There is no question that I am the intended audience for this entertaining book on the subject of punctuation. After all, I tend to use commas, semicolons and various other forms of punctuation in texts, despite the fact that I am all thumbs (not in the efficient way, but the fat-fingered way) when it comes to typing on my phone.

Lynne Truss is a witty writer with an extensive collection of examples of poor punctuation and of heated battles that have resulted from disagreements over their use. As she works her way through all the conventional forms of punctuation Truss incorporates explanations of how they developed and alternatives that fell by the wayside. I'm sure that grammar nerds everywhere would react to her stories the same as I did when I saw this sign in a take-out restaurant: "Spoon's ==>" Which is to say, with a shudder.

Her musings toward the end of the book on the potential impact of electronic communications on punctuation usage got me to thinking about a related topic that is close to me: audiobooks. You don't SEE punctuation in audiobooks, though a good narrator can communicate them. Although the form is becoming more popular with each passing year, I can't see it ever supplanting print books (whether paper or electronic). And yet, if the number of books intended directly for audio publication ever grows beyond a few memoirs, I suppose it's possible that there could be some effect.

BTW, this is clearly not a book that would work well in audio format. The fact that it took me months to finish, a few pages at a time, underscores why so much of my reading is audiobooks. ;-)

More often than not when I read an email or office memo a few punctuation and grammar errors catch my attention. Every so often I get one that reads as if the person who composed it was barely literate. My formal education with grammar and punctuation ended in grade school. High school did not place a large emphasis on it and the very few English classes I took in college assumed students knew a great many things some of my classmates clearly did not. I mostly took it upon myself to make sure I didn't sound ridiculous when emailing and now my co-workers, even my boss, requests I read over something to fix up the language. I think it's well worth it to read a few books like Eat, Shoots & Leaves regardless of what field you're in.

The book lightly touches upon how technology upgrades have made everyone a writer to one degree or another and how punctuation suffers at the routine abuses. I taught myself how to properly structure sentences. I can't say I'm doing it right all the time, but I think I have a better than average grasp on what I'm doing. Yes, some of it you just have a feel for if you read enough, but sometimes I didn't understand why I wanted to use a comma where I used one.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves is an interesting and engaging way to clarify some punctuation questions. The examples, as the title might suggest, are creative and will stick with you. There's little snippets about how punctuation has evolved, some comparisons to British and American punctuation, and a little discussion on various style guides. I've read better punctuation books, but this one did make me laugh a few times. It's written for people with a more than basic understanding, but it won't leave you in the dust if it's your first foray in awhile into the material.

This is a first book in a while I read in russian. You may notice that maybe it's not the best idea to read a book about english grammar in russian language. But worry not, I had a really good translation that was created with the help of many educated british ladies and gentlemen; moreover the original quotes were saved in translation and I had a bonus in a form of two phrases instead of one.

This book is not a grammar book but an entertaining nonfiction about the most funny misuse of punctuation. As you can see from the title, the original meaning was that panda eats shoots and leaves, but someone misplaced one comma, and the result is drastically changed. We have in russian similar phrase and even a wonderful cartoon "In the country of unlearned lessons" about it.

There's a difference between russian punctuation and english punctuation, and sometimes when I write my reviews, I find it rather hard to determine whether this comma is ok to use in english as I use it in russian. Well, this book definitely helped me to distinguish some of these rules. It is - to some extent - a depository of different references to world-known classics and how they used punctuation to create their masterpieces. It was, at least, educational information and, at most, spiced with funny examples.

But in many ways this book is for huge fans of punctuation. There were times I couldn't really understand the author and her obsessive love with punctuation, and considering the punctuation mark in the wrong place almost an unforgivable crime. Sometimes it was annoying to read all the author's hysterics about misuse of it. Maybe I am wrong and don't get it, but in this case I can freely admit: I don't get all this obsession. But I definitely agree with Lynne Truss in one thing for sure: punctuation, in the first place, must bring the correct meaning to words, and underline emotions and the mood author wants to show to his readers.

I'm undecided as to whether I'm a punctuationally-challenged heathen, or if I qualify as a stickler. I have no formal training (other than my school years) pertaining to punctuation, and if you were to ask me to define the rules pertaining to when a semicolon should be used, I'd probably guess at something close to right... maybe.

Ugh, and see: I'm an ellipses junkie! It's unacceptable, since I am not a famous author who can break the rules with impunity.

However, many of the rules of good punctuation use are common sense (at least I think so) and so I think I edge into the stickler zone. It bothers me when grammar and punctuation are mangled, but especially when it's mangled by someone being paid to get it right. Although, even more frustrating is when people defend the mangled "writing" as though it doesn't matter at all. Because it does matter. IT DOES.

There was some really interesting info in here, and I especially liked the historical info regarding invention and usage of punctuation over time. Good stuff. But otherwise, it was kind of like preaching to the choir. I already appreciate and like punctuation - so really what I got out of this was a history lesson and a future warning that if we continue on our txtbsd way, that our punctuation may go the way of the Dodo bird. Which would be sad... but maybe that day will wait until I either go blind or die. *Fingers crossed!*

What's not to like? I totally enjoyed her light-hearted (but deadly serious) approach to Grammar Policing. After years of quoting my oft-used examples of what it can mean if you move or omit a comma, it's nice to have a place I can look them up and find even more.

I love finding signs like Ladie's Room, Avocadoe's, and "highly sort after property".

