Top 4 Quotes by Eric Partridge

When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to use a colon much as a budding pianist regards the ability to play with crossed hands: many of us, when we are older, regard it as a proof of literary skill,

When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to use a colon much as a budding pianist regards the ability to play with crossed hands: many of us, when we are older, regard it as a proof of literary skill, maturity, even of sophistication; and many; whether young, not so young, or old, employ it gauchely, haphazardly, or at best inconsistently.

Eric Partridge

Writing, Maturity, Hands

Eric Partridge (2003). “You Have a Point There: A Guide to Punctuation and Its Allies”, p.54, Routledge

War…next to love, has most captured the world’s imagination

Eric Partridge

War, Imagination, World

Ralph Hale Mottram, John Easton, Eric Partridge (1930). “Three Men's War: The Personal Records of Active Service”

A dash derives from "to dash," to shatter, strike violently, to throw suddenly or violently, hence to throw carelessly in or on, hence to write carelessly or suddenly, to add or insert suddenly or carelessly to or in the page. "To dash" comes from Middle English daschen, itself probably from Scandinavian-compare Danish daske, to beat, to strike. Ultimately the word is-rather obviously-echoic.

Eric Partridge

Writing, Add, Pages

Eric Partridge (2003). “You Have a Point There: A Guide to Punctuation and Its Allies”, p.70, Routledge