I found a copy of Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss here at my mom’s house, and after Eldest Duaghter finished with it, I read it. I thought it was delightful, witty, and useful. I discovered a name for the comma I always put before the last item in a series–even though I’ve been told repeatedly that it’s unnecessary nowadays. It’s called an “Oxford comma” or a “serial comma.” I like the term Oxford comma; it makes me believe I have something in common with all those British literary types. I also found out that although Americans always put the ending punctuation mark inside the quotation marks (as I did two sentences ago), the English put the full stop or question mark or whatever inside the quotation marks only if it punctuates what’s inside the quotation marks. For example:

British style: It’s called an “Oxford comma” or a “serial comma”.
Also British style: Sherry said, “How very British!”

Anyway, I thought the book was lots of fun. I’m an Anglophile from way back. And I really enjoy learning about the quaint customs and language quirks of our allies from across the ocean. I was somewhat disappointed when I learned (about when I was in high school or maybe even college) that an “electric torch” was simply a flashlight. I had been picturing Peter and Edmund carrying around something that looked as if it belonged in the opening ceremony for the Olympics.
I’m also something of a stickler, which Ms. Truss defines as “unattractive, know-all obsessives who get things out of proportion and are in continual peril of being disowned by our exasperated families.” I sympathize with her desire to “perpetuate an act of criminal mischief with the aid of a permanent marker” when I see a sign that says something like
“PEACH’S, BANANA’S, AND STRAWBERRY’S FOR SALE.”
Actually, I made that sign up, and as you can see, I couldn’t resist the Oxford comma.