The Effect of Punctuation on Writing Proficiency: Learners’ Incorrect Use of the Comma and Period

Abstract

This research aims at presenting the importance of punctuation in writing, especially the comma and the full stop. It shows how the effective use of punctuation marks; more precisely the right use of the comma and the period helps in conveying the exact meaning and preventing ambiguity. To attain such aim, we hypothesize that if the students were made aware of the adequate use of punctuation marks, especially the ones of our interests, with intensive practice they would enhance the quality of their writing. To investigate this research hypothesis, two data collection procedures were used. First, the teachers’ questionnaire that was distributed to seven Written Expression teachers from the department of English at Guelma University, and the students’ questionnaire that was addressed to forty students of second year LMD from the department of English at Guelma University. The teachers’ questionnaire aimed at pointing out their opinions about both students’ writing performance and practice of the comma and the period. The students’ questionnaire aimed at examining the students’ awareness of the comma and the full stop. Second, the test aimed at evaluating the students’ use of the comma and the period. The findings of the students’ questionnaire showed that they were made aware of punctuation especially: the comma and the period. In contrast, the production task and the teachers’ questionnaire revealed that the students had lack of awareness concerning the use of these punctuation marks. On the basis of these results, some recommendations and suggestions are proposed that will help in the improvement of writing proficiency through the use of punctuation techniques.