Punctuate these.

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Perry Lassiter
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Punctuate these.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Thu Oct 30, 2014 2:24 pm

Many years ago I came across these puzzles, which are still fun. Apparently absurd, after you crack them, they are both easy to remember and make complete sense. So try your hand at punctuating these:

1. It was but I said not and

2. That that is is that that is not is not that is it is it not that it is
pl

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Slava
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby Slava » Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:12 pm

Good thing I'm not in a combative mood, as "Punctuate This" could be taken amiss. :shock:

I admit I cheated and looked up #2 and got the answer, so I won't post it, but #1 eludes me still. How doth one end a sentence with an "and"? Or is there an ellipsis there that I just don't get? :?:
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Fri Oct 31, 2014 1:51 pm

Slava, it will make as good a sense as the other one. I plan to post the answers in a week, if no one gets it. Thanks for not cheating. It's fun to wrestle with it, and once I got the answer, I've never forgotten it. You porbably won't either.
pl

bnjtokyo

Re: Punctuate these.

Postby bnjtokyo » Mon Nov 03, 2014 10:12 am

For No. 1, I suspect quotation marks are necessary.

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:15 pm

Good clue. You may have solved it.
pl

bnjtokyo

Re: Punctuate these.

Postby bnjtokyo » Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:24 pm

I see the solution. It involves both single and double quotation marks. Now the outstanding questions are
Where do the commas go?
Are we to use British or U.S. style punctuation?

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Tue Nov 04, 2014 4:45 pm

It can be done with two sets of identical quote marks and two commas.
pl

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bailey66
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby bailey66 » Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:36 pm

"It was 'but'", I said, "Not 'and'."

Just try PUNCTUATING this toggling three keyboards on a Kindle that is determined to typo a person TO DEATH.

Mark needs-a-new-battery/stylus/brain Bailey
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, Isa30:15

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Wed Nov 05, 2014 2:16 pm

You got it, but I would write it a bit differently.
It was "but," I said, not "and."

Now what can you do with the other one. No quotes in that one. Periods and commas, or you can put an exclamation point at the end, and prob a question mark a little before the end.
pl

bnjtokyo

Re: Punctuate these.

Postby bnjtokyo » Wed Nov 05, 2014 7:11 pm

Mr. Bailey prefers British punctuation while Mr. Lassiter prefers the US style. Note the differences in where these gentlemen place the first comma and the period.

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bailey66
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby bailey66 » Thu Nov 06, 2014 11:32 am

I like Pl's punctuation better. The one i use is so much more cumbersome.
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, Isa30:15

Perry Lassiter
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Posts: 3333
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Re: Punctuate these.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Fri Nov 07, 2014 9:44 pm

Clue for the first one.

That that is, is.
pl


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