# Punctuation book reccomendation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-book-reccomendation/661550>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 21, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-book-reccomendation/661550 "2013-06-21T12:57:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Neverending\_Elbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e274bd/32.png) [@Neverending\_Elbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverending_Elbow)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-book-reccomendation/661550/1 "2013-06-21T12:57:41Z")

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Hi!

As the title says, I’m looking for a good book on English punctuation.

Preferably something that has an easily browsable dictionary/index and perhaps describes punctuation problems by types of text (letter, dialogue in a novel, dialogue in drama, titles, etc.).

Oh, if it notes differences between British and American usage, that would be perfect. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-book-reccomendation/661550/2 "2013-06-21T13:04:16Z")

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The Chicago Manual of Style may be more than you need, but it’s an industry standard.  
[You can subscribe online](http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html) or buy the [hardcopy edition](http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Manual-Style-16th-Edition/dp/0226104206).

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**Author:** ![Neverending\_Elbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e274bd/32.png) [@Neverending\_Elbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverending_Elbow)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-book-reccomendation/661550/3 "2013-06-22T11:17:11Z")

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Thanks, I’ll definitely give the free trial a go.

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**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-book-reccomendation/661550/4 "2013-06-22T12:26:37Z")

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I consider [The Bedford Handbook](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bedford%20handbook&sprefix=bedford+handbook%2Cstripbooks%2C439&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Abedford%20handbook) by Diana Hacker to be the final word on American punctuation. For British, I go with [Eats Shoots and Leaves](http://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuation/dp/1592402038) by Lynne Truss.

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-book-reccomendation/661550/5 "2013-06-22T18:35:16Z")

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Strunk & White’s _[The Elements of Style](http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Style-William-Jr-Strunk/dp/1604597828/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371925828&sr=1-8&keywords=elements+of+style)_ is my go-to book for this kind of thing. I’ve been using it since I was like 11 years old.