Comments on: Strunk and White http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/ Help for a Punctual and Polite Life Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:20:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Richard http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-695 Richard Sat, 03 May 2008 17:06:16 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-695 Hello. Apparently this post has had the good fortune to finally be discussed on Language Log. http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=104 Hello.

Apparently this post has had the good fortune to finally be discussed on Language Log.

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=104

]]> By: Punctuality Rules! » Blog Archive » Context http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-680 Punctuality Rules! » Blog Archive » Context Fri, 02 May 2008 02:38:04 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-680 [...] was visited by the Language Log yesterday, and it was not a friendly visit. Back in 2007, I wrote about the venerable Strunk and White grammar book, and in that post mentioned in passing that the authors were against split [...] […] was visited by the Language Log yesterday, and it was not a friendly visit. Back in 2007, I wrote about the venerable Strunk and White grammar book, and in that post mentioned in passing that the authors were against split […]

]]> By: Punctuality Rules! » Blog Archive » MM: Brighten Up http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-372 Punctuality Rules! » Blog Archive » MM: Brighten Up Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:07:28 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-372 [...] sister (glaring at me because I dare to like Strunk & White, which she and my niece are studying) asked me today what I thought about whether the preposition [...] […] sister (glaring at me because I dare to like Strunk & White, which she and my niece are studying) asked me today what I thought about whether the preposition […]

]]> By: Kat http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-34 Kat Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:09:19 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-34 I have to admit to using <i>The Elements of Style</i> as a reference, but it's worth noting that many prominent linguists have nothing but loathing for <a href="http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001803.html" rel="nofollow">Strunk</a> <a href="http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000994.html" rel="nofollow">and</a> <a href="http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001908.html" rel="nofollow">White</a>, arguing that their rules are not always supported by the way English is and has been used. My favourite is <a>this post</a>, which calls the book a "vile little compendium of tripe". But I agree with you that the TEoS is often more conenient to use than the CMoS. I have to admit to using The Elements of Style as a reference, but it’s worth noting that many prominent linguists have nothing but loathing for Strunk and White, arguing that their rules are not always supported by the way English is and has been used. My favourite is this post, which calls the book a “vile little compendium of tripe”. But I agree with you that the TEoS is often more conenient to use than the CMoS.

]]> By: Easton Ellsworth http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-24 Easton Ellsworth Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:58:36 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-24 Strunk and White - ah yes, my old arch-nemeses. I used to get my college papers back with red ink and Strunk and White references all over them. :) But that book has done more for my writing skills than almost any other book of which I know. Strunk and White - ah yes, my old arch-nemeses.

I used to get my college papers back with red ink and Strunk and White references all over them. :)

But that book has done more for my writing skills than almost any other book of which I know.

]]> By: Cereal Girl http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-18 Cereal Girl Sat, 13 Oct 2007 11:10:32 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-18 I loved Spunk and Bite. For someone keeping a blog or anyone writing on the internet, I find this new take on style very refreshing. Strunk and White got me through university so I remain grateful to it too. I loved Spunk and Bite. For someone keeping a blog or anyone writing on the internet, I find this new take on style very refreshing. Strunk and White got me through university so I remain grateful to it too.

]]> By: norma http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-17 norma Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:50:58 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-17 That is the best book EVER. I was never so pleased in all my life as when my daughter was handed a hard-covered one at matriculation at Hamilton College. I knew then that we had made the right college choice. I was a little less pleased when my daughter (who had made a point of telling me about receiving it, knowing it is my bible) brought it home and left it here when she came home from her first college break. As far as I know, she never looked at it again. *sigh* Then again, when she always has Mama to ask, why does she need to look in the book? But I so agree with you about having to know the rules in order to break them for effect. I do that often in my writing, but sometimes I worry that people will not realize that I'm using a device for its laugh factor... That is the best book EVER. I was never so pleased in all my life as when my daughter was handed a hard-covered one at matriculation at Hamilton College. I knew then that we had made the right college choice. I was a little less pleased when my daughter (who had made a point of telling me about receiving it, knowing it is my bible) brought it home and left it here when she came home from her first college break. As far as I know, she never looked at it again. *sigh*

Then again, when she always has Mama to ask, why does she need to look in the book?

But I so agree with you about having to know the rules in order to break them for effect. I do that often in my writing, but sometimes I worry that people will not realize that I’m using a device for its laugh factor…

]]> By: Judy H. http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-16 Judy H. Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:34:33 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-16 There are so many rules I finally got into my head because of Strunk and White. Fine gentlemen, both! I worry that someday rules will have changed so much that S&W will no longer be the standard text... There are so many rules I finally got into my head because of Strunk and White. Fine gentlemen, both! I worry that someday rules will have changed so much that S&W will no longer be the standard text…

]]> By: --Deb http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-14 --Deb Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:26:17 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-14 (Oops. I can't believe I missed that "it's"--how embarrassing! This is what I get for not proof-reading more carefully in my zeal to get this UP. Sheesh.) (Oops. I can’t believe I missed that “it’s”–how embarrassing! This is what I get for not proof-reading more carefully in my zeal to get this UP. Sheesh.)

]]> By: Gillian http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-13 Gillian Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:09:23 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2007/10/11/strunk-and-white/#comment-13 I am curious about your usage of 'a vast majority' in the second sentence. It doesn't seem quite right, and 'It's reputation' in the second to last sentence of the fourth paragraph very much surprised me. If you'd prefer that I not make these comments, please say so. I enjoy proofreading, but I'm not a particularly good writer. I am curious about your usage of ‘a vast majority’ in the second sentence. It doesn’t seem quite right, and ‘It’s reputation’ in the second to last sentence of the fourth paragraph very much surprised me. If you’d prefer that I not make these comments, please say so. I enjoy proofreading, but I’m not a particularly good writer.

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