Why does this sentence start with a capital letter? Why is this one broken up - and why does it end in a question mark? Does anyone really know what a semicolon is for; why are italics italicised, and why do these words have spaces between them?
Punctuation is what turns written words into meaningful language. It inflects our words with nuance: it is the difference between a nice surprise! And a nasty ending... Punctuation allows us to make jokes, ask questions, build suspense and banish bewilderment. Its rules free us to express ourselves in writing, and it is constantly evolving and expanding.
The story of punctuation stretches from the ancient past to the future, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the emoji, the birth of the printing press to the death of the Oxford Comma. The definitive biography of punctuation, On the Mark reveals its storied past, constant evolution, and how it has transformed how we connect, communicate and experiment through language.
A deeply researched treasure trove, On the Mark is a journey through time and place for language lovers everywhere.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
PRAISE FOR 'AN ADMIRABLE POINT' * - * An enjoyably mischievous book * TLS * A short book, but it carries a punch' * Spectator *
Auflage
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Produkt-Hinweis
Maße
Höhe: 234 mm
Breite: 153 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-80081-956-6 (9781800819566)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Dr Florence Hazrat is a researcher and writer, and a world expert on the history and culture of punctuation. A BBC New Generation Thinker, Dr Hazrat has appeared on Radio 4's Word of Mouth and is the host of a podcast on punctuation, Standing on Points. Her first book, An Admirable Point, a cultural history of the exclamation mark, was published by Profile in 2022.
