{"product_id":"on-the-mark-a-history-of-punctuation-from-ancient-egypt-to-the-emoticon-9781800819566","title":"On the Mark: A History of Punctuation from Ancient Egypt to the Emoticon","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe first global history of punctuation tells the story of the marks that give voice to the written word.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eSo. Good. So. Sharp. So. Clear. You. Need. This. Book. Period' Lucy Mangan, \u003c\/b\u003eauthor of\u003cb\u003e \u003ci\u003eBookish\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy does this sentence start with a capital letter?  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy is this one broken up - and why does it end in a question mark?  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDoes anyone really know what semicolons are for; why are italics italicised, and why do words have spaces between them?  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePunctuation turns written words into meaningful language, inflecting them with nuance and tone: it can be the difference between a nice surprise! And a nasty ending... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFlorence Hazrat's ground-breaking history of punctuation stretches from the ancient past to into the digital realms of today, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the emoji, the birth of the printing press to the death of the Oxford Comma.  \u003cbr\u003eIn this definitive biography of the marks that give voice to our written words, and the characters that have shaped their usage, Hazrat reveals their richly storied past and how punctuation is evolving and more important than ever as we move from the printed page to the digital screen.  \u003cbr\u003eA deeply researched treasure trove that wears its knowledge lightly, On the Mark is a fascinating odyssey through time and place for language lovers everywhere.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis wonderful history of punctuation is also a history of the world. In Hazrat's hands, every story has a point, and every point a story -- Simon Garfield, \u003c\/b\u003eauthor of\u003cb\u003e \u003ci\u003eTHE PEN\u003c\/i\u003e \u0026amp; \u003ci\u003eJUST MY TYPE\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eA thought-provoking history of language's unsung dots and squiggles. Punctuation may be silent, but thankfully there's Hazrat to tell the tale -- Eli Burnstein, author of DICTIONARY OF FINE DISTINCTIONS\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDetails\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eISBN13: 9781800819566\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of Pages: 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdition: Main\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication Date: 22 Sep 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher: Profile Books Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication City, Country: London, United Kingdom\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (cm): 23.6(H)x15.4(L)x3.2(W)520\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight (gm): 520\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h4\u003eDr Florence Hazrat is a researcher and writer, and a world expert on the history and culture of punctuation. A BBC New Generation Thinker, Dr Hazrat has appeared on Radio 4's \u003ci\u003eWord of Mouth\u003c\/i\u003e and writes the Substack \u003ci\u003eMind the Gap\u003c\/i\u003e. Her first book, \u003ci\u003eAn Admirable Point\u003c\/i\u003e, a cultural history of the exclamation mark, was published by Profile in 2022.\u003ch4\u003eReviews\u003c\/h4\u003eA roller coaster of a story -- John McWhorter * New York Times *\u003cbr\u003eA fascinating history... An appealing, lavishly researched scholarly inquiry into punctuation over the centuries * Guardian *\u003cbr\u003eA delightful tale ... rollicking ... crammed with fascinating facts * Economist *\u003cbr\u003eA heartily entertaining look at the characters who formed the way we write today ... A perceptive examination * Country Life *\u003cbr\u003eAn intriguing history * Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003eEntertaining ... Hazrat brings an important subject to life * Literary Review *\u003cbr\u003eDelightful ... Hazrat believes that punctuation is one of the most extraordinary inventions in human history, and it's difficult to argue ... a heartily entertaining look at the characters who formed the way we write today * Mail on Sunday *\u003cbr\u003eDeft, thoughtful and fascinating. This book exposes the hidden language that surrounds our words -- Mark Forsyth, author of THE ETYMOLOGICON\u003cbr\u003eSo. Good. So. Sharp. So. Clear. You. Need. This. Book. Period -- Lucy Mangan, author of BOOKISH\u003cbr\u003eThis wonderful history of punctuation is also a history of the world. In Hazrat's hands, every story has a point, and every point a story -- Simon Garfield, author of JUST MY TYPE\u003cbr\u003eAn absolute delight! Rich, wise, and elegantly told. This is a treasure chest of pleasingly obscure information. There is so much more to the written word than the letters of the alphabet -- Dennis Duncan, author of INDEX, A HISTORY OF THE\u003cbr\u003eOn the Mark is dizzying, compendious and illuminating - a timely and rewarding quest through the past, present and future of punctuation -- Keith Houston, author of SHADY CHARACTERS\u003cbr\u003eA thought-provoking history of language's unsung dots and squiggles. Punctuation may be silent, but thankfully there's Hazrat to tell the tale -- Eli Burnstein, author of DICTIONARY OF FINE DISTINCTIONS","brand":"Florence Hazrat","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50735565897945,"sku":"9781800819566","price":49.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0502\/9530\/8441\/files\/9781800819566.jpg?v=1792168781","url":"https:\/\/www.arielbooks.com.au\/products\/on-the-mark-a-history-of-punctuation-from-ancient-egypt-to-the-emoticon-9781800819566","provider":"Ariel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}