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Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
by
In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, former editor Lynne Truss, gravely concerned about our current grammatical state, boldly defends proper punctuation. She proclaims, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and very English way, that it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are. Using examples from literature, history, neigh
...more
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Paperback, 209 pages
Published
April 2006
by The Penguin Group
(first published January 2nd 2003)
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Just like a grammar textbook there are discrete chapters.
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Showing 31-60
Start your review of Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Aug 26, 2007
Emma
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
anyone with an interesting in writing (better)
When was the last time you read a book where you could literally say, "This book has changed my life." Eat, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss is one such book.
At first I thought a zero tolerance approach to punctuation sounded a bit extreme. That is until Truss mentioned one of my favorite movies ("Two Weeks Notice"), pointing out that the title should be "Two Weeks' Notice". I was shocked. I had always assumed an apostrophe was there. Then I started listening to The Plain White T's, a band whose ...more
At first I thought a zero tolerance approach to punctuation sounded a bit extreme. That is until Truss mentioned one of my favorite movies ("Two Weeks Notice"), pointing out that the title should be "Two Weeks' Notice". I was shocked. I had always assumed an apostrophe was there. Then I started listening to The Plain White T's, a band whose ...more
I read this book a very long time ago and about the only thing I remember about it is a cartoon of nine live Roman soldiers and one dead one lying on the ground beside them. And one of the soldiers turning to the other one and saying, “This decimation thing isn’t nearly as bad as they make it out to be, is it?” And I remember seeing that cartoon and laughing at it. And of course, the cartoon isn’t actually in the book; it is just described in the book.
– and I thought a picture told a thousand w ...more
– and I thought a picture told a thousand w ...more
a snootily superior screed on the importance of proper punctuation misspells the word 'pedants' in the blurb.
let the headdeskery begin. ...more
let the headdeskery begin. ...more
Totally recommended for writers. Even if all you do is write emails, that means you.
For writers who have taken on larger projects, i.e. books, this lesson in punctuation carries a sting. Lynne Truss says:
“As I mentioned in this book’s introduction, by tragic historical coincidence a period of abysmal undereducating in literacy has coincided with this unexpected explosion of global self-publishing. Thus people who don’t know their apostrophe from their elbow are positively invited to disseminate ...more
For writers who have taken on larger projects, i.e. books, this lesson in punctuation carries a sting. Lynne Truss says:
“As I mentioned in this book’s introduction, by tragic historical coincidence a period of abysmal undereducating in literacy has coincided with this unexpected explosion of global self-publishing. Thus people who don’t know their apostrophe from their elbow are positively invited to disseminate ...more
I'm the kind of person who can't buy a T-shirt if there's a spelling or punctuation mistake on it, no matter how much I like the design or the message. I'm also someone who is not able to read the way many people do, autocorrecting typos in the process. I see all of them (all right, 99,9% of them). Most of the time it is a curse but becomes very useful when I get paid for spotting these mistakes. With all of this, I used to feel kind of lonely, but then came this book. It is hilarious, elaborate
...more
I bought this book on the strength of Michael Gardner's review, and I'm glad I did. I'm sure it must seem hard to believe that a book about punctuation can be entertaining, but this book really is a delight. In fact, it is so droll I chuckled on almost every page. Yes, learning about punctuation can be fun!
Obviously, this book is aimed at writers and readers who take what we do seriously. Let's be honest: there's a genuine fussiness about good writing and good reading. I agree with the author th ...more
Obviously, this book is aimed at writers and readers who take what we do seriously. Let's be honest: there's a genuine fussiness about good writing and good reading. I agree with the author th ...more
This book was a big deal a while ago, and I was like, "I am not reading a guide to punctuation written by a Brit." Because punctuation works differently over there. But for some reason I have a copy of it, so I read it to get it off my bookshelf, and now that I've read it I'm going to get it out of my house because it's terrible.
