David Crystal – Making a Point: Book Review & Audio Summary

Book Info

• Book name: Making a Point: The Persnickety Story of English Punctuation
• Author: David Crystal
• Genre: Non-fiction: Social Sciences & Humanities (Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology), Arts & Culture
• Pages: 416
• Published Year: 2015
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
• Language: English

Audio Summary

Synopsis

Ever wondered why we use commas, periods, and semicolons the way we do? David Crystal’s “Making a Point” takes readers on a fascinating journey through the history of English punctuation, revealing that the rules we follow today weren’t always set in stone. From the ancient practice of writing without spaces between words to modern texting conventions that omit periods entirely, Crystal shows how punctuation has constantly evolved to meet our communication needs. This engaging exploration demonstrates that mastering punctuation isn’t about rigidly following rules—it’s about understanding their purpose and adapting to changing times. Whether you’re a grammar enthusiast or simply curious about language, this book offers surprising insights into the marks that shape how we read and write.

Key Takeaways

• Punctuation wasn’t always part of written language—spaces between words only became standard around 700 AD in England, proving we can technically read without it, but it makes comprehension much easier.
• Punctuation marks exist in a hierarchy from largest dividers (paragraph spaces) to smallest (hyphens), and when one mark’s usage changes, it affects all the others in the system.
• Modern communication platforms like texting and instant messaging are actively changing punctuation conventions—for example, periods at the end of messages can now signal annoyance rather than simply ending a sentence.
• Being overly rigid about punctuation rules can be counterproductive—language evolves naturally, and understanding context matters more than strict adherence to outdated conventions.

My Summary

The Revolutionary Idea That Changed Reading Forever

When I first picked up David Crystal’s “Making a Point,” I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting to be captivated by a book about punctuation. But Crystal has this remarkable ability to make you see the familiar in an entirely new light. He opens with a simple thought experiment: imagine trying to read a cafe sign that says “soupoftheday” with no spaces. You’d probably figure it out, but it would take effort.

That’s essentially the story of punctuation in a nutshell. We managed without it for centuries, but once we started using these little marks and spaces, there was no going back. The convenience was simply too great.

What struck me most was learning that spaces between words didn’t become standard in England until around 700 AD. Even more surprising? By 1100 AD, only about half of inscriptions bothered using them. This seems bizarre to us now, but Crystal explains the logic brilliantly. When you have so few written texts in circulation, and most inscriptions are about well-known people and places, ambiguity isn’t really an issue.

Think about it: if you lived in medieval England and saw “STAGNUS” carved into stone, you’d immediately recognize it as Saint Agnes—your local church. Context did all the heavy lifting that punctuation does for us today.

Why Spaces and Punctuation Actually Matter

Crystal provides a perfect example of why punctuation matters in our modern world: “therapistsneedspecialtreatment.” Without spaces, this could be read as either “therapists need special treatment” or “the rapists need special treatment”—two wildly different meanings.

This example really resonated with me because it highlights something we take for granted every single day. When we’re speaking, we don’t need these visual markers. Our brains process the flow of speech naturally. But when encountering written text for the first time, especially complex or ambiguous sentences, punctuation saves us from having to decode meaning like we’re cracking some kind of linguistic puzzle.

What I found particularly interesting is how punctuation serves dual purposes. First, it clarifies meaning and reduces ambiguity—that’s the practical function we all understand. But second, it makes things stand out and adds emphasis, which is more of an artistic or rhetorical function.

Crystal traces how emphasis markers have evolved over time. Quotation marks used to be the go-to method for making something pop on the page. But since quotes also signify actual quotations, dialogue, and irony, they became overloaded with meaning. Enter italics, which provided a cleaner way to emphasize text.

Now, in our digital age, italics are increasingly giving way to bold type. Why? Because we read so much on screens, and the lower resolution of many displays makes italicized text harder to read, especially at smaller sizes. This is a perfect example of how technology directly influences punctuation conventions—something I never would have considered before reading this book.

The Hidden Hierarchy of Punctuation

One of Crystal’s most illuminating concepts is viewing punctuation as a hierarchy of mutually exclusive choices. This framework completely changed how I think about these marks.

