The Good Grammar Guide

Does grammar bother you? Does it first inspire boredom, then fear? Since the virtual removal of formal grammar teaching from our schools' standard curriculum forty years ago, such negative responses have increasingly characterised students and professionals alike. As this lively and user-friendly book sets out to prove, that is both unfortunate and unnecessary. Not only is grammar an enabling servant rather than a tyrannical set of absolute rules: it can also be fun. This light-hearted guide offers extensive coverage of Parts of Speech, Syntax, Inflection and Punctuation, along with a detailed look at common errors and misconceptions. Regular exercises are included, as is a baleful survey of Political Correct usage, whose desire to sanitize and control the way we speak is injurious to grammar, language itself and indeed the way we live now. The aim throughout this book is to reassure and entertain as well as instruct. This handy volume puts an amusing light on grammar, and as such it is guaranteed to banish boredom and fear. The Good Grammar Guide can also be read as a companion to one of Richard Palmer's other publications, Write in Style 2nd Edition, also published in Routledge's Study Guides series.

Many students set out in further and higher education with little grounding in the skills required for academic writing. This practical guide will give students a command of grammar, spelling and punctuation, enabling them to improve the quality and accuracy of their writing. Good Grammar for Students includes: the basics of English grammar - how sentences are structured help with spelling and punctuation tips on avoiding the most common mistakes and pitfalls advice on how students can improve their writing in essays, reports and projects. The book is packed with examples to illustrate points and highlight good and bad practice, and contains handy tips and student exercises. An indispensable companion for undergraduate students on any Social Science, Humanities or Arts degree course, Good Grammar for Students is also an ideal text for Study Skills modules at first year undergraduate level across the social sciences. SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips, resources and videos on study success!

Correct English usage as it's never been taught before: lucidly, memorably, and humorously -- for all ages.

"Monsters such as zombies, werewolves, and ghouls explain basic rules of grammar, including correct punctuation, appropriate word choices, and contractions"--

Stressed over syntax? Unsure about noun/verb agreement? Afraid to commit a grammatical faux pas? Fear not, dear reader. You have found yourself the perfect guide to proper grammar and style. This refresher on the modern rules of writing will help you regain your masterful grip of the English language. With plenty of instruction as well as a little pomp, this book entertains as it enlightens, making your reading experience enjoyable and your knowledge sound.

The authoritative guide to using the English language effectively, from “the greatest writer on grammar and usage that this country has ever produced” (David Yerkes, Columbia University). The author of The Chicago Manual of Style’s popular “Grammar and Usage” chapter, Bryan A. Garner is renowned for explaining the vagaries of English with absolute precision and utmost clarity. With The Chicago Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation, he has written the definitive guide for writers who want their prose to be both memorable and correct. Garner describes standard literary English—the forms that mark writers and speakers as educated users of the language. He also offers historical context for understanding the development of these forms. The section on grammar explains how the canonical parts of speech came to be identified, while the section on syntax covers the nuances of sentence patterns as well as both traditional sentence diagramming and transformational grammar. The usage section provides an unprecedented trove of empirical evidence in the form of Google Ngrams, diagrams that illustrate the changing prevalence of specific terms over decades and even centuries of English literature. Garner also treats punctuation and word formation, and concludes the book with an exhaustive glossary of grammatical terms and a bibliography of suggested further reading and references. The Chicago Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation is a magisterial work, the culmination of Garner’s lifelong study of the English language. The result is a landmark resource that will offer clear guidelines to students, writers, and editors alike. “[A manual] for those of us laboring to produce expository prose: nonfiction books, journalistic articles, memorandums, business letters. The conservatism of his advice pushes you to consider audience and occasion, so that you will understand when to follow convention and when you can safely break it.”—John E. McIntyre, Baltimore Sun