--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They had just digested a recent meal of…" description: "\"“They had just digested a recent meal of prepositions and were happily farting out apostrophes and ampersands; the air was heav'y with th'em&.”\" — Jasp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/jasper-fforde-797_fantasy_they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of_75360.png" --- # They had just digested a recent meal of prepositions and… ![“They had just digested a recent meal of prepositions and were happily farting out apostrophes and ampersands; the air was heav'y with th'em&.” quote by Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/jasper-fforde-797_fantasy_they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of_75360.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/jasper-fforde-797_fantasy_they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of_75360.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/jasper-fforde-797_fantasy_they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of_75360.png) > ““They had just digested a recent meal of prepositions and were happily farting out apostrophes and ampersands; the air was heav'y with th'em&.”” [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical critique of language overuse, where grammatical elements are treated as consumable food, leading to noisy, cluttered communication. **In simple terms:** Language overload creates noise. Key Takeaway Excessive grammar harms clarity. Themes language criticism humor creativity communication theory semantic overload Mood playful critical ironic Type satire observation commentary When to use this quote - editing drafts - teaching grammar - writing workshops - copyediting - language design Key Concepts syntax punctuation semantic noise linguistic play Practical Applications - improve writing clarity - educate on concise expression Questions to Reflect On - How does over-punctuating affect reader comprehension? - What balance should be struck between grammatical precision and readability? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Digested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digested-720628/) [Digested Recent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digested-recent-977035/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Farting Apostrophes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farting-apostrophes-977032/) [Happily Farting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happily-farting-977034/) [Jasper-fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jasper-fforde-96284/) [Just Digested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-digested-977033/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [“magic swirls about us like an invisible fog of energy that can be tapped by those gifted enough, using a variety of techniques that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/magic-swirls-about-us-like-an-invisible-fog-of-energy-that-can-be/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“After almost two hours, the phone rang. I could guess who it was. "Hello, Blix," I said before he could say anything. "Adding kidnapping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/after-almost-two-hours-the-phone-rang-i-could-guess-who-it-was-hello/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“A Quarkbeast is a small hyena-shaped creature that is covered in leathery scales and often described as: 'One tenth Labrador, six-tenths velociraptor and three-tenths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/a-quarkbeast-is-a-small-hyena-shaped-creature-that-is-covered-in/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“Good," said Moobin. "Any questions?" "Yes," said Tiger. "Why do inflammable and flammable mean the same thing?" "Sorry, I should rephrase that: Any questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/good-said-moobin-any-questions-yes-said-tiger-why-do-inflammable-and/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“...Mind you, if we we're talking about regeneration, we could go a step further and take a leaf out of the sponge book. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/mind-you-if-we-we-re-talking-about-regeneration-we-could-go-a-step/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“I see you've met Patrick of Ludlow," I replied, trying to stifle a giggle, for Tiger was thirty feet up in the shabby atrium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/i-see-you-ve-met-patrick-of-ludlow-i-replied-trying-to-stifle-a/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/some-books-are-to-be-tasted-others-to-be-swallowed-and-some-few-to-be/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“For knowledge to be digested, it must be absorbed with relish," wrote Anatole France.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-knowledge-to-be-digested-it-must-be-absorbed-with-relish-wrote/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The reason honey is so easy to digest is that its already been digested by a bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-honey-is-so-easy-to-digest-is-that-its-already-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I didn't just eat hot dogs. I studied how the food went into your system and how it would be digested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-didn-t-just-eat-hot-dogs-i-studied-how-the-food-went-into-your/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [Journeying through secret doors, curving corridors, and connecting rooms into the mountain was like being digested by the different organs of a deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-grey/journeying-through-secret-doors-curving-corridors-and-connecting/) [Alex Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-grey/) > [“Francis Bacon once remarked that “some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” Reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/francis-bacon-once-remarked-that-some-books-are-to-be-tasted-others/) [Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) > [A lion is made up of the lambs he's digested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgos-seferis/a-lion-is-made-up-of-the-lambs-he-s-digested/) [Giorgos Seferis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgos-seferis/) > [“Isn't the information about your ability enough to digest right now?" " The info is digested , Michael. As a matter of fact, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myra-mcentire/isn-t-the-information-about-your-ability-enough-to-digest-right-now/) [Myra McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myra-mcentire/) > [Knowledge that is not put into practice is like food that is not digested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/knowledge-that-is-not-put-into-practice-is-like-food-that-is-not/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) ## More by