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Snails & Monkey Tails: A Visual Guide to Punctuation & Symbols – A Typography History Exploring Grammar, Origins, and Proper Usage for Language Lovers
In this show-stopping guide with more than 75 uniquely designed two-color spreads—a rollicking linguistic ride for fans of Eats, Shoots & Leaves and Just My Type—award-winning graphic designer Michael Arndt explores the typographic origins, names, and shapes of both common punctuation marks and symbols, as well as the proper and diverse usage of each.
From the period to the question mark, the semicolon to the em dash, symbols and marks are an integral part of language. In graphically engaging spreads that utilize typography in an innovative way, Snails & Monkey Tails examines the evolution of these mighty linguistic tools—from the punctum, or point, created by an ancient scribe to the guillemet, used most commonly in lieu of quote marks by the French (and named in honor of a typographer Guillaume Le Bé). With verve and insight, Michael Arndt explains their proper usage and how they came to be universally accepted today.
Snails & Monkey Tails—Snails (@); Monkey Tails (@)—is packed with intriguing facts, history, stories, and lore, as well as grammar, explaining it clearly and with examples. What is the purpose of the comma—perhaps the most used symbol in the English language—and what are the proper uses of the asterisk? Do quote marks go inside or outside punctuation? What about a quote within a quote—a quote from someone quoting someone else? How much space goes on either side of an ellipsis? What's the difference between an en-dash and an em-dash?
Complete with a listing of useful terms and clear diagrams for creating typographical marks and symbols correctly on both PC and Apple computers, Snails & Monkey Tails is essential for bibliophiles, writers, grammarians, graphic designers, typography enthusiasts, logophiles, and anyone with a passion for the written word.
From the period to the question mark, the semicolon to the em dash, symbols and marks are an integral part of language. In graphically engaging spreads that utilize typography in an innovative way, Snails & Monkey Tails examines the evolution of these mighty linguistic tools—from the punctum, or point, created by an ancient scribe to the guillemet, used most commonly in lieu of quote marks by the French (and named in honor of a typographer Guillaume Le Bé). With verve and insight, Michael Arndt explains their proper usage and how they came to be universally accepted today.
Snails & Monkey Tails—Snails (@); Monkey Tails (@)—is packed with intriguing facts, history, stories, and lore, as well as grammar, explaining it clearly and with examples. What is the purpose of the comma—perhaps the most used symbol in the English language—and what are the proper uses of the asterisk? Do quote marks go inside or outside punctuation? What about a quote within a quote—a quote from someone quoting someone else? How much space goes on either side of an ellipsis? What's the difference between an en-dash and an em-dash?
Complete with a listing of useful terms and clear diagrams for creating typographical marks and symbols correctly on both PC and Apple computers, Snails & Monkey Tails is essential for bibliophiles, writers, grammarians, graphic designers, typography enthusiasts, logophiles, and anyone with a passion for the written word.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published March 22, 2022
8 people are currently reading
1964 people want to read
About the author
Michael Arndt
7 books38 followersMichael Arndt is an award-winning graphic designer turned author/illustrator. His mission is to promote visual literacy though books which engage the viewers’ eyes and minds. He lives in New York City with his yellow dog Clooney and gray cat Greta. He donates a portion of his books’ proceeds to animal rescue organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 8, 2023
Punctuation; what can one say about it, is there anyone who really feels (deep down inside) as if one knows everything about it? I should say not! It is always waiting to sneak up on us - just waiting...waiting...waiting - for that one little mistake: that will send us into a spiral of self-doubt! Truth be told (to you my friends) I am not really sure what I am writing is 'punctuproper' -but this is still a good book!!!
June 13, 2022
Rating 4.5
“Snails & Monkey Tails is an exploration of the fourteenth standard punctuation marks in the English language and its most commonly used typographic symbols”
What immediately drew me to this book was the cover, it's absolutely beautiful. I then read the title and became intrigued by learning more about punctuation. When I think about punctuation I think about elementary school and those songs that would get stuck in my head for weeks at a time. I sometimes still find myself humming those songs randomly even though I can’t even remember what it means.