Truss consistently confuses education for intelligence, all but saying the people who get this stuff wrong are stupid, and her tone is so patronizing and self-satisfied ...more
Truss consistently confuses education for intelligence, all but saying the people who get this stuff wrong are stupid, and her tone is so patronizing and self-satisfied ...more
I have very high standards when it comes to grammar and punctuation. I’m no pedant or stickler, and would never angrily accost someone for errant use of an apostrophe, but I do like things to be done properly. I recognise, however, I am no superwoman, so bought this book in the hopes of learning something.
There was some really interesting information on the origin of punctuation, on uses which have now fallen out of fashion, and on the poor members of the punctuation family who have now become e ...more
There was some really interesting information on the origin of punctuation, on uses which have now fallen out of fashion, and on the poor members of the punctuation family who have now become e ...more
I read Eats, Shoots & Leaves today almost unintentionally. Part of me has always wondered if I use commas properly, not in the sense of making grievous meaning-altering errors, but whether I use them to their full potential for creating deliberate flow and intonation. Despite writing daily, in some form or another, I had never truly acted on this thought. I think this is easily explained. Punctuation holds a reputation as a necessary evil in our society. And the only thing more tedious than punc
...more
I have no idea why this book enjoyed the success that it did. It, bored, the pants, off, me frankly.
Feb 12, 2008
Danger Kallisti
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
Those who are really good at English and frustrated, and those who suck terribly and need pointers.
Recommended to Danger by:
Mike
Shelves:
reference-or-non-fiction,
language
Amusing. Pretentious. British. It shook my confidence, until I realized that I knew all of this from the get-go, and have intentionally been ignoring it for the sake of art. I write like I think, and I think in text. Defying convention has always been my strong point, after all.
Even then, I think I do a better job at writing in English as it is meant to be written than most people, and I can’t deny that it was gratifying to read a book by someone even more hung up on the finer points of languag ...more
Even then, I think I do a better job at writing in English as it is meant to be written than most people, and I can’t deny that it was gratifying to read a book by someone even more hung up on the finer points of languag ...more
reading this book made me question every comma apostrophe period colon and question mark I use while I thought I had a good grasp of punctuation Im now a nervous wreck so suffice it to say I'll go with three stars neutrality and no punctuation
...more
If you lament the illiteracy of the world, you can commisserate with this book. Here you will find sympathy for the pain of abused punctuation.
For any true stickler, you see, the sight of the plural word “Book’s” with an apostrophe in it will trigger a ghastly private emotional process similar to the stages of bereavement, though greatly accelerated. First there is shock. Within seconds, shock gives way to disbelief, disbelief to pain, and pain to anger. Finally (and this is where the analogy br ...more
For any true stickler, you see, the sight of the plural word “Book’s” with an apostrophe in it will trigger a ghastly private emotional process similar to the stages of bereavement, though greatly accelerated. First there is shock. Within seconds, shock gives way to disbelief, disbelief to pain, and pain to anger. Finally (and this is where the analogy br ...more
Eats, Shoots & Leaves is strictly about grammar usage, not quality of writing (which was in fairness, expected). I did not learn as much from it as I took from On Writing Well, for example. This book was on my To-Read list for a long time. I acquired a copy through a sale last year, thinking it would worst case, be good as a refresher since my work involves a large amount of writing, and best case, teach me something new.
It was somewhat informative, sort of entertaining given the topic is punc ...more
It was somewhat informative, sort of entertaining given the topic is punc ...more
It's a while since I've read this, admittedly, but I do remember finding it infuriating. Quite apart from anything else, I remember going through it with a pencil and finding it riddled with errors! Apparently I wasn't alone, because Louis Menand of The New Yorker was equally scathing and pointed out several mistakes. There were occasional moments of amusement, but on the whole I felt that if you're going to write a book deploring the state of grammar in this country the very least you can do is
...more
Feb 12, 2015
Sushan
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own-it,
non-fiction
i Learn,t alot ... about! punctu-ation???"
