Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time

by Mignon Fogarty

Millions of people around the world communicate better thanks to Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, whose top-rated weekly grammar podcast has been downloaded more than 40 million times. Now she’s turning her attention to solving your worst problems—one troublesome word at a time.Are you feeling "all right" or "alright"? Does "biweekly" mean twice a week or every two weeks? Do you run a gauntlet or a gantlet? Is a pair of twins four people or two? The English language is always changing, and that means we are left with words and phrases that are only sort of wrong (or worse, have different definitions depending on where you look them up). How do you know which to use? Grammar Girl to the rescue! This handy reference guide contains the full 411 on 101 words that have given you trouble before—but will never again. Full of clear, straightforward definitions and fun quotations from pop culture icons such as Gregory House and J. K. Rowling, as well as from classical writers such as Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin, this highly-useable guidebook takes the guesswork out of your writing, so you’ll never be at a loss for words again.  

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Writing, Language, Education, Professional Development, Linguistics

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2012

About the author

Mignon Fogarty is better known as Grammar Girl — five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards, an inductee in the Podcasting Hall of Fame, the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network, and the former chair of media entrepreneurship in the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada. She is the author of seven books about language, including the New York Times bestseller, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. She has also appeared as a guest expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I read a review copy through NetGalley.

As an avid reader, occasional writer, and part-time professional proofreader, I've found Grammar Girl's books and website ("Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing") to be a goldmine of useful reference material. She's always spot-on, not only in clearly explaining the rules of grammar, but in making grammar actually interesting. What I like most is that she understands that grammar is a tool and not the end goal, and that sometimes, the rules may be bent or broken.

Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time is the latest book in Grammar Girl's "101 words" series. The book begins with the statement "English is always changing, and that leaves us with troublesome words and phrases that are only sort of wrong." That's a primary theme of the book - the conflict between grammarians about flexibility and adapting to the times versus honoring hard-and-fast rules of the past. Most writers, caught in the middle, just want a simple answer for spelling and word usage. And that's what Grammar Girl delivers in her book.

The book presents 101 examples of common words and phrases that are often misspelled or misused. Grammar Girl gives the background of the word or phrase, her interpretation of the rules, and some actual examples, often from contemporary sources. One of my favorite - and most helpful - was the explanation of the "bi-" prefix. Does, for example, "biweekly" mean twice a week or every two weeks? Grammar Girl's solution may surprise you, but it makes perfect sense, and solves the conundrum completely.

The book has a number of examples of similar words whose meanings are often confused, such as preventive/preventative, alternate/alternative, and amused/bemused. There are some word pairs with very subtle differences in meaning and usage, such as use/utilize and jealous/envious. For these words, Grammar Girl mentions the etymology, where appropriate, and gives examples of correct usage, often referring to various dictionaries and style guides.

There are some phrases whose original meanings have been lost over time, and trying to reestablish correct usage may be a lost cause. Grammar Girl lists a few of these, such as "begs the question" and "could care less." She cites the origin of these phrases and gives the correct meaning, but she acknowledges that they're going to be misused by many people in speech and in writing.

Some entries get a bit whimsical. What is the acceptable plural of "fish" - is it "fish" or "fishes?" The answer: it's "fish," but the Mafia often sends stoolpigeons to sleep with the "fishes"! And is the proper spelling of a favorite pastry treat "donut" or "doughnut"? It used to be "doughnut," but in 1950, an event occurred that would change everything.

Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time certainly isn't your grade school English grammar book. If those books had been half as interesting as Grammar Girl's books, we would all be better off today.

[Hayden Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

. . . And Grammar Girl saves the day, yet again!

I have to say, before I start my review, that I am extremely conscious of my grammar in this space. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't make any mistakes!

I had the amazing opportunity to meet Grammar Girl, a.k.a. Mignon Fogarty, in mid-June, at a writing program I was attending. Just from watching her walk up onto the auditorium stage, I could tell she was one of the kindest and most genuine people I had ever met. She answered all of our dumb questions that she'd heard countless times before and pretended like they were all new, something I can respect. (I'm not a great liar.) She was (and, of course, still is) such a wonderful person, and she signed my copy of Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students, saying "Mind your P's and Q's!", which I thought was just hilarious. I knew that I liked her the minute she started ranting about the incorrect expression "begs the question" (which is featured in this book, by the way).

