{"id":"PUN-020","name":"Punctuation preserves hierarchy","domain":"punctuation","layer":"sentence","strength":"hard_constraint","human_logic":"IF nested structures use indistinguishable boundaries, THEN assign stronger marks to higher-level divisions OR split the sentence ELSE retain.","when":{"path":"sentence.boundary_hierarchy_clear","operator":"eq","value":false},"then":[{"action":"restructure","target":"sentence.boundaries","order":["comma","semicolon","period"]},{"action":"split","target":"sentence","when":"hierarchy_still_unclear"}],"else":[{"action":"retain","target":"current_text","reason":"No triggering condition is present."}],"unless":[],"because":"Readers use punctuation strength to reconstruct grouping and relation.","diagnostics":[],"examples":{},"source_ids":["BK-008","BK-009","WEB-011"],"laka":{"smallest_sufficient_intervention":true,"primary_axes":["scope","depth","magnitude","reversibility"]},"requires_facts":["sentence.boundary_hierarchy_clear"],"tests":[],"sources":[{"id":"BK-008","title":"The Sense of Style","creator":"Steven Pinker","domain":"cognitive_style","type":"Book","note":"Reader-centered clarity informed by linguistics and cognition.","url":null},{"id":"BK-009","title":"Eats, Shoots & Leaves","creator":"Lynne Truss","domain":"punctuation","type":"Book","note":"Punctuation and the effect of marks on meaning.","url":null},{"id":"WEB-011","title":"Grammar, Punctuation, and Sentence Structure","creator":"Purdue Online Writing Lab","domain":"grammar_reference","type":"University writing resource","note":"Practical mechanics, clause, sentence, punctuation, and style guidance.","url":"https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/index.html"}],"defined_in":{"file":"08-punctuation-rules.json","title":"Punctuation as Meaning and Boundary","slug":"punctuation-rules"}}