If you click on the link, it takes you to Amazon. If you buy sumthin, I'll make a few pennies. Take THAT, FTC! Sheesh.
I picked up this great book today. I know I’m a little late to the party. The copyright date is 2003. Eats Shoots and Leaves is the name of this little gem. Have you heard of it? The subtitle is, The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation.
I gotta tell ya, as I write this I’m more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full o’ rocking chairs. I’m struggling over every comma, every period.
(Leaves to take a double dose of blood pressure medication)
Okay. I’m back.
So, believe it or not, this book was a #1 UK Bestseller. Wha? A book on punctuation? Yup. You heard me correctly. Amazing, isn’t it? After spending a bit of time perusing the chapters it is easy to see why this book became so popular. Lynne Truss is the author of this wonderful little goodie and the book has quickly earned a spot on my shelf of favorite books on writing.
The book is wonderfully readable in the quaint fashion that only the Brits can truly capture. The style is only exceeded by the logic. Read this book and it makes perfect sense why we perform any grammatical act.
In the past, I know I’ve shown a certain level of intolerance when it comes to grammar nazis. While I still hold to those values for the most part, it occurs to me that it has a lot to do with how the grammar mistakes are pointed out. I try my hardest to be precise with my writing while holding on to my writing voice. Not so easy to do. I am human and I certainly make my fair share of goofs. A friendly nudge is always welcome – a tirade about switching careers is not. Side note: We had a helpful patron come in to the library who kindly pointed out that maybe we wanted to change the wording on a flyer we had printed. Or did we want to be the Wasilla Pubic Library? Hehe.
Here’s a sample of the style Ms. Truss peppers throughout the book:
“In the end, hyphen usage is just a big bloody mess and is likely to get messier. When you consider that 50 years ago it was correct to hyphenate Oxford Street as Oxford-street, or ‘tomorrow’ as to-morrow, you can’t help feeling that prayer for eventual light-in-our-darkness may be the only sane course of action.”
I mean, really. How can you not love that wit?
This other excerpt is one I just couldn’t pass up as I think the concept is sorely needed:
“In May 1999, Bob Hirschfield wrote a news story in The Washington Post about a computer virus ‘far more insidious than the recent Chernobyl menace’ that was spreading through the internet. What did this virus do? Named the Strunkenwhite Virus… it refused to deliver emails containing grammatical mistakes. Could it be true? Was the world to be saved at a stroke? Sadly, no. The story was a wind-up.”
You gotta love that idea!
I’m so glad I was born into the English language. I cannot imagine trying to learn this silly thing as a second language. Hats off to all of the folks that accomplish that monumental task.
Do yourself a favor. Go get this book. It really is an adorable read. I had a lot of fun and I’m sure I’ll be referring to this one a lot.
I read this a few years back and agree, it was a hoot! I should likely pick it up again for a second go over
Hi Heather. Yay! It is one that I know I’ll refer to as well as enjoy as a little light reading.
George
I’ve read it and it’s a fun and useful book! Definitely one to keep on the shelf, George.
Sharon Hurley Hall´s last [type] ..On The Value Of Being A Specialist Writer
Hi Sharon,
Thanks! I love finding those little books that mean so much.
George
George,
Don’t feel bad about being a little late in the game. I just picked up a copy a couple of months ago – and I had the same reaction. A punctuation book making it to #1???
But it is a good book. It’s on my list of books I recommend for folks’ “gotta have” resource shelf.
It sure is a whole lot easier to take criticism with a dose of humor and common sense, ain’t it?
Now…how many punctuation mistakes can you find in this comment?
Quick! This is a test…:)
Hi Sandi,
I think it is so geeky booky cool that a puncuation book could make it to #1. It is truly a fascinating read. Yup, humor lubes the wheels of criticism for me. It is the mayo on the onion sandwich I sometimes gotta eat.
I think I failed the test since I saw no puncuation errors. Darnsky.
George
LMAO at the Strunkenwhite virus. I haven’t read this book yet, but it sounds good.
Cath Lawson´s last [type] ..Why You Are Letting Your Blog Readers Down
Hey Cath. I’ll be sending the email in the morning. I too *love* the Stunkenwhite Virus concept. Cracks me up, it does.
George
Ahh, Geo, a topic near and dear to my heart!
The success of this tiny tome surely illustrates the great need for grammatical correctness in this throw-away world we live in. We’ve mastered political correctness. Now, how about grammatical correctness?
