"Punctuation is not an apparatus of elitist repression but a system of information, at the disposal of all. There can be no reliable clarity without it"

[CuttedUpPear]

I nicked this off Clive James and am posting it here so I know where to find it in an argument.

Do you get into many arguments about punctuation? And have you ever been accused of elitist repression?

Yep, he is so right if I understand all that correctly.

The same is true of big words. They don't cost money and are available to all. If you don't understand it, look it up. If you like it, remember and use it. Otherwise never mind.

Yes to punctuation. I'm trying to encourage a colleague to write meaningful emails rather than streams of consciousness. I suggested he could put in commas where he paused, to aid the reader. He says he understands the emails perfectly! Actually I don't think he uses commas when he speaks either.

Love this. Thanks.

I love Clive James. Where does the quote come from?

Good point hill; probably not!

That's very nice.

Just resurrecting this thread (I've only just discovered Pedants' Corner) to say... that I can't... stand it when people... punctuate... like this... So lazy and imprecise.