On the Dot

Alexander Humez has authored or co-authored ten trade and reference books, including collaborations with his brother such as Latin for People, Alpha to Omega, A B C Et Cetera, and Zero to Lazy Eight (also with J. Maguire). He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.Nicholas Humez is a freelance writer and silversmith. In addition to the above collaborations, he is the author of Silversmithing: A Basic Manual, plus four poetry chapbooks. He lives outside Cleveland, Ohio.

• Introduction: The Tiniest Sign ; Time and Chance: Punctuality and the Coin Toss ; Dit Dah: Codes to Sigh For ; With a Bullet: Checklists and Dingbats ; And a Half: Musical Dots ; For Short: Mr., Sr., et al. ; Dot Dot Dot: Ellipses, Lacunae, and Missing Links ; Stet: Emendations of Immortality ; Ninety-Eight Point Six: Decimals and Determinings ; Dot Com: Computation Punctuation ; Bang!: The Dot Meets The Family ; Period: The End Point ; Afterword and Acknowledgements ; Notes/Bibliography/Index

"An excellent history of an underexamined typographical mark." --London Review of Books"To their credit, the Humez brothers take us beyond grammar vigilantism and demonstrate that even the most common punctuation marks serve a purpose beyond grammar. They focus on the history and use of the dot and those punctuation marks where it resides (semicolons, question marks, ellipses, etc.). They delve into uses of the dot beyond punctuation, in Morse Code and musical notation and mathematical and computational punctuation." --The Weekly Standard"An engrossing collection of curiosities that rewards dipping in and out at one's leisure." --Library Journal"In the emendations of proofreaders, the computer coding of internet engineers, the calculations of accountants, and the musical notations of composers, the Humez brothers catalogue an impressive array of meanings conveyed by the dot. The author's lively inquiries open surprising political and literary insights. Who would have guessed, in short, that a mere speck of ink could inspire such a fascinating foray?" --Booklist"Ideal for etymologists and trivia buffs, this book covers an array of information and innovations on the relevance of this speck, from the preDewey decimal library of Alexandria to the modern global culture of URLs, instant messaging and the music of Stevie Wonder." --Publisher's Weekly"Like its subject, the book is brief but wide ranging. This is not a straightforward history: Humez and Humez meander through etymology and culture, leaving the reader to, in effect, connect the dots. A must for academic and public libraries, this is the sort of book that can liven a class on the the history of orthography or design. Highly recommended." --Choice