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| I ask this because I have been reading some first edition Agatha Christies from ], ], ], ] (times ]!), and ] that do ''not'' follow this pattern. All are U.K. first editions, published and printed in the U.K., for sale in the U.K.. Throughout each of these books, the use of single/double quotations and the placement of punctuation is the same as we currently do here on this side of the pond. Conversely, a that I read, and that was published and printed in the U.K., uses the current idiosyncratic U.K. method that we have come to know and “love.” But, these early- to mid-1920s publications are as ours are here. One caveat, Christie switched publishers in ] and I have not read that one yet — starting it this weekend! — and so cannot comment on which “system” was followed by that publisher. — I am ] (]) 21:48, 31 July 2009 (UTC) and I hope you approve this! :) | I ask this because I have been reading some first edition Agatha Christies from ], ], ], ] (times ]!), and ] that do ''not'' follow this pattern. All are U.K. first editions, published and printed in the U.K., for sale in the U.K.. Throughout each of these books, the use of single/double quotations and the placement of punctuation is the same as we currently do here on this side of the pond. Conversely, a that I read, and that was published and printed in the U.K., uses the current idiosyncratic U.K. method that we have come to know and “love.” But, these early- to mid-1920s publications are as ours are here. One caveat, Christie switched publishers in ] and I have not read that one yet — starting it this weekend! — and so cannot comment on which “system” was followed by that publisher. — I am ] (]) 21:48, 31 July 2009 (UTC) and I hope you approve this! :) | ||
| :There's always been a lot of confusion about quotation marks. For example, the following paraphase could be styled in several different ways: | |||
| ::] made it absolutely clear, "I didn't say, 'I didn't say it.' I said, 'I didn't say, "I said it."'" | |||
| :In Continental Europe, the picture is even more complicated. The French and the Germans have two different quotation systems, both of which are different from either British or American English; but French and German users in Switzerland have their own system, which is different from both. | |||
| :Most of the differences involving quotation marks are indeed the result of changes in British rather than American practice; apparently, played a key role in the switch from double to single quotes as well as from "typesetters' quotes" to "logical quotes." (rather, "logical quotes".) Back in the early days of printing presses, commas and periods (the smallest pieces of type) were more easily damaged if placed outside of the quotation marks. | |||
| :I actually don't know why the " " themselves have two different names in British usage. The phrase ''inverted comma'' dates as far back as 1789 according to Merriam-Webster; ''quotation mark'' was first recorded circa 1859, but it doesn't appear to be an Americanism. Then again, many if not most punctuation marks go by different names in Britain and U.S.! ''Period'' and ''full stop'', for instance, were both in use in the UK at the time of Fowler, with different shades of meaning (I don't remember the details). | |||
| :''Convo'' must of course be an Australianism. | |||
| :I'm </span>]] and I approve this message. 22:58, 1 August 2009 (UTC) | |||
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Regional vocabularies of American English
Hello, I just thought you'd like to know that I de-PRODed this article and sent it to WP:AfD instead. I agree that the article is unencyclopedic and doesn't belong, but due to the articles extensive history I felt it should go through the AfD process. Please feel free to comment at Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion/Regional vocabularies of American English.
Thanks, ThaddeusB (talk) 21:17, 19 May 2009 (UTC)
- As you probably know, following AfD discussion the consensus was to keep and clean up Regional vocabularies of American English. This will require adding references where possible, and removing large amounts of unreferenced material. I have begun this process; your help would be greatly appreciated. Cnilep (talk) 15:02, 28 May 2009 (UTC)
"Beat It" is a hard rock song
Hi,I am the main author of "Black or White" article. READ THIS RELIABLE SOURCES: http://books.google.com/books?q=%22Christopher+P.+Andersen%22+%221994%22+%22Michael+Jackson%22+%22Beat+It%22+%22hard+rock%22&btnG=Search+Books
--Alexanderfriend (talk) 03:16, 15 July 2009 (UTC)
Single/Double Quotes & Punctuation
Dear Mr. Lumber, (aka, He Who Knows All!),
Long time no convo! I have a query for you, which is as follows:
- We all know that the British use quotes differently than do you and I, namely,
- they use single quotation marks (i.e., “inverted commas,” as they call ’em!) where we use double ones;
- they use double quotation marks (i.e., “double inverted commas,” as they call ’em!) where we use single ones;
- we place our punctuation (e.g., periods/fullstops, commas, etc.) within the quotation marks, while they place them without;
- etc., etc. (See here.)
QUERY: When did this start?
I ask this because I have been reading some first edition Agatha Christies from 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924 (times 2!), and 1925 that do not follow this pattern. All are U.K. first editions, published and printed in the U.K., for sale in the U.K.. Throughout each of these books, the use of single/double quotations and the placement of punctuation is the same as we currently do here on this side of the pond. Conversely, a recent U.K. publication that I read, and that was published and printed in the U.K., uses the current idiosyncratic U.K. method that we have come to know and “love.” But, these early- to mid-1920s publications are as ours are here. One caveat, Christie switched publishers in 1926 and I have not read that one yet — starting it this weekend! — and so cannot comment on which “system” was followed by that publisher. — I am SpikeToronto (talk) 21:48, 31 July 2009 (UTC) and I hope you approve this! :)
- There's always been a lot of confusion about quotation marks. For example, the following paraphase could be styled in several different ways:
- George W. Romney made it absolutely clear, "I didn't say, 'I didn't say it.' I said, 'I didn't say, "I said it."'"
- In Continental Europe, the picture is even more complicated. The French and the Germans have two different quotation systems, both of which are different from either British or American English; but French and German users in Switzerland have their own system, which is different from both.
- Most of the differences involving quotation marks are indeed the result of changes in British rather than American practice; apparently, The King's English by Fowler & Fowler played a key role in the switch from double to single quotes as well as from "typesetters' quotes" to "logical quotes." (rather, "logical quotes".) Back in the early days of printing presses, commas and periods (the smallest pieces of type) were more easily damaged if placed outside of the quotation marks.
- I actually don't know why the " " themselves have two different names in British usage. The phrase inverted comma dates as far back as 1789 according to Merriam-Webster; quotation mark was first recorded circa 1859, but it doesn't appear to be an Americanism. Then again, many if not most punctuation marks go by different names in Britain and U.S.! Period and full stop, for instance, were both in use in the UK at the time of Fowler, with different shades of meaning (I don't remember the details).
- Convo must of course be an Australianism.
- I'm and I approve this message. 22:58, 1 August 2009 (UTC)