! Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation BOOK RING
12 journalers for this copy...
A book given to me by the ever-generous Netstation, with the request to pass it around. I'm loving it so far - my inner stickler feels understood and rejoices! I do use emoticons though, and am a fan of the ellipsis, so I haven't swallowed her philosophy hook, line and sinker [...]
This is turning into a bookring:
Foxy737 [UK]
Kangaroo [UK]
sweetpeeps [UK]
Linguistkris [Germany]
-aoirghe- [Germany]
Anemonefish [Germany]
Hank-chinaski [Germany]
Sintra [Germany]
Juvi [Germany] [reading]
Olliebear [UK] and KittyNic [UK] [next to each other 'cause they're both in Hull]
Tutmut [UK]
Angi612 [UK]
Mytilus [UK]
Ziggythecat [UK]
Beebarf [UK]
AKG [UK]
Kensey-River [UK]
Tiggsybabes [UK]
Daemonwolf [UK] [claimed Golden Spike, will stay last]
...
yourself?
and back to me, Semioticghost.
This is turning into a bookring:
Foxy737 [UK]
Kangaroo [UK]
sweetpeeps [UK]
Linguistkris [Germany]
-aoirghe- [Germany]
Anemonefish [Germany]
Hank-chinaski [Germany]
Sintra [Germany]
Juvi [Germany] [reading]
Olliebear [UK] and KittyNic [UK] [next to each other 'cause they're both in Hull]
Tutmut [UK]
Angi612 [UK]
Mytilus [UK]
Ziggythecat [UK]
Beebarf [UK]
AKG [UK]
Kensey-River [UK]
Tiggsybabes [UK]
Daemonwolf [UK] [claimed Golden Spike, will stay last]
...
yourself?
and back to me, Semioticghost.
received in post, will journal once read.
Could not get into this book gave up about half way through and that was after several attempts. Guess i'm not that fussy about punctuation after all. Had to try book after all the good reviews i had read tho' just not my cup of tea. passed onto next on list.
Wheeee! I've been looking forward to reading this for ages! Had to restrain myself from buying it a couple of times, and now it looks so inviting....
I think I ought to finish 'A History of Reading' first though, otherwise it could all get too much for me. There's only so much reading-related material one girl can get through at a time!
I think I ought to finish 'A History of Reading' first though, otherwise it could all get too much for me. There's only so much reading-related material one girl can get through at a time!
Bah.
I really thought this was the book for me, I'd read extracts and thought they were funny, and I was so looking forward to reading this. It was ok for the first chapter or so, but then the author started to annoy me.
Made the mistake of leaving it lying around downstairs and my dad picked it up and started picking it to pieces. Once he'd done that, I started to see that it's not as good as I thought. (That said, he did start teasing me for being so bothered about the shop in Barnet which sells antique's... grr...)
Sorry to say, I've found it difficult to pick up the enthusiasm to finish this off, but I will endeavour to read the last few chapters and send it on this afternoon or tomorrow.
(Alberto Manguel's A History of Reading, by the way, is absolutely amazing in contrast! Highly recommended.)
I really thought this was the book for me, I'd read extracts and thought they were funny, and I was so looking forward to reading this. It was ok for the first chapter or so, but then the author started to annoy me.
Made the mistake of leaving it lying around downstairs and my dad picked it up and started picking it to pieces. Once he'd done that, I started to see that it's not as good as I thought. (That said, he did start teasing me for being so bothered about the shop in Barnet which sells antique's... grr...)
Sorry to say, I've found it difficult to pick up the enthusiasm to finish this off, but I will endeavour to read the last few chapters and send it on this afternoon or tomorrow.
(Alberto Manguel's A History of Reading, by the way, is absolutely amazing in contrast! Highly recommended.)
This book arrived safely in the post this morning from kangaroo. Thanks to Semioticghost for arranging the ring!
Well, I have to agree with foxy 737 and kangaroo. I have read all the reviews for this book and felt sure that I would enjoy it. However, my inner stickler did not understand and I started to become rather irritated with Lynne Truss.
By the time I reached page 15 where the author states that "while other girls were out with boyfriends on Sunday afternoons, getting their necks disfigured by love bites, I was at home with the wireless listening to an Ian Messiter quiz called 'Many a Slip', in which erudite and amusing contestants spotted grammatical errors in pieces of prose" I had just about lost my rag! I know where I was, and it wasn't at home!!!
Having said that, I do care about punctuation, and sometimes get mildly irritated by signs for CD's etc., but HEY - GET A LIFE!
