Recs

[hsavinien]

Note how the above does not include apostrophe abuse. I just finished reading an excellent book; Eats, Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss. It is a most excellent, humorous, and instructive book about punctuation, including some simple rules for the proper approach to all the common marks. The apostrophe, comma, semi- and colon, dash, hyphen, question mark, exclamation, and full stop (known to us in the U.S. as the period), as well as parentheses and brackets, and a brief detour around the ellipsis are all given educational and amusing coverage. Read her book and inform yourself of the beats within the dance of language!

I must also recommend again the tv series Due South. I just re-watched one of my favorite fanvideos for it and I must share.

Comments

[erincalenear.livejournal.com]

I very strongly agree. That book is amazing.
I found a book that I would say is the same genre all about the origin of swear words. It was really quite interesting. Now if I could only remember the title of it. >.

[yuri-shoujo.livejournal.com]

I still recommend Pinckert's Practical Grammar. He's a snarky ass and fun to read. That said, oh my god ew copyediting. Hate hate hate. FUCK commas. (I'm totally at work writing all this, AHAHAHAH irony.) Might have to pick up the eatshootsleavestootiredtotype book eventually, if I ever feel the need to read another grammar book.

.... no apostrophe, even tho it's a shortened form of recommendation? Hm. Formal English is stupidly complex. It's hopeless to memorize all the rules, good reference books are godly. Yay.

Also, I wish for the death of whom with the fire of a thousand burning suns. I'm also getting my way in this since it is starting to die out. Bweehehehehehe....

[hsavinien.livejournal.com]

I'm using rec in this case as a recognized shortened form of recommendation, as it has become one (especially on the internet), just as I do not add an apostrophe to "fridge" ('fridge). Fear my pedantry! ^_^

It's not really an instruction book, more a commentary on punctuation with examples.

[yuri-shoujo.livejournal.com]

huh. Interesting. That's another problem with fixed grammar rules, "fixed" rules for an ever changing system. Write the book and it's outdated lol. But yes, your pedantry is mighty and much more impressive than mine. <3

Hmm cool. Might have to check it out then, punctuation is a pain in the ass.