Eats, Shoots & Leaves

[Khamûl]

Eats, Shoots & Leaves (The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation)

Has anyone read this hilarious book by Lynne Truss? I bought it today and am in the process of reading it now.

Either this will ring a bell for you, or it won't. A printed banner has appeared on the concourse of a petrol station near to where I live. "Come inside," it says, "for CD's, VIDEO's, DVD's, and BOOK's."

If this satanic sprinkling of redundant apostrophes causes no little gasp of horror or quickening of the pulse, you should probably put down this book at once. By all means congratulate yourself that you are not a pedant or even a stickler; that you are happily equipped to live in a world of plummeting punctuation standards; but just don't bother to go any further. For any true stickler, you see, the sight of the plural word "Book's" with an apostrophe in it will trigger a ghastly private emotional process similar to the process of bereavement, though greatly accelerated. First there is shock. Within seconds, shock gives way to disbelief, disbelief to pain, and pain to anger. Finally (and this is where the analogy breaks down), anger gives way to a righteous urge to perpetrate an act of criminal damage with the aid of a permanent marker.

This was on the first page. I read it and knew that this was the book for me, since I often remark on the misuse of "it's" and "its" and other grammar/punctuation. If it applies to you too, I recommend picking it up. I've laughed out loud reading it. :D

[sun-star]

It's a great book! I second that recommendation for all grammar Nazis :D

[Mercutio]

My mom (a copy-editor) just got this book from a friend. It's really funny. However, Oxford English grammar is different from American grammar, so it doesn't help us Americans too much gramamatically (rather just humorous). I'll dig up the article.



*rats* I have to subscribe to get the online version. It was in the Financial Times.

Wait...here it is in The New Yorker. I think it is the same article.

Book Reveiw from the New Yorker (http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/?040628crbo_books1)

[Khamûl]

I finished this book today and I loved it. I don't think I've ever really considered the importance of the placement of commas. What really made me think was the example of the profound doctrinal difference of the thief on the cross. Great book.

Sticklers unite! :D

[Elfmaster XK]

I've read this! It's brilliant, and at points made me laugh loudly in the middle of silent rooms with some of the errors people make. My friend found particular amusement about the in-tray belonging to a person named Dick. :D

And really...it's and its aren't that difficult to grasp.

[Khamûl]

Hahaha "Dicks in tray". That bit was brilliant. You really need that dash. :D

[Rían]

I've heard about this book - it sounds really funny!

(and yes, book's used as a plural makes me cringe!!)

[katya]

One time in the store there was a sign that said "Theres more milk at the checkout", and I took out the sharpie that I carry in my purse and added the missing apostrophe.

[The Gaffer]

Good for you. I've wished for a marker pen many times in such situations.

It's amazing that this book has been a bestseller. I suppose it's gratifying that there are so many people out there who share my anal retentiveness about apostrophes.

[Rían]

We should also carry white-out, because it seems like the typical mistake is an apostrophe where it shouldn't be. But I'm glad you corrected it - go you! :)

[katya]

Yeah, I know! I saw one the other day at the bank! *And* I have a Wolf's Rain poster that says "From the Creator's of Cowboy Bebop". It drives me crazy.

[Khamûl]

There is no way that could be in my room. I'd have to fix it.

By the way, how does everyone feel about the Oxford comma? I personally use it, because that's the way I was taught. I always add that comma before 'and' when listing three or more things. For example: I like apples, oranges, and bananas.

[The Gaffer]

I was taught not to use a comma where there's an "and". However, it doesn't bother me like rogue apostrophes.

[sun-star]

I think that's a matter of style rather than grammar. I love commas, so if there's the slightest justification for using one I will, (see?) but I don't put them before an 'and' unless I really want a pause there.

[katya]

I like apples, oranges, and bananas. Yep, I use the comma, though I was taught not to. Commas still aren't as bad as apostrophes though. In a lot of ways, some commas seem optional. More so than apostrophes, anyway.

As for my poster, the writing is very small, so I don't see it unless I look. Otherwise, yeah, I would definately have to fix it.

[The Gaffer]

By the way, it's apostrophes; there's no "i". :D

[sun-star]

Unless you want to apostrophise, of course. :D

I saw a flyer yesterday which said "Dont throw this away". Guess what? I threw it away. :rolleyes:

[The Gaffer]

Lol!

[katya]

By the way, it's apostrophes; there's no "i". :D
Well, I'm quite sure I don't know what you're talking about.

...

But thank you for your input.^^

[Khamûl]

Someone on another message board referred to how much he hated the New York "Yankee's". Not their uniforms or manager or anything like that, mind you, just the "Yankee's" in general. If only I were a mod there...

[BeardofPants]

*Ponders whether she feels like leaving inopportune apostrophes everywhere just to p'off Khamul*

;)

[sun-star]

Good idea, Beard of Pants.

:D

--Edited by Khamûl :p

[Grey_Wolf]

I actually bought this book and am in the process of reading it. :)

[Khamûl]

Good idea, Beard of Pant's.

:D
Hahaha very funny. :D

[Beren3000]

Just saw the book in a bookshop. You guys make it sound quite interesting. But I think I'll wait for the paper back edition (summer taxed heavily on my allowance :( )

EDIT: 99 more posts to go :)

[Elvellyn]

I have been waiting to read this book for a while now. As soon as the library got it, it was checked out. I tried to share my frustation with my mom, but when I told her I wanted to read a book about punctuation, she just gave me one of those "Oh my gosh. Who raised my daughter?" looks.

[Linaewen]

I adore this book. The incorrect usage of "its" and "it's" drives me nuts.

One of the funniest bits in there for me was when she gave examples of misused question marks? Just adding them to statements? I laughed so hard?

And I am glad that there are others out there addicted to semicolon use.

[Khamûl]

I'm taking a class for my journalism major and the professor told us to never use semicolons. Unless you're doing a list of places, they should be avoided in journalism. He said that they make the reader pause unnecessarily, and that you should just start a new sentence. I suppose that makes sense to me, and if that's what I have to do in there to get an A, I'll do it.

[HLGStrider]

I got the book free. Aren't I evilly lucky?

My dad's friend's mom's husband (who isn't my dad's friend's dad because he is my dad's friend's mom's third husband and they just call him Mike) sent it to me because he takes an odd interest in sending me odd books from time to time because he likes that I have read Bastiat. Long story.

I adored it. I think it was the dry, British humor which made me not mind that the lady is a stickler when I am a soft hearted little thing who generally tries to ignore bad usage because when I correct people they look at me funny.

[IronParrot]

I plan to get my hands on a copy. I've read some interesting commentary (http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001034.html).

[HLGStrider]

Let's all admit our puncuations weaknesses.

Mine is .. . . . . . .

I love to. . . Every sentence gets a . . .

[Snowdog]

I don't put them before an 'and' unless I really want a pause there. Exactly. love the world of grammer and syntax.

So, whats the rule of using apostrophes? I thought a singular was 's and a plural was s'.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

I haven't read this, but i must; it sounds hilarious!

In tutorial at college today, we had to (for 'wider key skills') correct an essay, for such things, and one of the common errors in it was have'nt, which is something i get slightly, or very rather, annoyed at!! :p

oh, by the way khamul, its a very nice day to read book's by the seasides' edge's :D :D

[Khamûl]

oh, by the way khamul, its a very nice day to read book's by the seasides' edge's :D :D
...must resist using mod powers for... evil...

:p