作者：David Crystal

出版社: Profile Books Ltd; Main (2016年9月1日)

平裝: 400頁

語種： 英語

ISBN: 178125351X

條形碼: 9781781253519

商品尺寸: 13 x 2.1 x 20 cm

商品重量: 272 g

想象一下，假如沒有了標點符號，句子將會變成怎樣？標點符號在書面語言中是不可或缺的輔助工具，它可以幫助人們確切地表達思想感情和理解書面語言。然而，為數不多的標點符號的創造過程卻是步履維艱。

本書作者帶領我們回溯一千五百多年前，各種標點符號的起源和發展歷程，並就如何使用標點符號來滿足各種不同的需求提供了合理的建議。

This 'engaging history of punctuation' (Wall Street Journal) is not only the first history of its kind, but a complete guide on how to use English punctuation. Behind every punctuation mark lies a thousand stories. 

The punctuation of English, marked with occasional rationality, is founded on arbitrariness and littered with oddities. For a system of a few dozen marks it generates a disproportionate degree of uncertainty and passion, inspiring organisations like the Apostrophe Protection Society and sending enthusiasts, correction-pens in hand, in a crusade against error. 

Professor Crystal leads us through this minefield with characteristic wit, clarity and commonsense. He gives a fascinating account of the origin and progress of every kind of punctuation mark over one and a half millennia, and he offers sound advice on how punctuation may be used to meet the needs of every occasion and context.

Here is a learned and subtle book that amuses as it instructs, and instructs as it amuses. It deserves to sell three million- Sam Leith, Guardian

Mr Crystal treats his chosen period with enthusiasm and insight.——Keith Houston, Wall Street Journal

David Crystal's superb new book is packed full of illuminating examples ... With crisp, tight prose punctuated with self-conscious precision, Crystal provides not only a historical guide but an indispensable reference manual.——South China Morning Post

Crystal will delight anyone interested in written language ... he brings scholarly acumen and gravity, as well as delight and good humor, to his subject.——Publishers Weekly