To me, the examples became very repetitive and boring. I only need points explaining once and I understand, and clearly, the people who make grammatical errors will not be reading this book. I found Lynne Truss's style of writing to be rather patronising.
Once again, thanks to Semioticghost for the Bookring and sorry that everyone on the ring didn't enjoy the book.
Thanks
By the time I reached page 15 where the author states that "while other girls were out with boyfriends on Sunday afternoons, getting their necks disfigured by love bites, I was at home with the wireless listening to an Ian Messiter quiz called 'Many a Slip', in which erudite and amusing contestants spotted grammatical errors in pieces of prose" I had just about lost my rag! I know where I was, and it wasn't at home!!!
Having said that, I do care about punctuation, and sometimes get mildly irritated by signs for CD's etc., but HEY - GET A LIFE!
To me, the examples became very repetitive and boring. I only need points explaining once and I understand, and clearly, the people who make grammatical errors will not be reading this book. I found Lynne Truss's style of writing to be rather patronising.
Once again, thanks to Semioticghost for the Bookring and sorry that everyone on the ring didn't enjoy the book.
Thanks
Journal Entry 8 by sweetpeeps at -- Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, September 20, 2004
Released 19 yrs ago (9/20/2004 UTC) at -- Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Semioticghost asked me to hang onto this book for a while in case anyone else joined the Bookring. However, time has tramped on now and I must send ESL back to her. Thanks for the loan.
Semioticghost asked me to hang onto this book for a while in case anyone else joined the Bookring. However, time has tramped on now and I must send ESL back to her. Thanks for the loan.
Journal Entry 9 by linguistkris from Remscheid, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Friday, October 1, 2004
The book has now safely arrived in Germany to start the Continental leg of its tour. I'm very much looking forward to it (and I had no idea the cover art was so cute :) ).
Journal Entry 10 by linguistkris from Remscheid, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Sunday, October 3, 2004
Will go next to:
-aoirghe-
Anemonefish
hank-chinaski
sintra
juvi
-aoirghe-
Anemonefish
hank-chinaski
sintra
juvi
Journal Entry 11 by linguistkris from Remscheid, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, October 7, 2004
I positively LOVE this book! I'm only 3/4 finished, but wish the book were much longer. I dread the idea that I'll probably turn over the last page sometime later tonight and will then have to resort to a book that tells no stories about sheepdog-commas and madly attention-seeking exclamation marks...
Although the "Zero Tolerance Approach" probably is a bit too uncompromising for me (I do have quite a few descriptive linguistics ideals, but then I also think that orthography and punctuation certainly *are not* language proper, and that they can do with a lot more prescriptivism than grammar and pronunciation), I have to sheepishly admit that I was concerned with punctuation and so forth a couple of years before I ever learned how much fun lovebites could be. These days, I find that being a punctuation stickler (even one with a semicolon addiction) goes quite well with having a life, and I am proud to say that I never scared off my childhood pen-pals with highbrow punctuation marks. :)
The only thing that I think I disagreed with thus far: I do think "St. James' Hospital" a great deal nicer than "St. James's" -- mind you though that this might be an interference from my German, where it's certainly preferable to say "Hans' Haus" instead of mercilessly outdated "Hansens Haus" or mere tonguetwistingly inelegant "Hanses Haus".
Although the "Zero Tolerance Approach" probably is a bit too uncompromising for me (I do have quite a few descriptive linguistics ideals, but then I also think that orthography and punctuation certainly *are not* language proper, and that they can do with a lot more prescriptivism than grammar and pronunciation), I have to sheepishly admit that I was concerned with punctuation and so forth a couple of years before I ever learned how much fun lovebites could be. These days, I find that being a punctuation stickler (even one with a semicolon addiction) goes quite well with having a life, and I am proud to say that I never scared off my childhood pen-pals with highbrow punctuation marks. :)
The only thing that I think I disagreed with thus far: I do think "St. James' Hospital" a great deal nicer than "St. James's" -- mind you though that this might be an interference from my German, where it's certainly preferable to say "Hans' Haus" instead of mercilessly outdated "Hansens Haus" or mere tonguetwistingly inelegant "Hanses Haus".
Journal Entry 12 by linguistkris from Remscheid, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Saturday, October 9, 2004
Update, now that I've finished: Still a great book. But it is true, Truss manages to be just a hint too obsessed with a thing or two, and towards the end, she did eventually manage to get on even my nerves. I like the internet and the fact that everybody is free to contribute (though I have been known to give bad marks to reviews on amazon for atrocious spelling, rather than unhelpful product information, and I don't buy from ebay traders who can't spell), and yes, I frequently use emoticons, even in hand-writing. I like being able to give people smiles. :) I do.
