Here’s a wonderful essay to read on what is here yet another snowy day. It’s from the 23 February 2015 New Yorker: “Holy Writ,” by Mary Norris, Copy Editor at the magazine.
Norris may be my new goddess. I agree with her on everything—except the claim that the comma is a pause. I think it’s a vocal dip usually without an actual pause. Using that definition, I concur on every comma choice she describes even though she makes those choices for reasons of a different nature. The test of my ear concurs with the test of her principles and reinforces her preference for the “Oxford comma.”
Well, anyway, it’s lovely, and exquisitely punctuated. Please follow this link and have yourself a great time!
Advertisements
March 5th, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Loved the essay. Thank you,,,,Ruth Anne.
But, what snow?
March 5th, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Ah, I see you have become snow-BLIND! ;-}
March 5th, 2015 at 3:58 pm
[…] Writ is a long read, but very much worth it. Thanks to R.A.B. over at You Knew What I Meant for sharing […]
March 6th, 2015 at 12:28 am
Lovely, indeed!
March 6th, 2015 at 8:05 am
An interesting essay, and I agree for the grammatical perfectionist. There are cases, however, where authors use commas to deliberately create confusion and disjointedness, or refuse to use proper grammar at all. Take José Saramago as an example, who consciously uses commas where they don’t belong to subvert expectations. In these cases I think you just have to take an author’s style as it comes, and either accept and enjoy it or otherwise. Anyway, this was an interesting read, thanks for sharing.
March 6th, 2015 at 10:37 am
Yes, she discusses those kinds of authorial intentions. I love the music that punctuation depicts, and there is experimental music, of course. Glad to have pointed you to the essay!
March 7th, 2015 at 5:15 pm
A great read. Thank you.
March 9th, 2015 at 5:12 am
Lovely essay indeed.
March 18th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
nice post
July 3rd, 2015 at 4:18 am
No snow here. Still, it was such a good read 🙂
July 3rd, 2015 at 8:28 am
Glad you enjoyed it! Maybe it’s BETTER to read a snowy poem on a warm day… Thanks for your comment!