J
Jason Byrne
Guest
The serial comma (a.k.a. Oxford/Harvard comma) vs. the Associated Press style.
Computer era single-spaced periods vs. monospaced typewriter double-spaced periods.
The Elements of Typograhic Style left-justified first paragraph vs. the Associated Press indention of all paragraphs.
The use of the drop cap.
One might argue that the news-based guidelines of the Associated Press style are more to conserve ink than to promote clarity. I found the following: "with gratitude to my parents, Mother Theresa and the Pope" to illustrate why the serial comma is important. I still use the serial comma, "with gratitude to my parents, Mother Theresa, and the Pope." The modern style considers this unnecessary, because people "should" be capable of figuring out what you really mean, and that Mother Theresa and the Pope are not your parents.
In other respects rules have changed out of opportunity, which did not exist before. Two spaces following a period was used in a desperate effort to break the visual monotony of the monospaced typewriter, which is no longer needed with the dynamic spacing of the computer. I for some reason am incapable of joining the modern age of the single-spaced period which I hate and fear — the only real argument in favor of retaining the Old Way.
Others are less clear still. Technically, the purpose of an indent is to set apart text to distinguish it from the previous paragraph. As there is nothing before the first paragraph and nothing from which to distinguish it, the first-paragraph indent is superfluous. In argument of consistency, it is alleged that if you indent every other paragraph, you might as well indent the first one, as well.
With all that we hold grammatically dear at stake, I wondered how many of you — like myself — fear change and simply refuse to stop using antiquated grammatical rules, how many update their form by personal preference on a case-by-case basis, and how many throw caution to the wind and adopt all modern conventions.
And... fight!
Computer era single-spaced periods vs. monospaced typewriter double-spaced periods.
The Elements of Typograhic Style left-justified first paragraph vs. the Associated Press indention of all paragraphs.
The use of the drop cap.
One might argue that the news-based guidelines of the Associated Press style are more to conserve ink than to promote clarity. I found the following: "with gratitude to my parents, Mother Theresa and the Pope" to illustrate why the serial comma is important. I still use the serial comma, "with gratitude to my parents, Mother Theresa, and the Pope." The modern style considers this unnecessary, because people "should" be capable of figuring out what you really mean, and that Mother Theresa and the Pope are not your parents.
In other respects rules have changed out of opportunity, which did not exist before. Two spaces following a period was used in a desperate effort to break the visual monotony of the monospaced typewriter, which is no longer needed with the dynamic spacing of the computer. I for some reason am incapable of joining the modern age of the single-spaced period which I hate and fear — the only real argument in favor of retaining the Old Way.
Others are less clear still. Technically, the purpose of an indent is to set apart text to distinguish it from the previous paragraph. As there is nothing before the first paragraph and nothing from which to distinguish it, the first-paragraph indent is superfluous. In argument of consistency, it is alleged that if you indent every other paragraph, you might as well indent the first one, as well.
With all that we hold grammatically dear at stake, I wondered how many of you — like myself — fear change and simply refuse to stop using antiquated grammatical rules, how many update their form by personal preference on a case-by-case basis, and how many throw caution to the wind and adopt all modern conventions.
And... fight!
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Since I need to sell what I write, I do follow the rules. Commas are edited in or out of my manuscripts according to house style, but I'm used to both styles now so I write them where they need to be 99% of the time. I do tend to toss in sentence fragments for emphasis, but as with anything, less is more, and my editors are good about letting me know when I've put in too many. The choice to keep them is mine, but they're almost always right about which ones should go. 