At the top of the hierarchy are spaces between paragraphs—the largest dividers that signal major shifts in topic or perspective. Just by glancing at how blank space is distributed on a page, you can instantly tell whether you’re looking at a haiku, a business letter, or an epic poem. That’s powerful visual communication that happens before you read a single word.

Next come periods, which divide sentences—the fundamental building blocks of written communication. Crystal shares a fascinating historical tidbit about telegraph operators spelling out “STOP” after each sentence instead of using periods. This wasn’t just quirky convention; it was practical necessity. Poor handwriting or accidental smudges could turn a period into a comma or make it disappear entirely, potentially changing the meaning of urgent messages.

Below periods in the hierarchy come the smaller dividers: semicolons, colons, commas, and hyphens. Each has its specific job, creating different levels of pause and separation within sentences.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: periods also appear at the bottom of the hierarchy as powerful separators in abbreviations and decimals. Think “U.S.A.” or “$6.30.” The same mark that ends sentences also unifies and separates information in completely different contexts.

How Changing One Mark Changes Everything

Crystal makes a crucial point that I hadn’t considered: punctuation marks don’t exist in isolation. They form an interconnected system where changing the value or usage of one mark inevitably affects all the others.

The most relevant example of this is happening right now with text messaging and instant messaging. There’s a growing trend of omitting periods at the end of sentences in these contexts. At first, this might seem like laziness or degradation of language standards—the kind of thing that makes grammar sticklers clutch their pearls.

But Crystal explains the logic perfectly. If the primary function of a period is to separate sentences and avoid ambiguity, then in a medium where each message or line break already provides that separation, the period becomes functionally redundant. Why type an extra character when it’s not needed?

However—and this is the fascinating part—when periods become optional, their presence becomes meaningful. If most people don’t use periods in casual texts, then someone who does use them must be doing so for a reason. The period has evolved from a neutral sentence-ender into a marker of tone.

Crystal provides a perfect example: if someone asks “Where should we meet?” and you respond “at the football field” without a period, it reads as neutral and friendly. But “at the football field.” with a period can imply annoyance, exasperation, or the subtext of “I already told you this, stupid.”

As someone who texts regularly, this explanation was a revelation. I’d unconsciously picked up on this convention without realizing it was a systematic shift in punctuation usage. Now I’m hyper-aware of when I use or omit periods in messages, and I notice how others use them too.

This evolution demonstrates that punctuation isn’t a fixed set of rules handed down from on high. It’s a living system that adapts to how we actually communicate. The “correct” way to use punctuation is always in flux, responding to new technologies and social contexts.

When Punctuation Policing Goes Too Far

One of my favorite sections of the book is Crystal’s cautionary tale about the Typo Eradication Advancement League. This is a true story about two friends—a writer and a bookseller—who traveled across the United States with the mission of correcting typographical errors on signs.

Armed with white-out, markers, and an unwavering belief in their cause, they set out to fix America’s punctuation problems one sign at a time. On the surface, this might seem admirable. After all, shouldn’t we maintain standards? Shouldn’t public signs model correct usage?

But Crystal uses this story to illustrate an important point: it’s possible to take punctuation enforcement too far. While their intentions may have been good, these self-appointed grammar vigilantes were essentially vandalizing property in the name of linguistic purity.

This resonates with me because I’ve definitely been that person who mentally corrects signs or winces at misplaced apostrophes. But Crystal’s book has made me more thoughtful about when correction is helpful versus when it’s just pedantic.

Language serves communication, not the other way around. If a sign successfully conveys its meaning—even with unconventional punctuation—is it really wrong? And more importantly, who gets to decide what’s “correct” when usage is constantly evolving?

This doesn’t mean anything goes or that we should abandon standards entirely. Rather, Crystal advocates for a balanced approach that recognizes both the value of established conventions and the inevitability of change. Understanding the purpose behind punctuation rules matters more than blindly following them.

Practical Applications for Modern Writers

So what does all this history and theory mean for those of us writing today? Crystal’s insights offer several practical takeaways.