But, anyway, about the book. That's what a review is for, isn't it?

I'm not sure if GG included exactly 101 words, because I didn't go through and count them, but I'm sure she did. Every single one of them taught me a great lesson about words and grammar. Since (a word included in the book!) I am a bit of an English nerd, I found this very interesting. The thing I love about Grammar Girl is how she presents great stylistic advice without being wordy or pretentious. Someone with her level of grammatical skill could've made a conscious decision to write like she was writing an article for the New Yorker, but GG speaks like a normal person, which is something I appreciate. She didn't go into this book trying to impress a bunch of snooty, m(o)ustache-twirling literary people with her mellifluous prose.

Some of my favorite entries were: Ax (I never knew "axe" was British!); Begs the Question, mentioned earlier; Bring and Take; Decimate; Donut (who doesn't love those?); Eldest; E-mail Versus Email; and many more. Obviously, a lot of them were my favorites.

Even if you're not a complete English nerd like I am, this book will do wonders on your grammar. Give it a try! I guarantee the next e-mail (email?) you compose will be better!

[Christie Hagerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author explains in her introduction that English is a language that is constantly evolving. Because of this, what was proper grammar in the past may not be common today, and rules are subject to change as popular usage dictates.

In this book, Mignon Fogarty looks at 101 words or terms that do have a proper usage but also an alternate (or alternative, according to the author) meaning or spelling. She’s really done her homework, explaining the word origins, the history of usage, and the common misuses or options being spoken today. She then makes her recommendation, pointing out circumstances in which you’d make certain word choices. At the end of each entry are examples from literature and pop culture. There’s no fluff in this book. It reads like a conversation with an intelligent friend, but it is clear and to-the-point like a reference book.

For those of us who cringe at misspelled words, misused phrases, and mistaken terms, the pressure to be sure that our own written words come out properly is pretty strong. This is the perfect book to learn about such common errors and how to correct them. Grammar Girl has packed a lot of useful information in her entertaining, easy-to-read little guidebook.

Thank you, netGalley.com, for the review copy.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing the simplest statement has often been a nightmare for me. No kidding. Here's but a brief glimpse as to what I go through: "Alright ('all right'?), my oldest (or is it 'eldest'?) granddaughter had just gotten (is that even a word??) into (one word? two?) her dad's Jeep for the long trek back home while I ('when I,' maybe?)--Oh, forget it!" Okay, so I'm a tad anal . . . and neurotic . . .

So thank goodness for Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty, who has saved my grammatical sanity once again. Just when I thought that nothing could top her Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing and Grammar Devotional as my go-to guides when mired in writerly angst, she comes out with the jewel Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time. And it's right on time too. I'm not sure how much longer I could have hovered on the brink.

Before, I tore my style guides and other references apart, searching for guidance on the 101 troublesome (translation: crazy-making) words, but no more. Grammar Girl's much-needed and welcomed advice in 101 Troublesome Words lays (or is it "lies"? Looked it up--it's "lays") just within reach as I bang away on my keyboard. And I feel soooo much better now, as stability is now restored in grammar world (well, at least for the moment). And you, my fellow anal/neurotics (you know who you are), will feel much better too. I promise.

Thank you, Grammar Girl. Once again.

[Dani Shuping · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley

Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, is back again helping the writers around the world with the English language. In this short book she tackles 101 of the most troublesome words in the English language and when to use them correctly. For example are you feeling “alright” or “all right”? When is the right time to use the phrase “African American” and does it need to have a hyphen in it? These are some of the words that Mignon tackles with clear definitions, fun quotations, and examples of which word to use when. There are also amusing little illustrations throughout the book to raise the reader’s interest--such as on the flaunt page an aardvark in a disco suit. While the work is subjective (these are Mignon’s opinions) it’s nice to have a handy guide from an expert to refer to. For those folks that struggle with grammar (like me) or writers just looking for some assistance with word choice, I recommend picking up this book and giving it a read. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a review copy through NetGalley.

