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

by Lynne Truss

But best of all, I think, is the simple advice given by the style book of a national newspaper: that punctuation is “a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling”.

The reason to stand up for punctuation is that without it there is no reliable way of communicating meaning.

My own position is simple: in some matters of punctuation there are simple rights and wrongs; in others, one must apply a good ear to good sense.

But how much notice should we take of those pompous sillies who denounce the semicolon? I say, none at all. I say they are just show-offs.

But after journeying through the world of punctuation, and seeing what it can do, I am all the more convinced we should fight like tigers to preserve our punctuation, and we should start now.