the Possessive Benedict



Sent by Ken Braly



There were many excellent entries in this year’s contest. The judges had a hard time selecting one winner, so they decided to recognize 12 students from schools in five states.To remind you, contestants were asked, “What punctuation error annoys you the most?” They were asked to find an online meme that illustrates the one punctuation error that sets them off, that makes them scream, that gets them into correction mode. They were asked to e-mail that meme to NPD headquarters along with no more than 250 of their most clever, brilliant, dazzling words to make their case why this particular punctuation error not only drives them nuts, but also has occasionally transformed them into the punctuation police.Every year we get a plethora of entries from students in Washington-Liberty High School (Arlington, Virginia) teacher David Peters's class. This year was no exception. Judges picked the top five from Peters's classroom, with an extra nod to Martha Hays, whose treatise on the Oxford Comma was not only clever, but educational. Who knew that more than one rhinoceros are rhinoceri?And, kudos to Benjamin Quinones, of Lincoln High School in Shinnston, West Virginia. He got off the best line of all entrants, reflecting his concern for the safety of hunters. It was subtle, but hit its mark with our judges. See if you can find it. The winners are:, Canfield Middle School, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Christ the King School, Rutland, Vermont, Lincoln High School, Shinnston, West Virginia, Lincoln High School, Shinnston, West Virginia, Elysian Fields High School, Elysian Fields, Texas, Elysian Fields High School, Elysian Fields, Texas, Elysian Fields High School, Elysian Fields, Texas, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia, Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington, VirginiaWinners will receive the usual assortment of branded National Punctuation Day gifts, including a commemorative pen, ruler, question mark-shaped stress toy, and bookmarks. Also, each will receive a copy of, the Bible of writing style for more than 100 years. Great punctuation video

from WABI-TV in Bangor, ME

Past radio coverage of

National Punctuation Day®

New Jersey reporter searches for

missing apostrophe in Toms River



Old Navys T-shirt

apostrophe catastrophe



Colleges and universities approved

the apostrophe-less T-shirt



National Punctuation Day®

salutes the Tea Party



Cake Wrecks highlights

The “Wonders” (of) Punctuation...



Victor Borge and Dean Martin

sing phonetic punctuation

National Punctuation Day at the

Michigan State University School of Journalism



PUNCTUATION PROGRAM IN

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS®

In 2006, National Punctuation Day® founder Jeff Rubin and his wife, Norma, began performing Punctuation Playtime® assemblies in elementary schools. Punctuation Playtime® has been performed nearly 75 times in schools from California to Chicago to New York. Punctuation Playtime® is a 45-minute program for children in grades K-6. Punctuation Playtime® features games, activities, and storytelling—even a rap song—to reinforce important punctuation lessons in an effort to enhance children’s reading, writing, and communication skills. On October 21, 22, and 23, 2009, Jeff and Norma brought Punctuation Playtime® to the Westfield Fox Hills Shopping Center in Culver City, CA, to help the center inaugurate a new installation inside the mall called Punctuation Station. Jeff and Norma did three performances each day. Punctuation Playtime® is a 45-minute program for children in grades K-6. Punctuation Playtime® features games, activities, and storytelling—even a rap song—to reinforce important punctuation lessons in an effort to enhance children’s reading, writing, and communication skills. On October 21, 22, and 23, 2009, Jeff and Norma brought Punctuation Playtime® to the Westfield Fox Hills Shopping Center in Culver City, CA, to help the center inaugurate a new installation inside the mall called Punctuation Station. Jeff and Norma did three performances each day. Teachers love the program and how Jeff and Norma interact with the children. “Your program completely supports our curriculum content,” said Sally Feldman, a teacher at Washington Elementary School, in Point Richmond, CA. “You have wrapped up the best in teaching to bring to our students. I love the fact that you are not afraid to teach young children great skills!” “That’s a typical comment we get from teachers after a program,” says Jeff, who works during the day as The Newsletter Guy, writing company newsletters for corporate customers out of his office in Pinole, CA.





Punctuation Playtime® performs

at Los Angeles-area shopping center

PUNCTUATION PLAYTIME®

TRAINING VIDEO®

Jeff and Norma have also produced a 30-minute instructional DVD that trains teachers how to facilitate Punctuation Playtime® in their schools. They also conduct 90-minute workshops for elementary-school teachers on how to teach punctuation to children in a fun and engaging way. Visit the NPD website regularly at www.NationalPunctuationDay.com for updates and new photos. And check the Punctuation Playtime® website at www.PunctuationPlaytime.com for information about bringing our program to your school.

National Punctuation Day® features

