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Word Study and English Grammar A Primer of Information about Words, Their Relations and Their Uses
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2011
174 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Frederick William Hamilton
24 books2 followersThere is more than one author in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for Frederick ^3 William Hamilton.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 23, 2018
Amazing Book.
Mostly had all basics. Still a refreshing read!
Mostly had all basics. Still a refreshing read!
December 9, 2025
Frederick William Hamilton’s Word Study and English Grammar stands apart from modern instructional texts because of its classical, almost old-world devotion to the study of words.
Yet this is precisely what made it so enriching for me as an English instructor. Rather than treating grammar merely as a system of rules, Hamilton traces the life of words—their relations, variations, and functions—offering a linguistic depth that shaped my teaching philosophy in a meaningful way.
The first way this book benefitted me was by reinvigorating my appreciation for etymology. Hamilton highlights how words evolve, how their meanings shift, and how grammatical functions grow organically from usage.
Bringing this perspective into the classroom helped my students see grammar not as a rigid construct but as a living, breathing part of language.
I began incorporating short etymological notes into lessons, and the effect on student engagement was remarkable. They became more curious, more attentive, and increasingly respectful of precision in language.
Hamilton’s explanations are academically solid yet surprisingly readable. For an instructor, they serve as a reminder that grammatical clarity does not require oversimplification. Instead, it requires careful organisation and logical presentation.
The book strengthened my ability to articulate grammatical relationships—especially regarding parts of speech, word formation, and syntactic roles.
I found myself more confident when addressing advanced student questions, because Hamilton had already framed many of these concepts with exceptional clarity.
A unique strength of this book is its focus on the interrelation of words. Hamilton demonstrates how modifiers, clauses, and phrases build meaning step by step.
This helped me refine my lessons on sentence structure. I began to emphasise not just correctness but intentionality: why a writer chooses one construction over another, how words interact to create nuance, and how syntax shapes tone. Students responded well to this deeper exploration, especially when analysing literature or crafting their own writing.
Hamilton’s attention to usage also influenced my approach to error correction. He emphasises understanding rather than memorisation; his method encourages learners to analyse why a mistake occurs. I adapted this strategy into my classroom workshops, creating activities where students traced errors back to misunderstandings about word relationships.
This shift made error correction more reflective and less mechanical.
What I gained most from Word Study and English Grammar is a renewed sense of linguistic craftsmanship. Hamilton reminded me that grammar teaching is not just about rules—it is about cultivating insight, curiosity, and precision.
This enriched my identity as an instructor and profoundly influenced the way I teach the English language.
Recommended.
Yet this is precisely what made it so enriching for me as an English instructor. Rather than treating grammar merely as a system of rules, Hamilton traces the life of words—their relations, variations, and functions—offering a linguistic depth that shaped my teaching philosophy in a meaningful way.
The first way this book benefitted me was by reinvigorating my appreciation for etymology. Hamilton highlights how words evolve, how their meanings shift, and how grammatical functions grow organically from usage.
Bringing this perspective into the classroom helped my students see grammar not as a rigid construct but as a living, breathing part of language.
I began incorporating short etymological notes into lessons, and the effect on student engagement was remarkable. They became more curious, more attentive, and increasingly respectful of precision in language.
Hamilton’s explanations are academically solid yet surprisingly readable. For an instructor, they serve as a reminder that grammatical clarity does not require oversimplification. Instead, it requires careful organisation and logical presentation.
The book strengthened my ability to articulate grammatical relationships—especially regarding parts of speech, word formation, and syntactic roles.
I found myself more confident when addressing advanced student questions, because Hamilton had already framed many of these concepts with exceptional clarity.
A unique strength of this book is its focus on the interrelation of words. Hamilton demonstrates how modifiers, clauses, and phrases build meaning step by step.
This helped me refine my lessons on sentence structure. I began to emphasise not just correctness but intentionality: why a writer chooses one construction over another, how words interact to create nuance, and how syntax shapes tone. Students responded well to this deeper exploration, especially when analysing literature or crafting their own writing.
Hamilton’s attention to usage also influenced my approach to error correction. He emphasises understanding rather than memorisation; his method encourages learners to analyse why a mistake occurs. I adapted this strategy into my classroom workshops, creating activities where students traced errors back to misunderstandings about word relationships.
This shift made error correction more reflective and less mechanical.
What I gained most from Word Study and English Grammar is a renewed sense of linguistic craftsmanship. Hamilton reminded me that grammar teaching is not just about rules—it is about cultivating insight, curiosity, and precision.
This enriched my identity as an instructor and profoundly influenced the way I teach the English language.
Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews