Eats, Shoots & Leaves...

[Dookus]

anybody read it? I just finished it. Quite enjoyable and educational. The most interesting thing I learned was that the word "painstaking" is syllabified (is that a word?) pains-taking, not pain-staking. Who knew?

[jdsmith]

1. NOT useful for Americans!!

The publisher decided not to edit the original (English) text for American audiences, so it's FULL of problems. And check out this review by Louis Menand at _The New Yorker_:

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/?040628crbo_books1

[Dookus]

3. I think she did a pretty good job

of pointing out the differences between American and British punctuation. I found it interesting to learn there WERE such differences.

[jdsmith]

4. But she gets some of them wrong (see Menand)

and since the book itself follows English punctuation style, you're left with that in your head as the Sticklers' Norm.

Try Karen Elizabeth Gordon's books.

[Dookus]

5. well, I just read Menand's review

and it didn't seem to match my experience with the book.

The book isn't really a style guide. If I were confused about whether to use a colon or semicolon, I'd refer to one of the style books I own. This book was light and funny, and informative as to the history of a lot of punctuation.

Have you read the book, or just Menand's review?

[jdsmith]

6. Yes to both

I've read a LOT of cute guides to grammar and punctuation (I'm an English professor), and I like others better.

However, if you read Truss as I did (a dope slap for nitwits, not a guide), then she's a good entertainer.

[Dookus]

7. fair enough

I think we agree on that. As I said, I didn't read it as a style guide, and I found it pretty enjoyable.

I also realized I commit a LOT of the mistakes she rails against when communicating on the internet. I'm addicted to ellipsis...

[jdsmith]

8. Just a tip

We professional grammarians call elllipses "dotdotdots."

My addictions: colons--and dashes.

[terrya]

2. I adored that book.

"Eats, Shoots and Leaves" is a wonderful, funny book if you care about language.