My own pet peeve is the growing number of proud homeowners' signs with weird apostrophes, such as The Brown's, or worse, The Jone's.

When I proof things for family and friends, I never pretend the result will be perfect, but I do promise improvement.

Over to you, ladie's and gentlemans!

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation is a humorous book about punctuation. Who knew punctuation could be so entertaining?

As someone who writes a fair bit (half a million words on Goodreads alone), I know my way around a sentence. However, when this popped up on Amazon on the cheap, I was powerless to resist, like my dog on a piece of cat shit.

In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynn Truss takes us on a Bill Bryson-esque odyssey through a forest of commas, apostrophes, colons, semi-colons, and exclamation marks. Incidentally, did you know an exclamation mark is called a dog's cock in some circles? I did not.

Truss' writing makes things like how to properly use an apostrophe entertaining, using amusing phrasing and real life examples, offering up rules like "Don't use commas like a stupid person." It isn't all laughs, however. I normally avoid colons and semi-colons but I feel like she's given me a greater understanding of them.

There's not a whole lot more to divulge. It's no surprise this short but sweet book is a best-seller. It's very accessible and as entertaining as a book on punctuation can be. For grammarians and writers alike, Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a fun yet useful book about fairly boring subject. Four out of five stars.

If only grammar and punctuation had been taught with the degree of humor in Eats, Shoots and Leaves (all subjects could have used a healthy dose of laughs). Do most people correctly use conventional punctuation marks, or do most people just not care where that damn comma, semicolon, or apostrophe belongs?

I enjoyed learning many interesting facts about the evolution of punctuation. Who knew it was developed centuries ago so actors could recite their lines with accurate pauses and emphasis? Just as language has changed and continues to change, so has punctuation; even within a decade. Truss discusses nuances between British and American punctuation which has always fascinated me. Many interesting authors' punctuation quirks are detailed; George Bernard Shaw's idiosyncratic semicolons and the dismissal of them by George Orwell, Gertrude Stein, Donald Barthelme, and others. James Joyce, we are told, preferred the colon .Chekov's short story "The Exclamation Mark" is discussed. I will have to read it and find out more about the protagonist who has never used an exclamation mark - really!

This book was fun to read, although Ms. Truss did at times come across as snobby and condescending. There aren't many as dedicated as she in the role of punctuation vigilante. That said, if you cringe when your read signs such as: Play-Ground, Bobs' Pizza, or Apple's For Sale, this book is for you.

A delightfully entertaining guide to punctuation in the English language with humorous examples of punctuation gone awry.

This book is best, for me, when read in sections.

I have very high standards when it comes to grammar and punctuation. I’m no pedant or stickler, and would never angrily accost someone for errant use of an apostrophe, but I do like things to be done properly. I recognise, however, I am no superwoman, so bought this book in the hopes of learning something.

There was some really interesting information on the origin of punctuation, on uses which have now fallen out of fashion, and on the poor members of the punctuation family who have now become extinct. I found this insightful, and (I have to be honest), quite exciting. Write me off immediately as a saddo; I don’t care.

My problem was the main thing I learned here, which is Lynne Truss is a horrible person. I worked this out quickly (reading a couple of pages of the introduction should do it), and it marred the book for me entirely. No one wants to listen to someone they dislike, and let me tell you I disliked Truss.

Her commentary reeked of her own self-importance, she slagged off anyone with the audacity to make a punctuation error, and even threatened people with death, guns, and violence should they incorrectly punctuate a sentence. There is no fucking need.

She seems to forget not all of us are from the same background. We’re even treated to an anecdote of a punctuation novel she was reading whilst all the other girls her age were out having abortions. I’m not kidding. This holier than thou attitude permeated through each page, completely disengaging me and, frankly, making me hate her. And she ticked every single dirty box in my book - classist, ableist, sexist, even racist. It was foul.

Although peppered with interesting tidbits, I would happily forego anything I learned from this to go back to a life where I had never read it.

Eats shoots and leaves

“No matter that you have a PhD and have read all of Henry James twice. If you still persist in writing, "Good food at its best", you deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an unmarked grave.”

I’ve been doing more writing lately, and possessing no advanced degrees in English or even a style guide, I decided to read this short book to brush up on my punctuation.

It’s worth noting that this is British style English. As a Canadian that had some post secondary education in America, I’m well aware of the difference (I was deducted marks for the incorrect spelling of words like future colour and whiskey.)

I’m still no expert, this book did clear up some of my nagging questions; though there’s still some confusion about specifics because of differing views and styles of writers and editors.

Outside of clarifying the (mostly) standard rules of punctuation, this book is hilarious; it’s written with a dry, British wit that had me laughing out loud at times.

Throughout the book she maligns the devolution of the written language, especially since the advent of computers and cell phones; though she does concede that the same complaint could be heard in the 19th century(not the computer part.)

She makes it clear that proper punctuation isn’t important just for the sake of pedagogy.
Punctuation makes the intent of the written word clear, giving it the intonation that’s heard when it’s spoken aloud.

I read this book a very long time ago and about the only thing I remember about it is a cartoon of nine live Roman soldiers and one dead one lying on the ground beside them. And one of the soldiers turning to the other one and saying, “This decimation thing isn’t nearly as bad as they make it out to be, is it?” And I remember seeing that cartoon and laughing at it. And of course, the cartoon isn’t actually in the book; it is just described in the book.

– and I thought a picture told a thousand words…