Today, nobody much cares if they have their corporate e-mails gramatically correct or not. I just love to see these folks with advanced degrees, or at least long years of management experience, rendering policy edicts in fractured grammar and with no hint of proofing. It shows their innate weakness and then I can capitalize on that in return. Kinda like David beating Goliath with grammar stones. Ha!
Commercial signage is often un-proofed before it hits the streets, hence your Pubic Library. (By the way, Marian the Librarian, can I have that in a plain brown wrapper)?
In the school systems there has been such a dumbing-down that, for most graduates, they head out into the working world ill-equipped. Folks are at the mercy of legalese on their credit card contracts, mortgage notes, car loans, the lot. And the reason? They have no model of grammatical correctness being held up by the system that is sadly stacked against them.
George, I know you know the King’s English (or is that the King’s Scottish) better than most, but why is it that so many bloggers embarrass themselves and yet haven’t a clue? I mean, it would be better if they didn’t blog at all.
But, then again, who cares, right?
I DO! And everybody else better care too, or else.
Or else what, Wayne?
We should care about the rules of grammar the same way we should care about the rules of brain surgery. Or how to properly run the U.S. economic system. Or how to raise a drug-free, happy child who can make it through their teens without getting pregnant. Rules matter. They just need reinforcing from time to time. And there needs to be consequences for disobeying the rules.
New rules.
Like time-outs at work. Or bringing back the public pillory. Or taking away one’s toys (make that motorcycles, SUV’s or, say, one’s guns) if they cannot pass a state-run grammar test every five years. Enforceable by … you guessed it … the grammar police.
The movie “Dumb and Dumber” would not have been so funny, if it hadn’t all been so true. And when it comes to proper grammar usage, we Americans are the quaint ones. Looks like the Brits have the last laugh at our expense (again).
I challenge Hollywood to come up with a new reality TV show. I’ll even go so far as to suggest a title for it. Let’s call it “My Grammar Is Better Than Your Grammar.” And the winner would get … what?
Seventy virgins and a limo full of cash?
Nah.
They would get a boatload of respect.
Until next time, lads and lassies,
Wayne C. Long
Writer/Editor/Digital Publisher
http://www.LongShortStories.com
Where the Short Story LIVES!
Wayne,
I am so cracking up at this latest and greatest of comments from the master himself. Absolutely we should care about grammar. If anyone wants to have a peek at the seedy underbelly that is the grammar state of the US pop, all they have to do is go read the “Rants and Raves” section of Craigslist. Oy. I still have red sharpie all over my monitor from my last visit there…
Wayne, I do believe that you and I need to take on the world. Dynamic Duo and all that. I’ll get to work designing the capes.
George
I still haven’t picked up that book so you’re ahead of me.
Occasionally, grammar nazism has its uses. My 9th grade English teacher looked down her nose at me, sniffed with disgust and said, “If you MUST use the term ‘a lot,’ remember that it is two words, not one.” Her attitude embarrassed me so badly, I’ve never forgotten the lesson. I hate to think what she’d say about LOL and LMAO.
Laura Eno´s last [type] ..Were Baaaaack! – FridayFlash
Laura,
Great point. I can just see spinster English teachers spinning in their graves over the text message language that is the norm these days.
George
Great review, and I’ve yet to read the book. I am awful at grammar and at least I can admit it… comma splicing is apparently my biggest ( or one of) sin!
So, thank you for the nudge.
AND, by the way, congrats on the top Creative Writing Blog award. Very nice and well-deserved. (is that hyphen appropriate?)
Walker´s last [type] ..Think Small!
Hi Walker,
Umm, I hereby distance from any and all hyphens. In fact I’ll dash the other direction when I see one.
Thanks for the congrats. Also, I’ve been lurking over at your blog, how’s the 31 days thing coming along?
George
Hi George,
Ha ha! I was laughing at the caption under your book image. Funny.
I love witty books, and you know what? The book’s success really proves a point. People can write about something as dry and boring as stoopid punctuation and if it’s funny and enjoyable, it will be a best seller!
Again, that’s also why I love your blog so much — I love your sense of humor and writer voice (YOU!). You wrote a post about a book about punctuation and I love this post!
~xo
Lori´s last [type] ..Front Porch- Dreams- Laughter- and Comic Inspiration
Hi Lori,
Hehe. I had fun writing the caption. Sometimes I just can’t resist commentary. That is so true about being able to take a dry topic and make it interesting. Thanks for the nice words abouit the blog, I sure do try. I’d hate to think that someone would come by for a visit only to find out that I’m boring them to tears!
Thanks for the awesome tweet too, tweety.
George
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