Cecelia Watson had me at her Dedication: For my parents, who made sure I always had enough to read. Watson gives us the history of the semicolon, first “invented” in Venice in 1494. So it has been around for awhile. I enjoyed Watson’s analysis of Raymond Chandler’s use of the semicolon. I had no idea there were 4000 semicolons in Moby Dick. But, of course, the King of the Semicolon is Henry James. Watson provides several brilliant examples of the proper use of semicolons in Henry James’s incredible sentences. This slim little book delivers a lot of practical and entertaining grammar advice. Are you a fan of the semicolon? Do you use them? GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction: Love, Hate, and Semicolons 1
I Deep History: The Birth of the Semicolon 13
II The Science of Semicolons: American Grammar Wars 23
III Sexy Semicolons 45
IV Loose Women and Liquor Laws: The Semicolon Wreaks Havoc in Boston 57
V The Minutiae of Mercy 73
VI Carving Semicolons in Stone 91
VII Semicolon Savants 97
VIII Persuasion and Pretension: Are Semicolons for Snobs? 159
Conclusion: Against the Rules? 173
Acknowledgments 185
Notes 189
Credits 207
Index 209
Art must be baying at the moon, looking at that redhead! I like and use semicolons! I like them so much I’d get a semicolonoscopy if I could!
Bob, I don’t think I’d go as far as having a semi=colonoscopy like you.
You must be running out of books to read! Next a 3 volume set on the use of the exclamation mark!
Steve, I confess I have a weakness for grammar books.
I use them all the time; whether accurately…well, that’s another story.
Deb, I’m sure you’d appreciate the examples and “rules” Cecilia Watson explores in SEMICOLON.
Yes and yes; also what Deb said.
I know Bill Crider would have been all over this book.
Jeff, you’re right: Bill Crider was a fan of the semicolon.
Lynn Truss of Eats Shoots and Leaves fame has long been the Punctuation Goddess who can have my babies; but, Red Cecelia here has certainly gotten my attention.
Art, I thought you’d appreciate Cecelia Watson’s book…and photo.
I am somewhat dubious as to whether she’s a genuine redhead, but still . . .
Art, Diane thinks Cecelia might be a real redhead. It takes one to know one.
My favourite mark is the Bindestrich – have to look it up:
hyphen!
PS:
I was a bit off last week because my sister and her husband visited us here in Hungary – and they wanted to try all the fabulous restaurants around. They are really cheap compared to Germany and of course excellent!
And the wine … 🙂
Wolf, we missed you! Yes, I know all about that wine…
Endlessly; no sentence is complete without at least three; nor can it be said to be truly a sentence till it has at least twenty words in it. Else, why bother?
Todd, nicely done!