Punctuation marks are the unsung heroes of writing. They determine the story’s rhythm and clarity, but are doomed to play second fiddle to the author’s words. Inspired by a series of posters featuring literary punctuation, scientist and writer Adam J Calhoun decided to compare how different literary figures throughout history have wielded punctuation. He stripped down novels like Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, and Ulysses to analyze the differences between authors’ styles. And there is a stark visual difference. In the photo above, Cormac McCarthy’s concise Blood Meridian is on the left while William Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom! is on the right.
via Mental Floss