According to the Grammar Girl author, Mignon Fogarty, I can use the phrase: "you have got to read this book." Being a word person myself, I appreciate the clever way each troublesome word or phrase's history is explained and advice given as to its usage (or non-usage). Most appealing are the quotes from popular TV shows or movies used to illustrate her points on correct grammar. Teens will be able to identify with modern English examples, making grammar fun - or I can even say grammar is the "funnest." Recommended to middle and high school language arts teachers and curious teens alike. Adult wordsmiths will enjoy it as well.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me a lot of nuanced differences between phrases that I did not previously know existed. I enjoyed the layout of each chapter, with subheadings including examples and a 'what should you do' section.

Some of the common errors included were certainly ones that I used, including: 'begs the question', 'decimate', 'for free' and many more. The explanations are simplified and easy to take in. This is the second book in the Grammar Girl series that I have completed, and so far I'm really enjoying them!

[Amanda Clarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's got some good tips, but this book isn't nearly as useful as some of Fogarty's others. Some of the troubles she highlights haven't aged well (as in, the disput has been settled) and some just feel like she's reaching for an issue. The fact that it's dated isn't Fogarty's fault, so of the terms (spelling of email or Web site vs website) were valid entries when the book was written, but we have moved past that now. The most useful stuff here is covered in The Grammer Devotional, which is a book every writer, editor and student should have, so stick with that one and skip this.

[Erica Trobaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Fogarty shares information in an accessible and fun way. This is a great reference guide to keep handy whenever you run into confusing writing situations.

[Thaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is perfect for those who are in elementary or middle school because majority of the grammar is of that standard.

[Jessica at Book Sake · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.

Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time opened my eyes to more problems with the English language than I ever suspected. And after reading it I hope I don’t make any of the mistakes noted in the book. (If I do, pardon the error in advance.)

One word that Mignon Fogarty pulled apart that has always bothered me is “biweekly”. Do you take the medication twice a week, or every other week? Fogarty clears that up and says to just avoid the word all together. That’s what I tend to do anyways, since I’ve never found the word clear enough to use. The author used Karen Marie Moning’s Faefever and Joss Whedon’s TV show Angel to show examples of how to make statements indicating the right time period.

The book is set up with each word in alphabetical order. A section stating “What’s the Trouble?” along with “What Should You Do?” follows each word and gives you the lowdown on the issues and how to solve them. Each word is then followed by a quote or two using the offending word. These quotes come from shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Psych, and Gossip Girl along with movies and literature. Most of the time the quotes show you what to do, but sometimes they show the error of our ways. (Now I doubt myself. Is it “errors of our ways” or “error of our way”? Singular? Plural? Is it one error and multiple ways, ugh? I’m convinced many of these problematic words come out of the laziness of people to figure out which is really right.)

Some of the words have no clear resolution to the correct use, but the author does give her opinion on what you should use – and suggestions for those that are writers. Some of the 101 words are actually more than one word such as “do’s and don’ts”, “for free”, and “free gift”. “Free gift” is another that bothers me. It’s redundant, don’t use it. The book will help you to become a better writer or just better at speaking the English language. Plus, you can be one of those annoying people like me and correct people when they say something wrong…and now you will have proof to back your story up. Go forth and conquer!

[LiteraryMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a copyeditor, I witness firsthand how the English language is always changing. Words and phrases take on new meanings over time. Definitions change; words are used interchangeably. The great rivalry between prescribers and describers continues.

I read all of Grammar Girl's tips and books. This new release is no exception and very much necessary in today's world. There are a total of 101 troublesome words that are tackled--most of which were not covered in previous Grammar Girl books. If you are unsure what words are acceptable to use in today's English language, this is a helpful guide. Grammar Girl did all of the research and makes great recommendations with example sentences. I did not agree with all of the choices, but can certainly appreciate a different point of view. 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master In No Time is complete with cute related drawings and quick and dirty tips to accompany the words and phrases.

