Customer Reviews

Punctuation for Writers: A Thorough Primer For Writers Of Fiction And Essays

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a wonderful resource I think every writer ought to own.

To me the overall gist of Harvey Stanbrough's book is that punctuation marks play a vital role in writing because they convey sensory impressions that direct readers toward the author's intended destination. By sensory impressions I mean that when we come to a period in text, we don't think intellectually "period," instead we feel the sensation of a pause in our internal reading process. Therefore, just as it is with road signs, if these marks are unclear or wrongly placed, accidents can and do happen. If you've ever participated in a writing workshop, then you probably know what I am talking about.

Outside of this book, I have never heard of anyone presenting this information in this way before. Sure, we all know that punctuation affects us as readers, but not all writers know precisely how or why. That is exactly what this book is about, bridging that gap between knowing and doing. It outlines the significance of what we know and can experience as readers, and shows us how to use that knowledge as a tool to improve our writing.

One more thing I like about this book is how the author encourages writers to be mindful of their readers. Stanbrough's book gets to the real "why" of punctuation: Why, for lack of attention to a comma or semi-colon, would we want to risk annoying or confusing our friends, the readers?

Yes, it is a small, simple, straightforward little primer, but it is a gem.

Punctuation for Writers was just the book I needed! Harvey Stanbrough gives a refresher crash course in punctuation usage and then takes us beyond punctuation to how that punctuation will affect the reader. This depth of punctuation has been a new concept for me.

Thank you, Mr. Stanbrough, for making it easy for us.

This is the book for writers who didn't pay attention in English class at school, and that includes me. It's concise, and the author says he wrote the book for writers, not teachers of English, and I bless him for it. I have Strunk and the other experts but I've learnt more from this book than the others combined. I can actually understand what the author says, and I think that says it all. Don't miss this one, it's the best investment you will make.

"Punctuation for Writers" explains the use of punctuation (period, comma, dash, etc.), but also gives a short grammar refresher and some advice on using italics and "show, don't tell."

The guide is neither exhaustive nor exhausting. It explains the basics, then moves on.

I found one incorrect example, and I don't agree with the author telling us to write "three year old girl" when The Chicago Manual of Style (the style guide most publishers of fiction use) insists on "three-year-old girl."

If you are a grammar amateur looking for a quick introduction to punctuation, this might be a good book for you. If you already know the basics, you might want to buy a more thorough book

This little book is written for writers. It teaches the writer how to use punctuation to achieve a particular effect in the reader. Keep this book by your side.

I was very, very disappointed with this book. Except for a few (very few) examples of the unusal nuances of punctuating fiction, expecially dialogue, it was like reading a 6th text book on grammar. I do not feel the author even approached the promises he made about this book in other books he had written. The appropriate title for this book is: A 6th Grade Punctuation Primer.

G. Biggs