Technicalities - the online newsletter for STC RMC

October/November 2004

Volume 45, Number 2

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Letter to the Editor

We received the following email in regards to Deb Lockwood's book review in the last issue of Technicalities:

If punctuation errors have ever stopped you cold, or made you angry, then this is the book for you.

It's the rare book indeed that tackles a potentially dry subject with such a clever treatment. Even though the book is published exactly as it was in the original British edition, and there are a few differences between American and British English usage and punctuation, you will find enough (American) truth to be well satisfied with this work of humor and fact. Reading this book gives you a good refresher for using correct punctuation while allowing you to laugh out loud.

I believe Lynne Truss would punctuate these sentences without the extra commas:

If punctuation errors have ever stopped you cold or made you angry, then this is the book for you.

(Why do people put a comma between a compound subject, predicate, or object? "Stopped you cold" and "made you angry" are the compound object and should not be separated by a punctuation mark.)

The same is true of the comma between the compound subject "is published exactly..." and "there are few..." The comma after punctuation is correct. Even though the book is published exactly as it was in the original British edition, and there are a few differences between American and British English usage and punctuation.

It is a great book and should be required reading every year or so. We do agree on that!

Carol Clayton

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