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Making a Point

The Pernickety Story of English Punctuation
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Making a Point by David Crystal delves into the fascinating world of punctuation, exploring its history, evolution, and usage in the English language. Offering a blend of linguistic insights and witty anecdotes, the book examines how punctuation marks have shaped communication over time. Crystal draws from a wide array of examples to illustrate the significance and impact of punctuation in both written and spoken forms.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy exploring the quirks and history of the English language. Written by a renowned linguist, it's an engaging dive into the evolution and usage of punctuation, offering insightful perspectives that are both entertaining and informative.

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The triumphant third volume in David Crystal's classic series on the English language combines the first history of English punctuation with a complete guide to how to use it - now in paperback.

The triumphant third volume in David Crystal's classic series on the English language combines the first history of English punctuation with a complete guide to how to use it - now in paperback

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This engaging history of punctuation (Wall Street Journal) is not only the first history of its kind, but a complete guide on how to use English punctuation.

Behind every punctuation mark lies a thousand stories. The punctuation of English, marked with occasional rationality, is founded on arbitrariness and littered with oddities. For a system of a few dozen marks, it generates a disproportionate degree of uncertainty and passion, inspiring organisations like the Apostrophe Protection Society and sending enthusiasts, correction-pens in hand, on a crusade against error.

Professor Crystal leads us through this minefield with characteristic wit, clarity, and commonsense. He provides a fascinating account of the origin and progress of every kind of punctuation mark over one and a half millennia, and he offers sound advice on how punctuation may be used to meet the needs of every occasion and context.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

David Crystal offers an engaging and insightful exploration of English grammar and punctuation. The work is praised for its ability to both amuse and instruct readers, blending historical insights with modern relevance. Reviewers commend its scholarly yet accessible approach, highlighting its utility as both an educational resource and a reference manual.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781781253519

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 September 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 280g

Pages: 400

About the Author

David Crystal is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Bangor. His many books range from clinical linguistics to the liturgy and Shakespeare. He is the author of The Story of English in 100 Words and Spell It Out: The Singular History of English Spelling, both published by Profile. His Stories of English is a Penguin Classic.

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