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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage

Tom locked himself in the shed

In her wonderful book on punctuation, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves", Lynne Truss has the following example on the use of the colon:

"Tom locked himself in the shed: England lost to Argentina".

She claims the meaning is clear: Tom locked himself in the shed because England lost to Argentina.
But am I amiss in considering another meaning?
Tom was the most important player in the English team. For some strange reason, he locked himself in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina.

Opinions?
Bob G
  

Top answer

[nq:1]In her wonderful book on punctuation, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves", Lynne Truss has the following example on the use of ... the English team. For some strange reason, he locked himself in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina.

— Usenet

  • [nq:1]In her wonderful book on punctuation, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves", Lynne Truss has the following example on the use of ...
  • the English team.
  • For some strange reason, he locked himself in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina.
  • [/nq] The referee was Swiss.
  • DC
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18 Answers
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[nq:1]In her wonderful book on punctuation, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves", Lynne Truss has the following example on the use of ... the English team. For some strange reason, he locked himself in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina. Opinions?[/nq]
The referee was Swiss.
DC
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[nq:1]In her wonderful book on punctuation, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves", Lynne Truss has the following example on the use of ... the English team. For some strange reason, he locked himself in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina. Opinions?[/nq]
I think it is a misuse of the colon.

Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
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[nq:2]In her wonderful book on punctuation, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves", ... in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina. Opinions?[/nq]
[nq:1]I think it is a misuse of the colon.[/nq]
I don't really like either of them: the colon deserves better than these.
Matti
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Bob G wrote on 05 Jul 2004:
[nq:1]In her wonderful book on punctuation, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves", Lynne Truss has the following example on the use of ... the English team. For some strange reason, he locked himself in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina. Opinions?[/nq]
It's not a good example of how to use a colon, IMHO. I'd use a dash if I were forced to combine those two
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Bob G. writes of a Lynne Truss example:
[nq:1]"Tom locked himself in the shed: England lost to Argentina". She claims the meaning is clear: Tom locked himself in the shed because England lost to Argentina. But am I amiss in considering another meaning? Tom was the most important player in the English team.[/nq]
Not "on" the English team?
[nq:1]For some strange reason, he locked himself
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[nq:2]I think it is a misuse of the colon.[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't really like either of them: the colon deserves better than these. Matti[/nq]
Not enough fibre / fiber results in verbal diahorrhea..

Sorry, Stupot
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Depends on context. Simply written down on its own, and handed to someone who knew nothing about football, or who Tom might be, then, yes, it could be interpreted in the way you suggest. If this were the case, the colon would be a bad choice.
But in the middle of (say) a book about Tom, who has been established as an England fan and a shed owner, it would make perfect sense.

Mike M
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[nq:1]Bob G. writes of a Lynne Truss example:[/nq]
[nq:2]... Tom was the most important player in the English team.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not "on" the English team?[/nq]
Or is this a mixed pondentialism? Would it not be American to say "on the English team", British to say "in the English side"?

Gary Williams
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[nq:2]Tom was the most important player in the English team. ... in the shed and, therefore, England lost to Argentina. Opinions?[/nq]
[nq:1]I think it is a misuse of the colon.[/nq]
Just what did Tom do in that shed to make you think so?

Charles Riggs
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[nq:2]I think it is a misuse of the colon.[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't really like either of them: the colon deserves better than these.[/nq]
Punctuation marks have needs and desires?

Charles Riggs
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