Snails & Monkey Tails: A Visual Guide to Punctuation & Symbols

“Beautiful and endlessly fascinating. . . . you’ll never look at punctuation the same way again.” —Michael Bierut, partner, Pentagram

In this show-stopping guide with more than seventy-five uniquely designed two-color spreads—a rollicking linguistic ride in the spirit of Eats, Shoots & Leaves and Just My Type—award–winning graphic designer Michael Arndt explores the typographic origins, names, and shapes of both common and uncommon punctuation marks and symbols, as well as the usage of each.

In graphically engaging spreads that use typography in an innovative way, Snails & Monkey Tails examines the evolution of these mighty linguistic tools—from the punctum, or point, created by an ancient scribe to the guillemet, used most commonly in lieu of quote marks by the French (and named in honor of typographer Guillaume Le Bé).

Snails (@) & Monkey Tails (&) is packed with facts, history, stories, and lore, as well as grammar explained clearly and with examples. Complete with a list of useful terms and clear diagrams for creating typographical marks and symbols correctly on both PC and Apple computers, Snails & Monkey Tails is essential for bibliophiles, writers, grammarians, graphic designers, typography enthusiasts, logophiles, and anyone with a passion for the written word.

Praise for Michael Arndt’s books

“Clever . . . exuberant in its sense of fun.” —Publishers Weekly

“Evocative . . . fresh, engaging.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

© 2023 Harper (Ebook): 9780063061255

Release date

Ebook: December 15, 2023