...more
This is a humourous take on usage and grammar. I found it interesting.
(And I loaned it to someone and never got it back! -- I do know they liked it too....)
(And I loaned it to someone and never got it back! -- I do know they liked it too....)
"The Punctuation Murderer has struck again."
Writing a review for this book makes me nervous. I can imagine Lynne Truss sitting with a bold Red Marker and clicking her tongue as she read this. Putting a cross here; making a circle there.
If I were to speak in terms of Pop Culture, this book will remind you of Amy Santiago from Brooklyn 9-9; and Sheldon Cooper from TBBT. If you were a part of the editorial board of the school magazine, or chose Creative Writing as an extra Curricular Activity over ...more
Writing a review for this book makes me nervous. I can imagine Lynne Truss sitting with a bold Red Marker and clicking her tongue as she read this. Putting a cross here; making a circle there.
If I were to speak in terms of Pop Culture, this book will remind you of Amy Santiago from Brooklyn 9-9; and Sheldon Cooper from TBBT. If you were a part of the editorial board of the school magazine, or chose Creative Writing as an extra Curricular Activity over ...more
May 26, 2007
J.G. Keely
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Bloggers, Fanfic Writers, IMers, Emailers
Lynn Truss is a woman of wit and sophistication, but unfortunately, as is common to the aesthete, elite, and oligarch, is sometimes hoist by her own petard.
Her explanation of the use of parts of speech was easy to understand, and ran the gamut from basic idea to more complex debates; and to her credit, Mme. Truss tended to stay out of the more heated ones. She also keeps the reader pleasantly amused with both the character of her writing and the literary bent of her many examples.
However, her an ...more
Her explanation of the use of parts of speech was easy to understand, and ran the gamut from basic idea to more complex debates; and to her credit, Mme. Truss tended to stay out of the more heated ones. She also keeps the reader pleasantly amused with both the character of her writing and the literary bent of her many examples.
However, her an ...more
What's not to like? I totally enjoyed her light-hearted (but deadly serious) approach to Grammar Policing. After years of quoting my oft-used examples of what it can mean if you move or omit a comma, it's nice to have a place I can look them up and find even more.
I love finding signs like Ladie's Room, Avocadoe's, and "highly sort after property".
My own pet peeve is the growing number of proud homeowners' signs with weird apostrophes, such as The Brown's, or worse, The Jone's.
When I proof thi ...more
I love finding signs like Ladie's Room, Avocadoe's, and "highly sort after property".
My own pet peeve is the growing number of proud homeowners' signs with weird apostrophes, such as The Brown's, or worse, The Jone's.
When I proof thi ...more
This book made me angry. It is prescriptivist, which is fine, I guess. I mean - you've got to expect that from a grammar written for popular consumption. But what the author clearly thinks is charming snark just comes across as snideness, and it's impossible to tolerate from someone who clearly has no understanding of linguistics. I don't mind stupidity, but I HATE stupidity mixed with a superiority complex.
...more
I have had this little book for many years now and although I don't profess to be an expert in it's teachings, I do still get it out from time to time for a little brush up.
It is surprisingly funny with its many references to grammatical errors. Most certainly recommended for anyone interested in brushing up on their grammar...or just for fun...because it is a lot of fun! ;)
...more
A pretty good book for starters...
Nov 17, 2010
Aldrin
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Aldrin by:
Fully Booked
Originally posted here.
Stop me if you've heard this one before:
Stop me if you've heard this one before:
A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air....more
“Why?” asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
“I'm a panda,” he says at the door. “Look it up.”
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
“Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation is entertaining, humorous and a quick read.
As someone who grew up speaking German, it was an excellent refresher. It's accessible and easy to understand.
Highly recommended. ...more
As someone who grew up speaking German, it was an excellent refresher. It's accessible and easy to understand.
Highly recommended. ...more
Aug 14, 2008
C.
