Lynne Truss Quote
Punctuation has been defined many ways. Some grammarians use the analogy of stitching: punctuation as the basting that holds the fabric of language in shape. Another writer tells us that punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop. I have even seen a rather fanciful reference to the full stop and comma as the invisible servants in fairy tales – the ones who bring glasses of water and pillows, not storms of weather or love. But best of all, I think, is the simple advice given by the style book of a national newspaper: that punctuation is a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling.
Punctuation has been defined many ways. Some grammarians use the analogy of stitching: punctuation as the basting that holds the fabric of language in shape. Another writer tells us that punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop. I have even seen a rather fanciful reference to the full stop and comma as the invisible servants in fairy tales – the ones who bring glasses of water and pillows, not storms of weather or love. But best of all, I think, is the simple advice given by the style book of a national newspaper: that punctuation is a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling.
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About Lynne Truss
Besides her promotion of linguistic prescription and commentary on English grammar, Truss has written many radio plays, both comedic and dramatic. She has also written grammar guides for children and novels, including crime fiction. She was inducted into the Detection Club in 2021.