(The only exceptions are names from the Bible or classical antiquity.) To form the possessive of a singular noun, add an apostrophe and an s. (It serves to make clear that the final two elements are parallel to what goes before in the series, not a matched set.) Her second violation is in the formation of the possessive, which follows the same rules for names as for any other words. Etiquette rules change when Miss Manners says it is all right for them to do so." Twice in the first sentence (and even in the title of her book) Miss Manners violates the rule that a comma is used before the final "and" or "or" in a series. Miss Manners' chief task is to sort out the suggestions and possibilities, and to chronicle and guide the legitimate changes. But these changes usually develop sedately, because of the strength of tradition.
#Judith martin gentle reader code#
Miss Manners commits two grievous offences against the Code of Style in the following passage: "It is true that etiquette can, should and does change over time to fit new ideas, habits and technology. Does it sound a bit like etiquette, those gears and bearings that keep the machine of social intercourse from screeching out of control? Style is, in fact, the etiquette of writing. Anyone who has written even a term paper knows that this sort of style, while it is strictly conventional, is also necessary and indispensable.
#Judith martin gentle reader manual#
Respectful Reviewer does not mean literary style, as in Jane Austen or Virginia Woolf, but style as in The Chicago Manual of Style and many other style books and style sheets. It's the same redoubtable Miss Manners, and so you can understand why Respectful Reviewer is hesitant to pick nits with her, but he is also known as Intrepid Reviewer. (The answer is to say gently, "You know, I find it does bother me after all," and, the next time you invite them, specify in the invitation "We will be dressing for dinner.") The same Miss Manners who refers to herself in the third person in her internationally syndicated newspaper column, in which she advises Gentle Reader on such problems as what to do when your house is invaded by nudists (the family of your old college roommate) who bully you into saying you don't mind if they strip for dinner when in fact you do. Yes, this is the same Miss Manners who brought you Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior and Miss Manners' Guide to Rearing Perfect Children. With a tipping guide (including coat checks and pizza deliveries), sections devoted to both traditional and nontraditional households, details on protocol for ceremonies and celebrations, invitations and disinvitations, insights on courtship and romance, and much more, this is the comprehensive guide to a kinder, gentler, more civilized society.Literascape - The New Reader: Miss Manners Rescues Civilization National Library of Canada Mirrorįrom Sexual Harassment, Frivolous Lawsuits,Ĭrown Publishers, New York, 497 pages, $39.95 Miss Manners offers consistently sound, sage advice to her Gentle Readers. * If a candy dish is on the visitor's side of a receptionist's desk, it is for visitors. * Don't start grabbing company property after being fired * Do continue the ancient custom of mealtimes, that is, breakfast, lunch, and dinner * Don't communicate everything in a marriage ("I had the wildest dream about a man at my office.") * Leaky earphones are the equivalent of humming * Call waiting is like a child screaming for attention * Where does the soup spoon/seafood fork/butter knife go? * What do I wear to a job interview/felony trial/jacuzzi? From somewhat classic queries: * What do I wear to a job interview/felony trial/jacuzzi? * Where does the soup spoon/seafood fork/butter knife go With the wit, tact, and wisdom that have made Miss Manners a household name, America's foremost authority on civilized behavior takes you through every aspect of your personal, professional, and social life with ease and charm.
With the wit, tact, and wisdom that have made Miss Manners a household name, America's foremost authority on civilized behavior takes you through every aspect of your personal, professional, and social life with ease and charm.
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