I agree that punctuation helps to do these things when combined with other parts of the sentence, but I view them primarily as tools to say what we want to say. This conversation is relevant as it comes from the frustration of grammar Nazis and the incomprehensible rules around commas. When applied strictly and without considerations, Grammar rules stand as a gatekeeper to writing, determining who can write and should, which is wrong.

Because we created language and the written word to aid in communication, I step away from the stigma around not following all the rules. As an editor, I focus on more than just grammar errors and information accuracy while understanding how the way writers write matters. I put more emphasis on how it is written than how it should be written because the written word is something we created and can easily be played with to create more meaningful and influential ideas.

This is also how I write. I know the grammar rules so that I can break, bend, and manipulate them. In doing so, I hope to achieve a greater understanding between my writing and my readers as we continue to evolve storytelling to something new. I edit and write creatively to break previous boundaries and push the limits (and the rules).