And when it comes to punctuation, something similar may be required for those who separate subject and predicate (what is that? I hear people cry) with a comma, let alone the heinous misuse of apostrophes. And as for the endemic misuse of that most repellent four-letter word, “like,” I am working towards having it recognised as a criminal offence attracting a mandatory jail term.
It is physically impossible for me to write “they” instead of “he or she,” or “their” instead of “his or her.” As for the snobbish use (not to say brutal inaccuracy) of “whom” instead of “who” in such a sentence as “The man whom she believed was her uncle said…” or of “between you and I,” words fail me.
Pinker worries me slightly for fear that I may emerge as something of a purist, if not indeed a pedant, so I should make my position clear. Perhaps 300-odd pages somewhat taxed this burgeoning relationship but The Sense of Style is nevertheless a book to treasure for its insights into what makes language work – and what turns it into a matter of style.
The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st CenturyĪs one who loves grammar and punctuation only slightly less than, say, red wine or western movies, I felt as I started reading this book that Steven Pinker and I were made for each other.
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