Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing Quotation marks in 1906. Starting stories in the middle. Road trip words.
Jan 21, 2025
Dive into the quirky history of quotation marks, revealing their unexpected origins and humorous evolution. Discover the art of starting stories in the middle with the engaging 'in medias res' technique that hooks readers right from the action. Explore the unique family vocabulary created during a memorable road trip, inviting listeners to share their own special words. This lively discussion connects grammar, storytelling, and shared experiences in a delightful exploration of language.
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Quotation Mark Humor
- The Fowler brothers in their 1906 usage guide, The King's English, dedicated five pages to punctuation with quotation marks.
- They humorously critique unnecessary quotation mark usage, especially for educated audiences.
Start in the Middle
- Start stories "in medias res" (in the middle of things) to instantly grab readers' attention.
- This technique quickly creates intrigue and avoids slow beginnings.
Road Trip Familect
- On a family road trip, Yudit and her family invented words like "swerver", "rumbler", and "pokey".
- These became part of their "familect", words understood only within their family.
