For the sake of an apostrophe! Navigating punctuation in the digital age
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A few weeks ago, UK-based Waterstone’s Booksellers did something shocking: they dropped their apostrophe, claiming that there is no use for the tiny little mark in the digital age. More accurately, their managing director stated that “Waterstones” is just straight-up more versatile when it comes to a world full of html code, URLs, and email addresses. You may also have noticed that some of your favorite online websites fail to italicize, and instead use double quotes around things like book and movie title – also a product of the collision between punctuation and digital media.
WEIGH IN:
Plenty has been said about the effects of texting and email on spelling and vocabulary, but where does punctuation stand in the 21st century? What should be preserved, what should stay, and how do we make the decisions – or are they already in process?
Guests:
Lane Greene, founder and blogger for Johnson, the Economist’s language blog; Economist business correspondent; author, “You Are What You Speak”
John Richards, founder and Chairman of the Apostrophe Protection Society, based in the UK
- Patt Morrison for January 25, 2012
- Obama praises teachers, but will he effectively support them?
- What’s in a First Lady?
- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reacts to State of the Union
- Can Uncle Sam tax your frequent flier miles? So says Citibank
- Democrats sue controller John Chiang for withholding their pay
- For the sake of an apostrophe! Navigating punctuation in the digital age
Also on this episode
Events
Comedy Congress Live
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
7:30 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
Tickets for this event are sold out. Please email Forum Coordinator Jenny Smith at jsmith@kpcc.org to be added to the waitlist. Thank you!
The comedic material emanating from Washington D.C., and state capitols across the country, is enough to make any sitcom writer jealous, even if most of that ... » More info
