In her book "Eats, Shoots & Leaves," Lynne Truss discusses the struggles writers face when their unique styles are confronted by standardized editing practices. Writers often feel protective of their distinctive punctuation choices, which can lead to frustration when editors apply a specific house style that may alter or restrict their preferred marks. This tension highlights the challenge of balancing personal expression with the expectations of conventional writing norms.

Truss emphasizes that the limitations imposed by a narrow selection of punctuation can leave writers feeling desperate, as they strive to convey their intended meaning effectively. This situation underscores the fundamental conflict between individual creativity and the institutional demands of uniformity in writing, raising important questions about the value of stylistic diversity in the literary world.