Reviews for Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

The average rating for Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-06-16 00:00:00 Susan Hollingsworth Bad punctuation can force an innocent animal to live outside the law. Now, instead of peacefully munching, it EATS, SHOOTS, and LEAVES. I proudly consider myself a punctuation martyr. The setting is an ordinary Soviet elementary school, first grade. I am kicked out of the classroom and sent home with an angry note. My transgression - in my wide-eyed seven-year-old innocence I dared to correct my (very Soviet) teacher on her comma placement and a spelling mistake. This crime landed me on her "black list" for the rest of the year. (*) This was the beginning of my grammar vigilante stickler life. * Do you think I can sue her for my therapy bills? Sometimes I discuss punctuation when I talk to my mother on the phone. (**) In my defense, she is a language teacher. Ah, never mind, I don't have a valid defense. ** (Yes, I know I should get a life. But I am ok with being pathetic.) And then I found this book. And realized that I am not alone. And had a very enjoyable few hours reading the creation of a fellow grammar stickler. And then developed a strong desire to join a militant wing of the Apostrophe Protection Society. (***) "Why did the Apostrophe Protection Society not have a militant wing? Could I start one? Where do you get balaclavas?" *** Should I be seeking therapy for this? The bills will, of course, go to the aforementioned teacher. This book is a must-read for all the grammar and punctuation sticklers out there. It is a witty and entertaining read perfect for those like me who start hyperventilating and breaking out in hives at the misuse of commas, apostrophes, and semi-colons. If you ever felt a surge of rage at those who do not understand the difference between contractions, possessives, and plurals, then this book will be like a breath of fresh air for you. 5 perfectly punctuated stars. ****** Punctuation can save lives. That's right, kids. Take this to heart.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-02-14 00:00:00 Miguel Delgadillo I have, for some reason, frequently been recommended Lynne Truss's book, though the reason escapes me; friends who have been exposed to my academic writing style are particularly prone to do so, and I have grown used to this strange phenomenon. I'm sure it says more about them - poor, unenlightened souls - than it does about me; for some reason, in particular, very few people understand what a wonderful punctuation mark the semi-colon is, and that it can, and very often should, be used to replace the period. Though there is also, of course, much to recommend the humble comma: the average sentence (not that I wish to imply that a sentence should content itself with merely being average) could be much improved by the addition of one or two, possibly more, of these handy little beasts. No, I simply can't understand it; I suppose that a careful reading of Eats, Shoots and Leaves could, if I really tried, help me make my sentences a little longer, and assist me in festooning them with additional, glorious, punctuation. But why gild the lily? ____________________________________________ (based on a conversation earlier this morning with Jordan; apologies to Bob Dylan) Hey, Mr Semi-Colon Man: play a song for me! I'm not sleepy; and there ain't no place I'm going to; Hey, Mr Semi-Colon Man: play a song for me! In the jingle, jangle morning, I'll come, followin' you. Though I know that evenin's empire has returned into sand; Vanished from my hand; Left me blindly here, to stand, but still not sleeping; My weariness amazes me; I'm branded on my feet; I have no one to meet; And the ancient, empty street's too dead for dreaming. Hey, Mr Semi-Colon Man: play a song for me! I'm not sleepy; and there ain't no place I'm going to; Hey, Mr Semi-Colon Man: play a song for me! In the jingle, jangle morning, I'll come, followin' you. ____________________________________________ Seen yesterday in the window of a Geneva art gallery, this 1927 painting by Jean Arp entitled Point-Virgule ("semi-colon"): I wanted to buy it on the spot. Unfortunately, a) the gallery was closed, b) a little internet research revealed that it last went for around 900,000 euros. Damn. But still, if you feel like giving me a really expensive surprise present you'll now know what to do. ____________________________________________ From Pico Iyer's essay In Praise of the Humble Comma:A comma... catches the gentle drift of the mind in thought, turning in on itself and back on itself, reversing, redoubling, and returning along the course of its own sweet river music; while the semicolon brings clauses and thoughts together with all the silent discretion of a hostess arranging guests around her dinner table.____________________________________________ Spotted earlier this morning by notgettingenough in an article about Waterstones (formerly Waterstone's). I would have contributed. ____________________________________________ From today's Independent: ____________________________________________ From following day's Independent: