Aug 04, 2004 22:27
Today, I finished reading Eats, Shoots and Leaves; a book by Lynne Truss. I know I've been talking a lot about books recently, especially in public posts, but bear with me!
This book talks about punctuation; the signs we use less and less as time goes on. I'm bad at using them - as you should have realized from reading the above lines, but I try my best. The book talked a bit about the how of using these punctuation marks, but it concentrated more on their value, the artistic feel to them, and their sorry decay.
Let's say that I did not find the book special, but it was very much worth reading. I like two main things about it: It contains information I really needed, since I do want to improve my English skills; moreover, the writing style, opinions, and feel of the writer reminds me of many of you - grammar nazis (Should I have an apostrophe in nazis? ;))!
Oh! And there is one thing I really disagree with the author about: The use of emoticons. If you're going to support some 'punctuation' mark that was new in the 17th century, why would you not accept one that has become new recently? Why are we humans so slow in accepting change?
Emoticons, while currently in fashion, are really descriptive punctuation marks. They have not developed fully to be acceptable in professional writing, but this will come. I already feel the need to add a smiley here and there in my exam sheets; it just feels right!
Hmm, now that I have abused all the signs discussed in this book (Or wait, I would still hyphenate some word and use some elipses, those were used in the book and I have to be a picky smart-ass ... done!), I would like to ask you to tell me as many mistakes as you can find.
P.S. I missed the brackets too, but you'll forgive me for that! Here are a few brackets for you ][[][]][.