This is one of those books that you don’t know you need until you have it. Everyone should go out and buy this book. It was so informative and will really help my writing as well as my understanding of certain symbols. I’m an English major and I’ve learned more about punctuation and symbols from this book than I did in college. It’s true what the author says, that punctuation is always changing but that doesn't mean that we can’t try to stay as informed as possible. I found the ‘useful terms’ in the back to be extremely helpful when I referenced them. Overall, this book was well written, it was engaging, and it made me want to read more books like it!
Thank you so much @harpercollins for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Snails & Monkey Tails is an exploration of the fourteenth standard punctuation marks in the English language and its most commonly used typographic symbols”
What immediately drew me to this book was the cover, it's absolutely beautiful. I then read the title and became intrigued by learning more about punctuation. When I think about punctuation I think about elementary school and those songs that would get stuck in my head for weeks at a time. I sometimes still find myself humming those songs randomly even though I can’t even remember what it means.
This is one of those books that you don’t know you need until you have it. Everyone should go out and buy this book. It was so informative and will really help my writing as well as my understanding of certain symbols. I’m an English major and I’ve learned more about punctuation and symbols from this book than I did in college. It’s true what the author says, that punctuation is always changing but that doesn't mean that we can’t try to stay as informed as possible. I found the ‘useful terms’ in the back to be extremely helpful when I referenced them. Overall, this book was well written, it was engaging, and it made me want to read more books like it!
Thank you so much @harpercollins for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 26, 2022
This book started off rather underwhelming for me. Until I came upon page 35 or so and the historical info on the section symbol and pilcrow symbol... mind=blown! Lots of really interesting info packed into this little book. The one-sentence-per-page style at times bothered me, but I'm glad I found this book.
March 30, 2022
I. Love. Punctuation. Words. Not only is this a visual delight, but it also sums up all the best punctuation factoids into one book and I love it. My favorite new term that I learned: Dinkus is the name for a line of three asterisks that denote a section/page break.
January 11, 2022
An absolute delight.
December 1, 2024
A visually delightful book on punctuation. If you aren't sure the difference between the hyphen, em dash, and the en dash this book provides great examples. I loved reading that the @ sign is given different names in different languages, my favorites being Italians call it chiocciola (snail) and Swedish call it kanelbulle (cinnamon bun).
March 19, 2022
Won a Goodreads giveaway of this book! Excited to get it and read it.
This was a super interesting read. I found out about some punctuation that I had never heard of before and learned the history of the others. I also found out why two spaces after a period on a typewriter and one on a computer. I can't wait to offer some of this insight and information to my students. I would recommend if you are at all interested in writing or grammar as this is very informative in such a cute, little, attractive package. Loved it, thanks HarperDesign for the book!
This was a super interesting read. I found out about some punctuation that I had never heard of before and learned the history of the others. I also found out why two spaces after a period on a typewriter and one on a computer. I can't wait to offer some of this insight and information to my students. I would recommend if you are at all interested in writing or grammar as this is very informative in such a cute, little, attractive package. Loved it, thanks HarperDesign for the book!
April 21, 2022
The grammar/punctuation police in me enjoyed this fun, nerdy little book by Michael Arndt. Did you know that the @ symbol is called a cat’s tail in Finnish? I appreciated all the typography & etymology lessons, as well as the proper punctuation reminders. Especially the reminder to folks that YOU NO LONGER NEED TO ADD TWO SPACES AFTER A PERIOD! Drives me nuts. 😉
Perfect for budding graphic designers, and also for anyone who writes. Interesting facts presented in a beautifully graphic style that really enhances the understanding. A style manual people might actually like reading!
