Thursday, March 04, 2010

Booking Through Thursday: Grammar

This week's Booking Through Thursday topic is all about one of my favorite things:
". . . do you have any grammar books? Punctuation? Writing guidelines? Style books? More importantly, have you read them? How do you feel about grammar in general? Important? Vital? Unnecessary? Fussy?"
OK, I admit I'm a grammar geek. I can say without doubt or embarrassment that I think grammar is necessary – in fact, it's part of the glue that holds civilization together. I realize, of course, that there are times when breaking the rules of grammar is acceptable, even desirable. I do it myself (gasp!). And I think that's all right, so long as we recognize that there are rules.

Now about those books. I'm sure we've got the MLA Handbook, Strunk and White, and a copy of the Chicago Manual of Style around here somewhere. I've read them, or parts of them, in the past, but I haven't spent much time (well, I haven't spent any time) perusing them of late. I used to do a lot of editing work, and style books or sheets were often required reading. Not the most exciting reading matter, of course, but part of the job.

So, call me fussy – I won't mind a bit. Oh, and I'm absolutely thrilled to learn that today is National Grammar Day. In celebration, I'll try extra hard not to split any infinitives.

11 comments:

  1. I forgot about splitting infinitives! I hit on dangling prepositions in my post, but forgot those pesky infinitives.

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  2. Grammar is very important to me too!
    http://intetextualchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/03/booking-through-thursday-grammar.html

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  3. Well stated. My BTT: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/03/booking-through-thursday-grammar.html

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  4. My God woman, you are fussy! :) I didn't even know there was such a day. Here's mine.

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  5. Too funny about the infinitives. I call it a good day when I don't end a sentence with a preposition (that's bad, right?). Hehe.

    Here's my answer:
    http://www.bibliobabe.com/

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  6. I like grammar geeks.... I'm one too!

    http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/03/booking-through-grammar.html

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  7. I couldn't agree more! Correct grammer is the way to go!

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  8. Another grammar queen :-) I have to love you guys.

    My post

    http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/03/booking-through-thursday-grammar.html

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  9. I've become so relaxing about grammar. not good

    here's mine

    http://blog.readinggroupchoices.com/content/blog/barbara/10/march/writing-style-grammar-and-punctuation-important

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  10. I just gave you an award at:
    http://mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/2010/03/special-announcement-awards.html

    Thank you,
    A.F. Heart
    http://mysterysuspence.blogspot.com

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  11. Hey, Joy! I've just been catching up on my google reader, and am so sad I missed this BTT - I have *slews* of books on grammar, writing, uncommon words, and all things nerdy :)

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