Punk’s Reviews > Founding Grammars: How Early America's War over Words Shaped Today's Language > Status Update

Of Strunk and White, Geoffrey Pullum says their statements about grammar are "uninformed by evidence."

Of a series of 1870s articles: "The authors' description of typical verbal criticism could easily apply to a majority of grammar discussions before and since. They note 'a certain arrogance of tone which jars unpleasantly upon the reader's feelings,' and comment that the 'denunciatory style' is more appropriate 'for a prophet warning sinners...than for a scholar discussing disputed points of grammar and expression.'"

Ah, look who I just ran into: Richard Grant White, influential "verbal critic" (he complained about other people's grammar) during the late 1800s, who, I learn, also edited a twelve volume edition of Shakespeare's works, later published as The Riverside Shakespeare, a book I own in a single volume and was forced to cart around with me across campus at least twice a week.

Lindley Murray: "I had the satisfaction to perceive that all my literary productions were approved...But I was fully persuaded that an author ought to terminate his labours before the tide of favour begins to turn; and before he incurs the charge of being so infected with the morbid humour for writing, as not to have the discretion to know when to stop."

Starts with a little refresher course on Noah Webster.

I have two books on this subject and I'm reading this one first because it weighs less.