Perfect for budding graphic designers, and also for anyone who writes. Interesting facts presented in a beautifully graphic style that really enhances the understanding. A style manual people might actually like reading!
February 21, 2022
Snails and Monkey Tails is a beautiful book, from the embossed cover to the graphics throughout. It is both art and reference book, equally informative and humorous. Mostly, it is so beautiful, I was instantly compelled to hold it, read it, and attempt to memorize passages. Thank you to Michael Arndt and Harper Design for the opportunity to appreciate this fine work.
June 5, 2022
I received my copy of Michael Arndt's Snails & Monkey Tails and was immediately impressed by its bright, bold and beautifully designed cover! I couldn't wait to view its pages! Snails & Monkey Tails combines intellect, graphics, and fun all in one book! It is educational, entertaining, and enlightening!
Laura Giardina
Laura Giardina
May 29, 2022
This was a fun little book! I'm a grammar stickler and loved the book EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES, so it was interesting to read about how different parts of punctuation developed over time. Not only is the book educational, but also it's amusing and engaging.
May 30, 2022
this book is just what it claims - a succinct and visual guide to punctuation marks & symbols. it is visually interesting with historical origin and common usage. fun and practical, it discusses punctuation usage for typewriter vs. computer but not the ubiquitous smartphone.
June 8, 2022
This is a fun book of trivia about punctuation. It includes some of the history of individual punctuation marks. I really liked the information about the period: it explained why spacing after the period changed while I was in grad school.
July 26, 2022
Snails & Monkey Tails is a delightful little book that I savored by reading one or two small sections each day. Besides being informative, it is beautiful and charms the reader with interesting historical side notes as well as engaging bits of humor.
November 25, 2022
This was a fun way to learn punctuation. I bought it for the cover and title. I love black, white and red and the title is clever. it was interesting to read the history of the various punctuation and symbols.
March 22, 2022
Beautiful and informative!
May 1, 2022
Fascinating and fun read.
May 1, 2022
A visual and intellectual feast for anyone who likes typography and typographic history.
May 4, 2022
Loved it! Read it during a break at work when I needed to stop staring at the screen, and it calmed my eyes down. My new favorite grammar book.
June 3, 2022
Who knew that punctuation could be so fascinating?
June 4, 2022
Fun and interesting.
June 8, 2022
Best thing I’ve read all week!
October 15, 2022
Fellow word nerds, this book is a joyful little nugget. I can see so many instructional uses for this in an ELA classroom too.
March 23, 2023
Phenomenal. This book is a great read and will be kept around the house for future reference
May 4, 2024
This book is a tribute to language as well as to design and typography. As a lover of both, this book spoke to me. Its simple and striking design, the shapes of the letters and punctuation marks, the glyphs, and the information about language and punctuation make this book perfect for those eager to learn about spelling and grammar in a way that is visually impactful. The perfect gift for designers who write, and writers who love design!
March 4, 2023
This is an extraordinary book and will make you smarter! Get a copy for yourself — and all your friends! The art of punctuation has never been more beautiful, nor more fun. Don’t miss this one.
November 8, 2023
An absolutely stunning read that stitches together the hidden history of the symbols and icons that are right in front of us. Like Harari’s Sapiens for punctuation. Looks great, too.
February 12, 2023
Short book about different punctuation symbols and their history. Far more interesting than it sounds and gorgeous design to illustrate a grammatical point. Loved seeing the at symbol snails
May 1, 2024
I absolutely loved it, it's just as comprehensive in its breadth as 'Shady Characters', but more concise and beautifully illustrated. That's what comes from a book done by a graphic designer. It only got a little pedantic at times with the grammatical rules, especially towards the end, I started glossing over those parts, but overall one of the best books in its niche.
February 21, 2023
A short and joyful experience. It reads like a children’s book about punctuation; don’t be fooled though, there’s a lot of great historical information discussed inside. Part of its charm is found in the wonderfully playful layout of each page.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews