Can someone please suggest what you consider one or two of the best books exclusively on punctuation? (I'm looking for ones referring to American style English). I went into a major bookstore the other day and the ONLY thing I found was a book or two on writing with a small section on punctuation. I have some stored away somewhere but can't find them.

Thanks,

Colleen

_________________
"All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." (Hemingway, "A Moveable Feast.")

"Write the Truth." (Author's advice written in signed copy of Robert McKee's "Story.")

Strunk & White's The Elements of Style

_________________
Please spay/neuter your companion animals. And when it's time to add to your four-legged family, save a life by adopting a stray or from a shelter or rescue group.

Second that. There is no better, IMO.

_________________
Charlie Self
www.charlieselfonline.com

Strunk's is my favorite as well. Not only is it informative, it's also entertaining!

_________________
"In the beginning was the Word..."

http://groovybell.blogspot.com/

and

http://groovytrekkers.blogspot.com/

Now I Squidoo!!!
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/groovyoldlady

I like Strunk & White too, but The Copyeditor's Handbook by Amy Einsohn appears to have about four times as much material on punctuation. This is by page count because the two works have about the same number of words per page, even though S&W is a little book.

I guess no one here (including me) is familiar with any book that solely addresses punctuation.

Dave

_________________
www.davidlevinchess.com

It has been a loooooooooooooooooong time since I got a BA in English, but I don't recall ever even hearing about a book solely on punctuation.

_________________
Charlie Self
www.charlieselfonline.com

Add to those the Harbrace College Handbook. And don't forget that any good dictionary will have a grammar section with huge swaths of punctuation rules.

_________________
Founding member of The Blood-Red Pencil
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

When in doubt, Google. Punctuation only + books=

http://www.amazon.com/New-Well-Tempered ... 0618382011

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Guide-P ... 0140513663

http://www.stonethread.com/pfw.html

_________________
Founding member of The Blood-Red Pencil
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

I've read his book, "The First Five Pages", but didn't know about this one:


A dash of style : the art and mastery of punctuation 1st ed.
Lukeman, Noah.

I'm on a roll here..... hehe.

_________________
Founding member of The Blood-Red Pencil
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

Thanks, guys. I knew there did exist books solely on punctuation because I actually have one or two, tucked away somewhere that I can't find.

Happy T-Day!

Colleen

_________________
"All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." (Hemingway, "A Moveable Feast.")

"Write the Truth." (Author's advice written in signed copy of Robert McKee's "Story.")

It occurs to me that "Punctuation" has the same cadence as "Operation," the name of a children's game once (and perhaps still) sold in the US. The object was to use forceps to remove a given part or organ from a narrow recessed area on a board depicting a human body, without the forceps contacting the edge of the opening (and triggering the buzzer).

I can see it now. The slogan (instead of "for dopey doctors") could be "for careful writers." The command might be "remove extra comma." BZZZT Don't mind my weirdly associating brain.

Dave

_________________
www.davidlevinchess.com

R.L. Trask's Guide to Punctuation. He makes it really easy to understand.

_________________
Elle
Word 4 Writers has been relaunched!

Yeah, I gotta go with Strunk & White too. Been on my bookshelf since college.

And another one I really like is "Writers INC," but it might be hard to find these days. Not solely about punctuation (but that's in there). It's billed as a "guide to writing, thinking, and learning." Really good stuff.

BTW, been awhile since I visited. Pardon my absence. Good to be back.

_________________
Dan Heim, Desert Dweller
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." — Groucho Marx

Welcome back,,, daN. As YOu can see were working on are punctuation and, stuff? Ibet wer'e much improVEd since last hear you were.

_________________
"In the beginning was the Word..."

http://groovybell.blogspot.com/

and

http://groovytrekkers.blogspot.com/

Now I Squidoo!!!
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/groovyoldlady

You were asking for a book about punctuation -- I'm surprised no one mentioned "Eats, shoots, and leaves."

I would think the Chicago Manual has a lot to say on this topic, but I can't find my copy.

_________________
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money."

-- Samuel Johnson