Jasper Fforde > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Ill-fitting grammar are like ill-fitting shoes. You can get used to it for a bit, but then one day your toes fall off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/ill-fitting-grammar-are-like-ill-fitting-shoes-you-can-get-used-to-it/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Agents and publishers only want one thing - good writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/agents-and-publishers-only-want-one-thing-good-writing/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Take no heed of her… She reads a lot of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/take-no-heed-of-her-she-reads-a-lot-of-books/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“Our own dimension was coded ID-11 and was the only League member with diphtheria, David Hasselhoff and the French, which amused the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/our-own-dimension-was-coded-id-11-and-was-the-only-league-member-with/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Don't ever call me mad, Mycroft. I'm not mad. I'm just ... well, differently moraled, that's all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/don-t-ever-call-me-mad-mycroft-i-m-not-mad-i-m-just-well-differently/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [After all, reading is arguably a far more creative and imaginative process than writing; when the reader creates emotion in their head, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/after-all-reading-is-arguably-a-far-more-creative-and-imaginative/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“Sometimes your destiny takes you to dark places where you'd rather not be, but destiny, as they say, is destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/sometimes-your-destiny-takes-you-to-dark-places-where-you-d-rather/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“Whoever controls the supply of metaphor controls fiction! . . . Metaphor should be controlled. A glut on the market would make fiction overtly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/whoever-controls-the-supply-of-metaphor-controls-fiction-metaphor/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“A sloppy half-Windsor is the first symptom of serial indolence' she replied in the patronizing voice that Yellows reserved for Rule-breakers, 'and ignoring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/a-sloppy-half-windsor-is-the-first-symptom-of-serial-indolence-she/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [The universe always moves from an ordered state to a disordered one; that a glass may fall to the ground and shatter yet you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/the-universe-always-moves-from-an-ordered-state-to-a-disordered-one/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [To espresso or to latte, that is the question...whether 'tis tastier on the palate to choose white mocha over plain...or to take a cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/to-espresso-or-to-latte-that-is-the-question-whether-tis-tastier-on/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [I've got six months to sort out the hackers, get the Japanese knotweed under control and find an acceptable form of narcissus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/i-ve-got-six-months-to-sort-out-the-hackers-get-the-japanese-knotweed/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“They keep an eye on forgery, illegal dealing and overtly free thespian interpretations. The actor in with them was Graham Huxtable. He was putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/they-keep-an-eye-on-forgery-illegal-dealing-and-overtly-free-thespian/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [If it weren't for greed, intolerance, hate, passion and murder, you would have no works of art, no great buildings, no medical science, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/if-it-weren-t-for-greed-intolerance-hate-passion-and-murder-you-would/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) [Explore all 356 Jasper Fforde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) ## More Fantasy quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/) [Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/) > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) > [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [I like fantasy, but I don't live and breathe fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/i-like-fantasy-but-i-don-t-live-and-breathe-fantasy/) [Lauren Schmidt Hissrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I like to play people that are real, a real person, and then something that's interesting with that person. I think it's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-like-to-play-people-that-are-real-a-real-person-and-then-something/) [Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/) > [It's a hindrance in trying to get a serious acting role. The minute a producer has a script and my name comes up, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/it-s-a-hindrance-in-trying-to-get-a-serious-acting-role-the-minute-a/) [Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/) > [No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-will-ever-write-a-fantasy-novel-better-than-the-hobbit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) [Browse all 5,469 Fantasy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They had just digested a recent meal of prepositions and were happily farting out apostrophes and ampersands; the air was heav'y with th'em&.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jasper Fforde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of-prepositions-and-were-happily/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fantasy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of-prepositions-and-were-happily/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/jasper-fforde-797_fantasy_they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of_75360.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/jasper-fforde-797_fantasy_they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of_75360.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/jasper-fforde-797_fantasy_they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of_75360.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They had just digested a recent meal of prepositions and were happily farting out apostrophes and…” — Jasper Fforde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jasper Fforde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They had just digested a recent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of-prepositions-and-were-happily/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/they-had-just-digested-a-recent-meal-of-prepositions-and-were-happily/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```