THE MALET STREET GAZETTE

EST. 1998

1858-2008

University of London External Programme 150th Birthday Events

Editor

Barrister Desk

MSG Past Articles

Book Reviews

Contact MSG

Home

Earn Your University of London LL.B Degree Online with ICLS

EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES

A great piece of humour and yet with a serious aim, this little book has become a runaway bestseller overnight. As Lynne Truss has explained, there are many people who have little idea of the basics of punctuation. This does not surprise me in the slightest. As an examiner, I have found scant regard paid to full stops, commas and question marks. However, by far the number one serial offender is the missing apostrophe. The story of the Panda who eats in a restaurant, then shoots the restaurant up and departs is an amusing story with an important message. The placing of punctuation in the wrong place can completely alter the message being conveyed…at some cost.

REVOLUTION IN PUNCTUATION

The book is dedicated to the memory of the striking Bolshevik printers in St Petersburg who, in 1905, demanded to be paid the same rate for punctuation marks as for letters, and thereby directly precipitated the first Russian Revolution. We have come a long way in nearly 100 years and the main casualty has been the written word. The ‘shorthand’ I have encountered in the last six years using the Internet is enough to convince me that this book should be compulsory reading in schools. Besides, it is a good read and very funny in places. To sell 50,000 copies in just over a week on release is a great achievement.

LEARNED OPINIONS

It is true to say that the book makes a powerful case for the preservation of the system of what is interestingly described as ‘printing conventions’. However, this is not a book for pedants but for everyone, including members of the Bar who write lengthy Opinions. It has never surprised me how cross the Judiciary become when they see sloppy legal paperwork. I expect it from solicitors but we must maintain a very high standard at the Bar, even with the infernal Internet and toxic text messages. Well done, Ms Truss for reminding us of our legal roots… ‘sticklers unite’ she says, ‘you have nothing to lose but your sense of proportion – and arguably you didn’t have much of that to begin with’. Do look at the end of the book for a fine bibliography – all the usual suspects are there including one B Bryson and ‘Troublesome Words’, and the excellent Philip Howard’s ‘The State of the Language: English observed.’

____

Mr Taylor is Barrister and Senior Law Tutor with the International Center for Legal Studies (ICLS).  Mr. Taylor is also the Barrister Desk Editor for the Malet Street Gazette. 

     The Malet Street Gazette, Inc. is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice, and no one should rely on the information contained in the Gazette. The views and posts published on this website and the Malet Street Gazette Discussion Board are not expressions of the Gazette's management or editorial policy and do not necessarily reflect the Gazette's opinion. The Malet Street Gazette, Inc. accepts no responsiblity for the accuracy of any statement made herein, and all readers/visitors are advised to check the facts for themselves and not rely on statements made herein.  The authors and publishers accept no liability in relation thereto. The areas of law discussed are particularly fast-moving, and legal issues develop on a daily basis. The up-to-date position should always therefore be checked. The Malet Street Gazette is not connected nor officially sanctioned by the University of London.

Copyright©1998-2008 The Malet Street Gazette, Inc.