Posted by
Brandon, South Carolina on March 17, 2009:
I agree with your take on the problem of punctuation, Randy. I was born and raised in the United States and am quite effective at utilizing proper American grammar in writing. But, while I understand it and can make it work for me, I still think it's illogical. There resulting commas at the end of book titles are what annoy me the most. Why do we Americans feel the need to change things that don't need to change, and to not change things that should change? It's like the English (now purely American) system versus metric. I fail to understand, though, how our system of punctuating is any LAZIER than the British way.
As for people taking comments personally... I'm sure you realize that people are going to do that. It's stupid and immature (yes, if you take impersonal comments personally, I'm specifically targeting you and calling YOUR actions stupid and immature, so feel free to be a little offended), but it's part of living in the world we live in. What would we be without our little quirks?
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It's "lazier" because the better way takes thought, instead of just blindly following a rule. I'd rather have citizens who want to think, rather than do what they're told even though it doesn't make sense. -rc
Posted by
Lauren, Ca on May 15, 2009:
Thank you! Apparently, American public schools have all fallen asleep. I learned punctuation the British way, so when I turn in a paper, (I'm a college student) I use the British style. I had to go to the dean of students to force my professor to change my grade.
A "Letter"? From an "Editor"! - Comments
Posted by Brandon, South Carolina on March 17, 2009:
I agree with your take on the problem of punctuation, Randy. I was born and raised in the United States and am quite effective at utilizing proper American grammar in writing. But, while I understand it and can make it work for me, I still think it's illogical. There resulting commas at the end of book titles are what annoy me the most. Why do we Americans feel the need to change things that don't need to change, and to not change things that should change? It's like the English (now purely American) system versus metric. I fail to understand, though, how our system of punctuating is any LAZIER than the British way.
As for people taking comments personally... I'm sure you realize that people are going to do that. It's stupid and immature (yes, if you take impersonal comments personally, I'm specifically targeting you and calling YOUR actions stupid and immature, so feel free to be a little offended), but it's part of living in the world we live in. What would we be without our little quirks?
---
It's "lazier" because the better way takes thought, instead of just blindly following a rule. I'd rather have citizens who want to think, rather than do what they're told even though it doesn't make sense. -rc
Posted by Lauren, Ca on May 15, 2009:
Thank you! Apparently, American public schools have all fallen asleep. I learned punctuation the British way, so when I turn in a paper, (I'm a college student) I use the British style. I had to go to the dean of students to force my professor to change my grade.
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.