Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Punctuation

  1. #1

    Thread Starter
    Former Admin/Moderator MartinLiss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    33,431

    Punctuation

    I recently bought an interesting, humorous, book on punctuation (I know that doesn't sound possible but it is) called Eats, Shoots & Leaves. The title comes from this remarkable play on words.

    A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires in the air.

    "Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

    "I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."

    The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

    "Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.

  2. #2
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster!
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Everywhere
    Posts
    13,647

    Re: Punctuation

    This is a famous book. I haven't read it, but I should go to my local library some day and pick up a copy (along with 1984, from the surveillance cameras thread ).

  3. #3
    PowerPoster kfcSmitty's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    2,248

    Re: Punctuation

    Heh, I actually just made a little script in domino for book reviews n such and the review for this week was Eats, Shoots and Leaves


    there is a review for it at

    http://notesbus.queensu.ca/CommerceO...ommprogram.nsf

  4. #4

    Thread Starter
    Former Admin/Moderator MartinLiss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    33,431

    Re: Punctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by penagate
    This is a famous book. I haven't read it, but I should go to my local library some day and pick up a copy (along with 1984, from the surveillance cameras thread ).
    Yes it's a New York Times #1 Bestseller.

  5. #5
    Banned timeshifter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    at my desk
    Posts
    2,465

    Re: Punctuation

    Sounds like the kind of book a literal thinker like myself could thoroughly enjoy.

  6. #6
    PowerPoster Static's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    9,390

    Re: Punctuation

    Im currently enjoying.. uncle johns gigantic bathroom reader. Its great.. flip it open to any page.. learn something..

    of course.. I tend to only read it for a bout 10 mins at a time
    JPnyc rocks!! (Just ask him!)
    If u have your answer please go to the thread tools and click "Mark Thread Resolved"

  7. #7
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster! mendhak's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Ulaan Baator GooGoo: Frog
    Posts
    38,170

    Re: Punctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinLiss
    Yes it's a New York Times #1 Bestseller.
    If you'll look carefully, all books are always #1 bestsellers.

  8. #8
    Super Moderator Shaggy Hiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Idaho
    Posts
    40,104

    Re: Punctuation

    That one looks pretty entertaining, though. I'll have to get it.
    My usual boring signature: Nothing

  9. #9

  10. #10
    Retired VBF Adm1nistrator plenderj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Posts
    10,359

    Re: Punctuation

    Mendhak I like your avatar. Tell me more
    Microsoft MVP : Visual Developer - Visual Basic [2004-2005]

  11. #11
    Super Moderator Shaggy Hiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Idaho
    Posts
    40,104

    Re: Punctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinLiss
    You can probably use it
    Oh, I know it!!
    My usual boring signature: Nothing

  12. #12
    Fanatic Member InvisibleDuncan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Eating jam.
    Posts
    819

    Re: Punctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinLiss
    You can probably use it


    Shaggy Hiker's post was correctly punctuated... unlike yours, which was missing a full stop.
    Indecisiveness is the key to flexibility.

    www.mangojacks.com

  13. #13
    Super Moderator FunkyDexter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    An obscure body in the SK system. The inhabitants call it Earth
    Posts
    7,957

    Re: Punctuation

    I didn't read the book but I did listen to the audion version in my car. It was really very good and I now feel confident enought to use the ocasional semi colon. Annoyingly I can't think of a good reason to do so in this post.

    She points out that the sign 'No dogs please' is patently incorrect. We all quite like RobDog.

  14. #14
    Addicted Member Guru's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    sulking in the cupboard under the stairs
    Posts
    237

    Re: Punctuation

    I've got the book and I wasn't impressed; there is a number of inexcusable errors in it.
    Another light-hearted post from Guru

  15. #15
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster! Hack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Searching for mendhak
    Posts
    58,333

    Re: Punctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by Guru
    I've got the book and I wasn't impressed; there is a number of inexcusable errors in it.
    As opposed to a number of excusable errors?

  16. #16
    PowerPoster
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Posts
    2,148

    Re: Punctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by Hack
    As opposed to a number of excusable errors?
    Warnings, as my compiler would call them.

    Incidentally, as this appears to be a book recomendations thread can i add "Code: The hidden language of Computer hardware and Software" by Charles Petzold?

  17. #17
    Retired VBF Adm1nistrator plenderj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Posts
    10,359

    Re: Punctuation

    No; you may not.
    Microsoft MVP : Visual Developer - Visual Basic [2004-2005]

  18. #18
    PowerPoster
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Posts
    2,148

    Re: Punctuation

    I said "can", not "may".
    Evidently I can (and did)

  19. #19
    Retired VBF Adm1nistrator plenderj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Posts
    10,359

    Re: Punctuation

    You know, as I was posting that, I thought to myself the very same thing, but I didn't think you'd be as anal as I
    Microsoft MVP : Visual Developer - Visual Basic [2004-2005]

  20. #20
    PowerPoster Static's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    9,390

    Re: Punctuation

    Ive never, had, [ANY] punctuation problems. with my wr'iting- not sure if a :book; like that would. do me any' good what'so-ever.

    nowapropergrammerandspellingbookwouldbemorealongmylines.
    JPnyc rocks!! (Just ask him!)
    If u have your answer please go to the thread tools and click "Mark Thread Resolved"

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  



Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width