Still: read this book! Help enlighten people about punctuation and good writing, and respect your inner stickler without taking him too seriously. There, that's what I think. :)
Still: read this book! Help enlighten people about punctuation and good writing, and respect your inner stickler without taking him too seriously. There, that's what I think. :)
Journal Entry 13 by linguistkris at Postal Release in per Post, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, October 9, 2004
Released 19 yrs ago (10/11/2004 UTC) at Postal Release in per Post, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Trusty German Mail will deliver this safely to -aoirghe-, I hope.
Trusty German Mail will deliver this safely to -aoirghe-, I hope.
Received the book today and am looking forward to reading it, I've already heard so much about it!
edit Oct. 20:
I've just finished the book and I must say that I enjoyed it a lot. Yes, Truss tends to adopt a patronizing tone, but she can also be quite funny, especially in her examples.
I am just glad that there are more of us sticklers out there and I do not have to feel bad when I sit in front of the news madly muttering my corrections... (oops, just used "dot, dot, dot"; she won't be amused ;-) and now an emoticon! Terrible Netspeak-influenced me!)
(As you can see, I also disagree with some of her views heartily!)
The book will travel on as soon as I get Anemonefish's adress.
edit Oct. 20:
I've just finished the book and I must say that I enjoyed it a lot. Yes, Truss tends to adopt a patronizing tone, but she can also be quite funny, especially in her examples.
I am just glad that there are more of us sticklers out there and I do not have to feel bad when I sit in front of the news madly muttering my corrections... (oops, just used "dot, dot, dot"; she won't be amused ;-) and now an emoticon! Terrible Netspeak-influenced me!)
(As you can see, I also disagree with some of her views heartily!)
The book will travel on as soon as I get Anemonefish's adress.
Released 19 yrs ago (10/20/2004 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
The book has just been sent on via mail to Anemonefish!
The book has just been sent on via mail to Anemonefish!
The book arrived yesterday. Unfortunately, I have 4 other bookrings waiting to be read. So I apologize already if it takes a bit longer.
I did not read the whole book. Although I am getting nervous when I see things like "apple's" in the supermarket or in German "Montag's geschlossen", this book was far too long for me to really enjoy it. As soon as I get Hank-Chinaski's address, I will send it on.
I did not read the whole book. Although I am getting nervous when I see things like "apple's" in the supermarket or in German "Montag's geschlossen", this book was far too long for me to really enjoy it. As soon as I get Hank-Chinaski's address, I will send it on.
Journal Entry 17 by 
hank-chinaski
from Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Friday, November 12, 2004
hank-chinaski from Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Friday, November 12, 2004
Came with the mail today. Reads boots & journals *ggg*
Journal Entry 18 by hank-chinaski from Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, December 9, 2004
hank-chinaski from Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, December 9, 2004
Great book, and I found it much easier to understand than I expected. But I wonder why Lynn Truss keeps insisting it isn't a grammar book. Perhaps, because it's fun to read? Anyway, it's probably the best grammar book I've ever read, and certainly the most entertaining one. I found it sort of comforting to learn that the English are on no better terms with their grammar than the Germans are. But isn't it an ironical thing that everybody seems to make mistakes by adopting the rules of the others' language? Laura's Boutique written on a German shop window is just as painful to read as Lauras Boutique is on a British one. There appears to be a Murphy's Law on the apostrophe: No matter where you live, you always get it wrong.
Other things I've learned:
The difference between the English and the Americans is - the language! There's much more truth in that than I was prepared to believe.
The Strunkenwhite Virus: Never heard of that before, but what an exciting idea! (*gg*)
The interrobang: Is that really what it's called?!
Although I generally agree with the author's zero-tolerance approach, I strongly oppose to her concern about the internet emoticons having a detrimental effect on written language. Hey, why not let those cute little punctuation marks have their share of fun?:-) I love them, I'll stand up for them and I certainly won't let Lynn stop me from using them:-p
Sent on to fellow bookcrosser by snailmail today.
Other things I've learned:
The difference between the English and the Americans is - the language! There's much more truth in that than I was prepared to believe.
The Strunkenwhite Virus: Never heard of that before, but what an exciting idea! (*gg*)
The interrobang: Is that really what it's called?!
