darkly dreaming

I have been writing my book, and as always, spending time with my beloved Chicago Manual of Style. I remember falling in love with this style guide through the lovely work of Kate Turabian, who thankfully took the dense and often overwhelming manual and made it usable for college students. Oddly enough it was footnotes that drew me in. I absolutely hate endnotes, and in line citations make be gag, (literally.) Now I return to my beloved tome when I am feeling the need to focus on incredibly precise modes of English expression. (I am odd enough that I am fascinated by the difference between British and American methods of terminal punctuation. [Specifically that it can occur within a parenthetical statement unless absolutely necessary for clarity in American writing. Whereas the British always place it outside of parenthetical elements.]) Thus I began a ten page exploration of the semicolon; a method of writing that suits my needs quite well, but one which I had never been taught in school. The diabolic attempt to rid ourselves of this precious punctuation was uncovered as I read my other lovely book, Spunk and Bite.

Read the rest of this entry »