Making a Point

August 31, 2015
Crystal (Spell It Out) will delight anyone interested in written language with this exploration and explication of English’s deceptively complex system of punctuation. Rather than trying to convey how each punctuation mark should be used—a surprisingly difficult task—Crystal offers a charming journey through the evolution of punctuation, from the role of spacing as the earliest form of punctuation to the influence of the Internet. He tackles the age-old question of whether punctuation exists to help readers or speakers and explores the roles that typesetters, publishers, editors, and proofreaders have played in shaping punctuation and, in some cases, authorial voice and intent. Crystal, a professor of linguistics, brings scholarly acumen and gravity, as well as delight and good humor, to his subject. He illuminates punctuation’s transformation over time, as needs and preferences changed, and finds that the Internet is a particularly intriguing source of inventiveness. Crystal’s ultimate message isn’t about rigidly enforcing the rules of punctuation; instead, he highlights the importance of understanding punctuation as a system and the pleasure of using it to its fullest potential. Illus.

October 1, 2015

In this highly detailed account of the rise of English punctuation, Crystal (How Language Works; Shakespeare's Words) examines the historical origins of punctuation and the evolution of writing from the ancients to the Internet. Beginning with the absence of punctuation in early Latin and Anglo-Saxon writing and covering the oratory tradition, with its reliance on context rather than punctuation, Crystal illustrates how meaning was derived in the absence of punctuation. Before grammar became standard, explains Crystal, punctuation was a matter of personal choice, at the mercy of the writers' preferences and readers' interpretation. The author discusses over-punctuation and arbitrary usage that led to the eventual publication of contradictory grammars during the 18th century and the subsequent battle between authors and printers on acceptable usage. VERDICT With chapters on each mark, the book is comprehensive. Extensive review of each punctuation mark may prove overwhelming to the average reader. However, serious students of English and linguistics will be delighted.--Gricel Dominguez, Florida International Univ. Lib.

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