Standardize or keep current localized punctuation?
Words by Daniel Aleksandersen on 2008-01-19
I am a little teared on this subject. One part of me would like to see standardization of punctuation as a part of the globalization. Another part of me however, wants to keep old traditions. The standards are not necessary good once either!
Why standardize?
Typography is tricky. Most people do not get just how tricky and complicated it really is! That is probably why so many makes so many mistakes too. Standardizing punctuation would make it easier to people to know when and what kind of punctuation to use.
Take quotation marks for instance: «French», 'British', "American", „German“, »Swedish», .. There are so many variations! When adding second level quotation marks in to consideration, it gets really tricky.
The above is just one example of localized punctuation that will confuse people. I say confuse
because people often use some other language's quotation marks in their own language. Leaving everyone even a little more confused.
Localized vs. Standards
I want globalization! I welcome it. However I will not embrace it under any circumstance. I think there needs to be a huge standardization process before we undertake this endeavor. And that may be the toughest thing to accomplish. It will be a very tough battle but one that must be fought.

Leave your comment