If you scatter punctuation marks like black pepper across a blank sheet of paper, don’t worry, help is at hand! The Grammar Minute will make you smile 60 seconds at a time because a young and gifted writer brings freshness to writing English.
The writer is Lauren Smyth, a current Hillsdale College student and novelist. She is energetic in her analysis of English, respectful of its traditions, and original in her critiques of its usage. You will laugh while listening; Grammar Minute is the funniest show on radio. Two sample critiques follow:
“Not un”: When we say something is “not unlikely” or “not unexpected,” the Grammar Minute finds such ‘not uns’ ugly, boring, and pedantic. Since it is also — ahem —not uncommon for me to use such a stale construct, I thank Grammar Minute for this excellent advice. I am in my late 70s but I still want to learn and I have told all my grandchildren about Grammar Minute.
Semicolon: Grammar Minute finds the semicolon — a modest punctuation tool — antiquated. By contrast the author loves an obscure but useful diacritical mark called the “diaeresis.” We disagree per the semicolon. With champions such as Herman Melville, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, the noble semicolon has proven its worth to English users. Writers use semicolons to signal a possible link between independent clauses. Readers can accept or reject the connection. I find the semicolon valuable.
Bravo to this podcast and its creator. I really look forward to new Grammar Minute episodes. It is thoughtful and engaging, fast and fun. The music and production values are top notch. Would that we could give Grammar Minute more than five stars!
