Is 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' actually any good?

[zygote]

There was a lot of talk about it when it came out, but I don't think I've ever even opened a copy.

For some reason I've been thinking more about language than I used to, and realising how lamentable my understanding of the English language and how it's constructed is! I'm of the generation that didn't learn much grammar at school, and I want to make up for that a bit. So, is Eats, Shoots and Leaves any good as a starting point, or can anyone recommend something better for me to try?

Let's not forget, 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' isn't really a book about language. It's a book about punctuation.

Read it and you'll be like this in no time
http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=243191

 

[quimcunx]

I amn't going to be reading it any time soon.

 

[quimcunx]

I (although I don't revel in pointing out other people's errors),

If I ever give up smoking this will be practically the only pleasure left to me.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I amn't going to be reading it any time soon.

my b/f says amn't

 

[scifisam]

I like it - it's a light-hearted read that is reasonably informative. Not nearly as informative as the great books mentioned by others on this thread (Pinker, Crystal et. al.) but, unlike them, the kind of book you can chuckle through while on the loo. You won't learn an awful lot, but what you learn, you'll remember, which the important thing.

It is a tad headmistressy, but she never denies that, which is one of the reasons it's a lighter more entertaining read than most others. You are invited to laugh at her as well as with her.

There's a 'punctuation for dummies' book on Amazon, I think. That, or something similar, would be a good start. Most people aged 16 -45ish weren't taught much about punctuation or grammar, so you're not a dummy for not knowing it, but you will need the basics. I did an English PGCE with several people who didn't know what a verb was. They were intelligent, just lacking in information. Lots of grammar books forget the level people are starting out from and dive straight into participles without even mentioning what 'participle' actually means. Like recipes which start with 'braise one side of beef in a skillet.' Muh muh muh?

After you have the basics, then move on to Crystal, Pinker et. al. (Particularly Pinker).

 

[quimcunx]

Is he scottish?

 

[quimcunx]

ILots of grammar books forget the level people are starting out from and dive straight into participles without even mentioning what 'participle' actually means. Like recipes which start with 'braise one side of beef in a skillet.' Muh muh muh?

After you have the basics, then move on to Crystal, Pinker et. al. (Particularly Pinker).

very true. We were taught very little grammar at school and when we did the terms used confused me. It was never explained very well what was meant when the teacher started blabbering about ablatives and past perfect and a million other things...

Our (old skool) primary school teacher did use march into the room and demand we 'list the 27 pronouns' or '8 parts of speech so at least I know that much.

 

[Mikey77]

It seems to be a niche book in that it gives a history of punctuation and how it has evolved, but the practical advice on usage seems to be stuff you would be better off looking for elsewhere. Not a bad book, but I would not recommend it unless the history of punctuation is interesting to you.