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Book Description
Everyone knows the basics of punctuation, surely? Aren't we all taught at school how to use full stops, commas and question marks? And yet we see ignorance and indifference everywhere. "Its Summer!" says a sign that cries out for an apostrophe. "ANTIQUE,S," says another, bizarrely. "Pansy's ready", we learn to our considerable interest ("Is she?"), as we browse among the bedding plants.
In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss dares to say that, with our system of punctuation patently endangered, it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them for the wonderful and necessary things they are. If there are only pedants left who care, then so be it. "Sticklers unite" is her rallying cry. "You have nothing to lose but your sense of proportion--and arguably you didn't have much of that to begin with."
This is a book for people who love punctuation and get upset about it. From the invention of the question mark in the time of Charlemagne to Sir Roger Casement "hanged on a comma"; from George Orwell shunning the semicolon to Peter Cook saying Nevile Shute's three dots made him feel all funny", this book makes a powerful case for the preservation of a system of printing conventions that is much too subtle to be mucked about with. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'If Lynne Truss were Roman Catholic I'd nominate her for sainthood' Frank McCourt 'This book will stimulate and satisfy. It's worth its weight in gold.' Boyd Tonkin, Independent 'A witty, elegant and passionate book that should be on every writer's shelf' Observer 'Lynne Truss deserves to be piled high with honours ...' John Humphrys 'It can only be a matter of time before the new government seizes the chance to appoint her as minister for punctuation. The manifesto is already written. Guardian 'She's a soul sister. She's one of us.' Richard Madeley, Richard and Judy
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I highly recommend this book IF you have an interest in the english language, its punctuation, the development and abuse of said. This book is accessible, very funny, and well written. Lynne obviously cares about her subject and actually had a long-running national newspaper column on punctuation and its abuse.
If you are regularly infuriated by the greengrocer's apostrophe (carrot's, apple's, etc.) or wonder who invented the question mark (these things don't just turn up out of the blue, you know) then this is the book for you.
Buy it. Read it. Read it again. Bore everyone you know to tears with it. I did!
If you are regularly infuriated by the greengrocer's apostrophe (carrot's, apple's, etc.) or wonder who invented the question mark (these things don't just turn up out of the blue, you know) then this is the book for you.
Buy it. Read it. Read it again. Bore everyone you know to tears with it. I did!
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Eats, Shoots & Leaves" is not a grammar guide per se, as it doesn't really teach the basics of punctuation. Instead, it's a grammarians dream come true - an enjoyable and illuminating discussion of the history and importance of punctuation (Hmmmm, did I use that dash correctly?). Lovers of punctuation have been decrying the use of "netspeak" with no or minimal punctuation. Accordingly, Truss wrote this engaging book with the rallying cry: "Sticklers unite!" However, Truss does not simply attack the web; indeed, she asserts that text messaging and email have made reading more important than it has been of late. However, to paraphrase Bill Clinton, "It's the punctuation stupid!"
Truss's dry British wit (e.g., talking about wanting to marry the inventor of the colon) is used to great effect in her writing. And amusing vignettes are peppered through the text, including the introduction of the "interrobang" as well as the spread of the "Strukenwhite" virus. She even manages to make punctuation seem, well, sexy. If you've ever found yourself in a spirited debate about the Oxford comma (i.e., the second comma in the phrase "red, white, and blue"), then you'll likely enjoy this book.
Some reviewers have asserted that American readers may be a bit lost; however, Truss is careful about pointing out American versus British punctuation uses. I was never confused. Overall, this book is delightful - most highly recommended.
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Punctuation is rather like taxation law - it's a dry old subject but if you don't understand it you can't use it to your advantage. Having left a rather unimpressive comprehensive school at the age of 15, I relished the chance of receiving some, albeit late, tuition in punctuation. And I got it, courtesy of Lynne Truss. OK, professional journalists, English scholars and the like may scoff. They take such skills for granted whilst forgetting that some of us are educationally disadvantaged in this respect.
Although entirely comfortable with apostrophes, I was never really sure on which occasions to use a colon or a semi-colon. I liberally use dashes in my texts as alternatives to commas - but was uncertain whether this was permissible. I now know that it is. Furthermore, I am finally able to appreciate the importance of hyphenation to avoid ambiguity. Thanks, Lynne!
The book was also mildly entertaining but I can't honestly say that I was unable to put it down - especially if there was something more enthralling on the telly. Glad I read it, though.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Learning punctuation
I am, at 48, taking English exams again, I was not taught punctuation/grammar Just get it on paper was OK I have GCSE in 1980 and taking the Literacy level 2 and progressing to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by munsa
Definitely one for the reference shelf
It must be the time of year, but I felt a sudden need to clear my shelves of old and forgotten texts. This is one book I shall be keeping. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Sarah Crabtree
Very dry, however, interesting
The author is very dry in her delivery of the subject matter. It reads exactly as you expect a British grammatician would comment, however lacks the uniquely humorous stylings of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Matt Smith
Signs of clear thought
This book is less judgemental and dogmatic than the "Zero Tolerance" in the title suggests. Truss describes the rules of punctuation, but acknowledges these have developed over... Read more
Published 3 months ago by William Broadhead
Eats Shoots and Leaves
I loved it.
A wonderful read. Gets to the basics of punctuation. A wonderful tool for writers and authors no matter what their standard of the English Written language.
A wonderful read. Gets to the basics of punctuation. A wonderful tool for writers and authors no matter what their standard of the English Written language.
Published 4 months ago by Penragon
Possibly one of the most fun books on punctuation but the author's...
Lynne Truss has dug out one of the aspects of a solid command of English for examination in this book - namely punctuation. Read more
Published 4 months ago by AK
Possibly one of the most fun books on punctuation but the author's...
Lynne Truss has dug out one of the aspects of a solid command of English for examination in this book - namely punctuation. Read more
Published 4 months ago by AK
Excellent purchase
The book came very quickly and in good condition. The price was more then reasonable! Haven't got round to reading it yet but I'm sure it will be great! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sumaiyahs mummy
Fun, fun, fun
Picked this up in a Spanish hotel room library. Loved the humour and obvious delight in the subject which flowed out of every page. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Bonymaen
For People Who Care About Their Language
A book written with true expertise and humour. It describes the crucial role of punctuation in communication. Real page turner.
Published 7 months ago by thatsright
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