On the Mark

How punctuation turned the written word into something worth reading

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.