Why does this sentence start with a capital letter? Why is this one broken up - and why does it end in a question mark? Does anyone really know what a semicolon is for; why are italics italicised , and why do these words have spaces between them? Punctuation is what turns written words into meaningful language. It inflects our words with nuance: it is the difference between a nice surprise! And a nasty ending... Punctuation allows us to make jokes, ask questions, build suspense and banish bewilderment. Its rules free us to express ourselves in writing, and it is constantly evolving and expanding. The story of punctuation stretches from the ancient past to the future, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the emoji, the birth of the printing press to the death of the Oxford Comma. The definitive biography of punctuation, On the Mark reveals its storied past, constant evolution, and how it has transformed how we connect, communicate and experiment through language. A deeply researched treasure trove, On the Mark is a journey through time and place for language lovers everywhere.

Autorentext

Dr Florence Hazrat is a researcher and writer, and a world expert on the history and culture of punctuation. A BBC New Generation Thinker, Dr Hazrat has appeared on Radio 4's Word of Mouth and is the host of a podcast on punctuation, Standing on Points. Her first book, An Admirable Point, a cultural history of the exclamation mark, was published by Profile in 2022.

Klappentext

Why does this sentence start with a capital letter?
Why is this one broken up - and why does it end in a question mark?
Does anyone really know what semicolons are for; why are italics italicised, and why do words have spaces between them?

Punctuation turns written words into meaningful language, inflecting them with nuance and tone: it can be the difference between a nice surprise! And a nasty ending...

Florence Hazrat's ground-breaking history of punctuation stretches from the ancient past to into the digital realms of today, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the emoji, the birth of the printing press to the death of the Oxford Comma. In this definitive biography of the marks that give voice to our written words, and the characters that have shaped their usage, Hazrat reveals their richly storied past and how punctuation is evolving and more important than ever as we move from the printed page to the digital screen.

A deeply researched treasure trove that wears its knowledge lightly, On the Mark is a fascinating odyssey through time and place for language lovers everywhere.