First, context matters enormously. The punctuation appropriate for a formal academic paper differs from what works in a text message, which differs from what’s effective in creative writing. Rather than applying the same rigid rules everywhere, we should consider our audience, medium, and purpose.

Second, we should stay aware of evolving conventions without being enslaved to them. If you’re writing for a younger audience comfortable with digital communication, overly formal punctuation might create distance. Conversely, if you’re writing a business proposal, following established conventions signals professionalism.

Third, punctuation is a tool for clarity and emphasis, not an end in itself. Before adding or removing a comma, ask yourself: does this help or hinder understanding? Does it create the rhythm and emphasis I want?

I’ve started applying this mindset to my own writing on Books4Soul. For instance, I’m more intentional about using em dashes—like this—to create conversational asides that feel natural in a blog post but might be too informal for other contexts. I’m also more aware of how paragraph spacing affects readability on screens versus print.

Comparing Crystal’s Approach to Other Language Books

What sets “Making a Point” apart from other books about grammar and punctuation is Crystal’s fundamental attitude. Unlike prescriptive grammar guides that lay down the law about “correct” usage, Crystal takes a descriptive, historical approach that explains how and why punctuation evolved.

This reminds me of Lynne Truss’s “Eats, Shoots & Leaves,” another popular book about punctuation. While Truss’s book is entertaining and passionate, it takes a more prescriptive stance—celebrating “correct” usage and lamenting modern “errors.” Crystal, by contrast, is more interested in understanding change than resisting it.

Similarly, while books like “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White provide valuable guidelines for clear writing, they present rules as relatively fixed. Crystal shows us that these rules have always been in motion and will continue to evolve.

This doesn’t make one approach better than the other—they serve different purposes. But for readers who want to understand the “why” behind punctuation rather than just the “what,” Crystal’s book is invaluable.

Limitations and Considerations

While I found “Making a Point” fascinating, it’s worth noting that at 416 pages, this is a comprehensive work that goes deep into historical detail. If you’re looking for a quick reference guide to punctuation rules, this isn’t it. Crystal is more interested in the story of punctuation than in providing a handbook.

Additionally, the book focuses primarily on English punctuation. While many concepts apply broadly, readers interested in how other languages handle these issues won’t find much comparative analysis here.

The book also assumes a certain level of interest in linguistic history. If you’re not curious about medieval manuscripts or the evolution of printing conventions, some sections might feel overly detailed.

That said, Crystal’s accessible writing style makes even the historical sections engaging. He has a gift for finding the human stories and surprising details that bring dry topics to life.

Questions Worth Pondering

Crystal’s book left me thinking about several questions that I’d love to discuss with other readers. How much should we resist changes to punctuation conventions, and when should we embrace them? Is there value in maintaining standards even when they seem arbitrary, or does that just create unnecessary barriers?

More personally, how do our own punctuation choices reflect our identities and values? When I use a semicolon, am I signaling education and formality? When I omit periods in texts, am I performing casualness? These aren’t questions with simple answers, but they’re worth considering as we navigate an increasingly text-based world.

Why This Book Matters Now

In an era of rapid technological change and evolving communication platforms, understanding punctuation’s flexibility is more important than ever. We’re not witnessing the decline of language—we’re watching it adapt in real-time.

Crystal’s book gives us the historical perspective to recognize that this has always been the case. The scribes who first started putting spaces between words were innovating just as much as the teenagers who invented emoji. Both were finding new ways to make written communication more effective and expressive.

For anyone who writes—whether that’s emails, blog posts, novels, or text messages—”Making a Point” offers valuable insights into the tools we use every day. It’s made me a more thoughtful writer and a more tolerant reader. I still appreciate good punctuation, but I’m less likely to judge unconventional usage without considering its context and purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered why we use these little marks, where they came from, or where they’re heading, David Crystal has written the definitive guide. It’s scholarly without being dry, comprehensive without being overwhelming, and it might just change how you think about every comma, period, and semicolon you encounter.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on punctuation and how it’s changing. Do you have strong feelings about certain marks? Have you noticed your own usage evolving? Let’s keep this conversation going in the comments below—after all, language is a community project, and we’re all participating in its ongoing story.