How do you punctuate the following so that it makes proper English sense: "that that is is that that is not is not is that it it is"?

edmund80

That that is, is. That that is not, is not. IS that it? It is. Sep 06 09, 12:31 AM

zbeckabee

That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is is an English word sequence demonstrating lexical ambiguity. It is used as an example illustrating the importance of proper punctuation. The sequence can be understood as four discrete sentences by adding punctuation: That that is, is. That that is not, is not. Is that it? It is. This relates a simple philosophical proverb in the style of Parmenides that all that is, is, and that anything that does not exist does not. The phrase was first noted in Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable but was popularised when the 1959 short story "Flowers for Algernon" was adapted for the big screen in 1968 as Charly. See also: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_that_is_is_that_that_is_not_is_not_is_that_it_it_is Sep 06 09, 6:16 AM