tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post4632018352781158758..comments2024-03-28T07:00:06.844+00:00Comments on Now Appearing: Why are we so ignorant about inverted commas?Brian Clegghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723555872580740773noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-59965480932992542392010-03-30T11:33:54.097+01:002010-03-30T11:33:54.097+01:00Of course creative writers can do what they like -...Of course creative writers can do what they like - but why not use the standard unless there is a good reason. And what possible reason? I suppose so you can be pretentious like e.e.cummings and forget how to use capital letters.Brian Clegghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723555872580740773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-30588171271266352342010-03-29T22:25:58.836+01:002010-03-29T22:25:58.836+01:00I suppose all of these writing style guides are go...I suppose all of these writing style guides are good for newspapers and school students, but creative writers have a license to ignore them as they need. I wouldn't be too strident about the <i>correct</i> way to use this or that bit of punctuation. The rules evolve. Hidebound rule books are best for museums.Paul Lambhttp://www.paullamb.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-77910380734264613452010-03-29T15:40:06.053+01:002010-03-29T15:40:06.053+01:00Well, 'thank you' Henry.Well, 'thank you' Henry.Brian Clegghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723555872580740773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-13320796932905826062010-03-29T14:20:26.521+01:002010-03-29T14:20:26.521+01:00Thank you, Brian - I shall consider myself 'in...Thank you, Brian - I shall consider myself 'informed'.cromercroxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09963551114404818534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-59787106850781618432010-03-28T11:58:06.590+01:002010-03-28T11:58:06.590+01:00Peet - italics are quite different, they indicate ...Peet - italics are quite different, they indicate vocal stress points, not discomfort.<br /><br />Philip - I was a programmer. But even in the UK you program in US English (that's why it's a computer program, not a programme), so that's fine.Brian Clegghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723555872580740773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-41037243920233360652010-03-27T19:06:27.131+00:002010-03-27T19:06:27.131+00:00Excellent, but lacking in swear words, c.f. http:/...Excellent, but lacking in swear words, c.f. http://community.livejournal.com/grammar_nazis/926422.html<br /><br />Which I think is mostly excellent - yet does rather devalue the use of <i>fuck</i>! imho, one should limit the use of this <i>punctuation mark</i> when one has no other option - it's when it's either one uses that word, or one breaks something relatively precious that one'll regret breaking later.<br /><br />No-one should mistakenly use single inverted commas to indicate uneasiness, when html enables <i>italics</i> so easily!<br /><br />Fancy a <b>beer</b> soon?Peethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108543835431189846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-88581067118948576252010-03-27T13:57:19.306+00:002010-03-27T13:57:19.306+00:00Well said Brian. Though I admit to probably making...Well said Brian. Though I admit to probably making this mistake myself on many occasions - no more though!<br /><br />This reminds me of my pet peeve - the misuse of 'phenomena' and 'phenomenon'. It seems that almost everyone says things like 'A most unusual phenomena' when they should use the singular form 'phenomenon'.Ian Richardsonhttp://www.ianrichardson.comnoreply@blogger.com