Making a Point
The Pernickety Story of English Punctuation
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
This 'engaging history of punctuation' (Wall Street Journal) is not only the first history of its kind, but a complete guide on how to use English punctuation.
Behind every punctuation mark lies a thousand stories. The punctuation of English, marked with occasional rationality, is founded on arbitrariness and littered with oddities. For a system of a few dozen marks it generates a disproportionate degree of uncertainty and passion, inspiring organisations like the Apostrophe Protection Society and sending enthusiasts, correction-pens in hand, in a crusade against error.
Professor Crystal leads us through this minefield with characteristic wit, clarity and commonsense. He gives a fascinating account of the origin and progress of every kind of punctuation mark over one and a half millennia, and he offers sound advice on how punctuation may be used to meet the needs of every occasion and context.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Crystal (Spell It Out) will delight anyone interested in written language with this exploration and explication of English's deceptively complex system of punctuation. Rather than trying to convey how each punctuation mark should be used a surprisingly difficult task Crystal offers a charming journey through the evolution of punctuation, from the role of spacing as the earliest form of punctuation to the influence of the Internet. He tackles the age-old question of whether punctuation exists to help readers or speakers and explores the roles that typesetters, publishers, editors, and proofreaders have played in shaping punctuation and, in some cases, authorial voice and intent. Crystal, a professor of linguistics, brings scholarly acumen and gravity, as well as delight and good humor, to his subject. He illuminates punctuation's transformation over time, as needs and preferences changed, and finds that the Internet is a particularly intriguing source of inventiveness. Crystal's ultimate message isn't about rigidly enforcing the rules of punctuation; instead, he highlights the importance of understanding punctuation as a system and the pleasure of using it to its fullest potential. Illus.
