Book Review: ‘On the Mark’ by Florence Hazrat

Book Title: On the Mark
Author: Florence Hazrat
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 1800819560
Date Published: Jul. 20, 2026

Book Review

Did you ever wonder who, when and how the grammar rules are actually made? Who proposed how parentheses, hyphens, or punctuation marks are to be used? How did a single exclamation mark take over the entire emotional baggage of a sentence? Has AI overworked and overlooked the traditional grammar rules?

Drawing on data from the past, the book “On the Mark” by Florence Hazrat explores the historical and cultural significance of punctuation, with a particular focus on the exclamation mark.

Hazrat highlights various perspectives, citing figures such as Fowler, who viewed the excessive use of exclamation marks as a sign of inexperience, and Elmore Leonard, who advised writers to limit their use.

The book also discusses how totalitarian regimes, such as the Nazis, misused exclamation marks to project intensity, contrasting this with the literary conventions of authors such as Shakespeare, for whom exclamation marks often indicated emotional distress.

The lively and expressive use of punctuation is shown through author Hazrat’s use of exclamation marks, which she considers an important part of writing and thinking. Her book gives a detailed account of how punctuation has developed over time, beginning with ancient marks and continuing with the semicolon, which Aldo Manuzio introduced during the Renaissance.

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Hazrat emphasises the importance of punctuation in writing style and thinking, and also investigates the relationship between writers and their punctuation.

The book also looks at current concerns, like how technology affects writing norms and the significance of emojis in modern communication. Hazrat criticises AI language models for overusing the em dash to simulate human spontaneity, citing concerns about a future in which serious writing is reduced.

Throughout, she emphasises the importance of punctuation in storytelling, from ancient civilisations to modern digital interactions, exposing a rich history of artists and innovators who created language.

“On the Mark” is both a lighthearted handbook and a serious examination of the nature and impact of punctuation on literary expression.

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