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Semicolon
How a Misunderstood Punctuation Mark Can Improve Your Writing, Enrich Your Reading and Even Change Your Life
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,343 ratings, 512 reviews)
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Semicolon
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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?
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‘Fascinating… I loved this book; I really did’ David Crystal, Spectator
A biography of a much misunderstood punctuation mark and a call to arms in favour of clear expression and against stifling grammar rules.
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
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Description
‘Fascinating… I loved this book; I really did’ David Crystal, Spectator
A biography of a much misunderstood punctuation mark and a call to arms in favour of clear expression and against stifling grammar rules.
Cecelia Watson used to be obsessive about grammar rules. But then she began teaching. And that was when she realised that strict rules aren’t always the best way of teaching people how to make words say what they want them to; that they are even, sometimes, best ignored.
One punctuation mark encapsulates this thorny issue more clearly than any other. The semicolon. Hated by Stephen King, Hemingway, Vonnegut and Orwell, and loved by Herman Melville, Henry James and Rebecca Solnit, it is the most divisive punctuation mark in the English language, and many are too scared to go near it. But why? When is it effective? Have we been misusing it? Should we even care?
In this warm, funny, enlightening and thoroughly original book, Cecelia Watson takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the surprising history of the semicolon and explores the remarkable power it can wield, if only we would stop being afraid of it.
Forget the rules; you’re in charge. It’s time to make language do what you want it to.
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?
Semicolon by Cecelia Watson is praised for turning a seemingly niche topic into a lively discussion on language and punctuation. Reviewers commend Watson's ability to delve into the history and use of the semicolon, advocating for a more flexible understanding of grammar rules. Her work is described as both witty and informative, drawing readers into a deeper appreciation for the nuances of written English, making it a thought-provoking read for punctuation enthusiasts and language lovers alike.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780008291563
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 09 July 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Fourth Estate Ltd
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 18.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 210g
Pages: 224
Collections
About the Author
Cecelia Watson is a historian and philosopher of science, and a teacher of writing and the humanities. She is currently on Bard College's Faculty in Language and Thinking. Previously she was an American Council of Learned Societies New Faculty Fellow at Yale University, where she was also a fellow of the Whitney Center for the Humanities and was jointly appointed in the humanities and philosophy departments.
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