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
people unclear on the use of basic punctuation
Recommended to C. by:
Mrs Connolly
EVERYONE! I HAVE A QUESTION:
When you read to yourself, that is, not aloud, do you hear the words in your head? Does the punctuation affect how you hear them? Does it change, as it were, your mental intonation, the cadences of your inner voice? Does it tell you when to pause, when not to pause, how long to pause, and when to stop completely?
It does mine. And hence why I have never understood why people have trouble with of punctuation (Actually, this isn't quite true: I can understand to a large ...more
When you read to yourself, that is, not aloud, do you hear the words in your head? Does the punctuation affect how you hear them? Does it change, as it were, your mental intonation, the cadences of your inner voice? Does it tell you when to pause, when not to pause, how long to pause, and when to stop completely?
It does mine. And hence why I have never understood why people have trouble with of punctuation (Actually, this isn't quite true: I can understand to a large ...more
I had read about this book on the Internet; it was hailed as wildly funny and cleverly written. When I decided to look into it, I was surprised to find it was shelved with the nonfiction books. I figured such a humorous book would naturally have to be fiction. It was like when I found out The DaVinci Code actually was fiction. With all the talk on those early-morning shows about it and with people taking it so seriously, I honestly thought it was some guy’s research, not a novel.
It was pretty da ...more
It was pretty da ...more
Except for Strunk and White’s guide, this is probably the most famous modern grammar book ever written, and it’s funny to boot. The author knows how disliked grammar sticklers are, so she starts off making jokes at her own expense. From there, she gives amusing examples of how punctuation changes the meanings of sentences, which is where the title comes from. By then, you’ll be sold on her overall message: correct grammar is important. The concluding chapter reveals what probably prompted her to
...more
Grammar is very important. I genuinely believe that. As someone who adores the aesthetics of the written word -- choosing between a dash or parentheses makes every difference. I get irritated about incorrectly-punctuated academic work --- but oh god, creatively speaking, sometimes commas in the place of semi-colons or periods can be goddamn beautiful --------- and if you start a sentence with "And", I am liable to be putty in your pages.
This book is a light-hearted and informative take on gramma ...more
This book is a light-hearted and informative take on gramma ...more
A professor of mine in my first semester of graduate school in the U.S. cut off a few points from my term paper because in a few instances I had put a space between a comma and the last letter of the previous word, ignoring my pleas that English wasn’t my first language and that in Persian we actually put a spaces between the comma and the previous word. I had worked a lot on that paper to get all the math and simulation right. Not getting a perfect mark made me mad. It also made me check out a
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play Book Tag: Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss - 4 stars | 3 | 18 | Mar 06, 2020 09:41AM | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Alternate Cover | 5 | 14 | Feb 03, 2019 04:16PM | |
| Play Book Tag: Eats, Shoots & Leaves / Lynn Truss - 4**** | 11 | 25 | Jan 05, 2019 11:32PM | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Calendar | 3 | 25 | Jun 21, 2017 07:03AM | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Please combine | 4 | 13 | Jun 16, 2017 06:47AM | |
| Play Book Tag: Eats, Shoots & Leaves - Lynn Truss - 3 stars | 8 | 18 | May 01, 2016 02:37PM | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: #3 Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss | 1 | 4 | Jan 13, 2015 08:59PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Lynne Truss is a writer and journalist who started out as a literary editor with a blue pencil and then got sidetracked. The author of three novels and numerous radio comedy dramas, she spent six years as the television critic of The Times of London, followed by four (rather peculiar) years as a sports columnist for the same newspaper. She won Columnist of the Year for her work for Women's Journal
...more
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23 trivia questions
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More quizzes & trivia...
2 quizzes
“A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife annual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”
—
128 likes
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife annual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”
“Thurber was asked by a correspondent: "Why did you have a comma in the sentence, 'After dinner, the men went into the living-room'?" And his answer was probably one of the loveliest things ever said about punctuation. "This particular comma," Thurber explained, "was Ross's way of giving the men time to push back their chairs and stand up.”
—
98 likes
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