Strunk and White

I was charged by a favorite professor of mine to "read, breathe, and sleep with Strunk and White." That describes the kind of action I will be getting this summer--a sterile and inflexible book (is that a metaphor?).

Anyway, this is not the point of my blog. Sorry to those of you who were gearing up for a blog entry on runner's high. It's on the backburner, along with one on Kelly Clarkson and "heroes."

As I read the elementary rules of usage, I was also receiving subliminal elementary principles of life. Take, for instance, this sentence, which according to Strunk and White does not need a colon. I agree with their assessment.

"Understanding is that penetrating quality of knowledge that grows from theory, practice, conviction, assertion, error, and humiliation."

Ha, this is what I am seeking in life--understanding of my current situation. This is so plainly written and pragmatic for me right now. Thank you Strunk and White, even if I still lack the understanding of when a colon shall be used: here, maybe? What is "no?"

On the same exact page, an example is given when "a colon may introduce a quotation that supports or contributes to the preceding clause.

The squalor of the streets reminded her of a line from Oscar Wilde: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Yes, me too Oscar, I will look for those stars, even when they blink ever so faintly. On a tangential note, I think I'm in the pothole, as opposed to the gutter, to provide a more appropriate Southwestern PA context.

The number of the subject determines the number of the verb. What? Anyway, under that heading is this sentence:

"The bittersweet flavor of youth--its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges--is (not are) not soon forgotten." That was on the next page. C'mon, is this some sort of linguists conspiracy? Perhaps, please read on.

A plural verb is commonly used when none suggest more than one thing or person.

"None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right."

I was sure I was doing everything right up until last month. But as the next example cites, "The trouble with truth is its many varieties." In my case, I am dealing with the following varieties: hard truths, epiphantic ones, and the unlikeable sort. How do you like me now colon?

And the ironies continue...