Although I generally agree with the author's zero-tolerance approach, I strongly oppose to her concern about the internet emoticons having a detrimental effect on written language. Hey, why not let those cute little punctuation marks have their share of fun?:-) I love them, I'll stand up for them and I certainly won't let Lynn stop me from using them:-p
Sent on to fellow bookcrosser by snailmail today.
Found the book in the mail today. I'll start reading it as soon as I finish the book I'm currently reading!
I really enjoyed reading this book. Yes, you may argue that Lynne Truss seems to be a little obsessed with punctuation, but she's never dogmatic. And after spending some time in an English forum where an alarming number of people mixed up their/they're (sometimes even there), your/you're, etc. on a daily basis (and there are loads of German equivalents!) I share her concern about internet language. I admit, I do use smiling emoticons in forum messages and sometimes in emails as well, but I tend to get seriously annoyed if someone types :-( after writing about a serious problem!
One funny thing I noticed is that Truss complains about the hyphen being rarely used in English nowadays. I feel that we have just the opposite development in German: I get the impression that people tend to use more (and often unnecessary) hyphens today.
I think a proper use of punctuation is very important, and I don't consider people who are concerned about it nerdy. This book gives a funny and interesting insight into the origins, rules, and conventions of punctuation without getting too academic.
The book will travel on to juvi today or tomorrow - depending on our post office.
One funny thing I noticed is that Truss complains about the hyphen being rarely used in English nowadays. I feel that we have just the opposite development in German: I get the impression that people tend to use more (and often unnecessary) hyphens today.
I think a proper use of punctuation is very important, and I don't consider people who are concerned about it nerdy. This book gives a funny and interesting insight into the origins, rules, and conventions of punctuation without getting too academic.
The book will travel on to juvi today or tomorrow - depending on our post office.
Received today, thanks.
Next players for this bookring will be:
Olliebear
KittyNic
Tutmut
Angi612
Mytilus
Ziggythecat
Beebarf
AKG
Kensey-River
Tiggsybabes
Daemonwolf
Thanks for hanging on to it for me, Juvi - please get in touch with Olliebear for her address.
Olliebear
KittyNic
Tutmut
Angi612
Mytilus
Ziggythecat
Beebarf
AKG
Kensey-River
Tiggsybabes
Daemonwolf
Thanks for hanging on to it for me, Juvi - please get in touch with Olliebear for her address.
I found this book easy to understand and amusing, too, but it is hard for me to keep all the rules in mind. (I tend to use German grammar rules in English.) Because of that I don't dare to write much more in my entry. Perhaps the copies that I have made of some of the pages will help me in the future - more than a real grammar book. Thanks for letting me join this bookring!
Journal Entry 24 by juvi at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Sachsen Germany on Saturday, May 28, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (5/29/2005 UTC) at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Sachsen Germany
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Will finally be sent to Olliebear on Monday. Sorry for the delay!
Will finally be sent to Olliebear on Monday. Sorry for the delay!
This fantastic book arrived safe and sound with me this morning and I am already halfway through! Thanks for sharing Esther! I will no doubt have finished this in a day or two so will journal it and get it moving again shortly!
Well, I am surprised to read that this wasn't as popular with other readers as I thought it was a lovely book. I liked the humour throughout and found it very esy to read. I must be a stickler, although I wouldn't go the same lengths as Lynne Truss does to correct people's punctuation, it does annoy me. The worst thing for me is bad spelling. It really gets on my nerves.
The funny thing is, I have misspelled things throughout this journal entry and had to go back and correct them! Typical, isn't it?
This will be passed to Kittynic on Tuesday! Thanks for sharing, Esther!
The funny thing is, I have misspelled things throughout this journal entry and had to go back and correct them! Typical, isn't it?
This will be passed to Kittynic on Tuesday! Thanks for sharing, Esther!
I picked this up from Olliebear at the June Hull Book Crossing Meet. I've got about three ring books to read before this one (typically they have all arrived at once!), but I'll make my way through it as soon as I can.
Edit 29-06-05
Just want to update and let people know that this one is now in progress and I'll read through it as quickly as I can.
Edit 29-06-05
Just want to update and let people know that this one is now in progress and I'll read through it as quickly as I can.
Many apologies for the delay in forwarding this on as it got a bit lost in the huge pile of books on my desk. I quite enjoyed this and found the list of punctuation uses quite interesting. I think I'll have to buy myself a copy as it needs a second read.
I've tried to PM tutmut for an address, but Tutmut doesn't appear to exist...
I've tried to PM tutmut for an address, but Tutmut doesn't appear to exist...