Some of the troublesome words featured are:

African American (difference between African American and Black)
Couldn't Care Less (as opposed to "could care less")
E-mail versus Email
I'd've (contraction for "I would have")
Lay versus Lie
Momentarily (mistakenly used to mean "in a moment")
Noisome (nothing to do with noise but to describe smells)
Out Loud (as opposed to "aloud")
Peruse (incorrectly used to mean "browse")
Than I versus Than Me
Utilize (when in doubt, choose "use")
Whet (not "wet") your appetite

Be sure to add this great resource to your personal collection. It is offered at a great price of $5.99 for the paperback and eBook editions. Also visit www.quickanddirtytips.com and subscribe to Grammar Girl's podcast. It is one of my faves and I'm sure other language lovers will enjoy it.

Literary Marie of Precision Reviews

[Birgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've established when to use their, there and they're. Other words are a bit more tricky. In yet another installation of the Grammar Girl series, Mignon Fogarty presents 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master In No Time. Based upon the fact that language isn't static but ever changing there are plenty of words and expressions where it's often hard to be sure of not only how to write them correctly, but even more so use them in the right context. Obviously I've been using momentarily wrong all these years, and I have this slight feeling I might not be the only one.
Admittedly, at first I thought this would be a book for kids who never really paid attention at school and really need to brush up their grammar. Three pages later that impression was replaced by the realization that this is the kind of guidebook for literally anyone. Having learned English as a second language, and despite considering myself to have a pretty good grasp on it, this has been a tremendously helpful and illuminating read for me. The explanations on when (not) to use certain terms or expressions is spruced up with information on their origins and examples from classic books straight to your favorite series on TV. As dull as such a book might appear at first glance I promise you will not just learn a thing or two, it's also quite an entertaining page turner!
In short: Smart and instructive style guide not just for the grammar-impaired!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even in high school AP English I struggled with the convolutions of the English language. It's a means of expression that seems to be far more intuitive than logical, and modern usage is often frowned upon by the linguistic elite. Between regional dialects and variations between social classes, a person must strive tirelessly to express oneself in a manner that will attract the least amount of criticism. 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master In No Time is a book that makes grammar accessible and far more easy to assimilate than any other book on the subject I've cared to read. I enjoyed that this guide didn't wax loquacious regarding word etiology and used the story of origin to explain why a word or phrase is the way it is rather than as page filler. Though it isn't laugh out loud funny, it evokes enough chuckles and moments of dawning revelation to keep things interesting. Give this as a gift to any student or budding author, or to someone who persists in using the grossly erroneous expression "I could care less."

[Tzippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the Grammar Girl blog, though I don't follow it. She is entertaining and clear in her writing, and I usually agree with her.

There were a few times that I disagreed with her conclusions in this book (for example, when she says it's okay to use the word decimate for a >1/10 loss--I see where she's coming from, but the root of the word is right there staring at you in the face), but even when I did, I respected her argument.

So anyone who finds grammar or etymology interesting--or doesn't quite find it interesting but wants to find it interesting--I recommend Grammar Girl and this book.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review that I should have written a year ago.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

Okay, as an editor, reviewer and wordsmith, I may be a tad biased, but still, I love this book. Anyone who has anything to do with writing should have this book on their reference shelf – but read it first. Don’t let this one gather dust.

The author takes 101 common words or phrases and discusses the correct way to use them. She does so with wit, examples, unimpeachable references and quotes from books, movies and television shows. For example: Kudos – this is a singular word meaning praise or glory and should not be used as a plural. There is no word kudo. Or you can find out the difference between bring and take or lie and lay and more. Like her website, Grammar Girl, the explanations are clear, easy to understand and witty.

If you have interest at all in word usage, definitely pick this one up. Kudos to you, Grammar Girl, for a great reference work.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I like to think my grammar is pretty good, I confess to checking things on Grammar Girl's site from time to time and so I thought I'd see what she had to share in this new book.

It was certainly an interesting mix. Some words I was surprised to see in there, unable to grasp how people could get them wrong, others I found intriguing in terms of the history of their use.

I didn't always agree with Fogarty's decisions, but that is most likely a case of UK vs. US more than anything.

In any case, this was a fascinating read and will be a useful resource for those looking to improve their grammar.

I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grammar Girl will help you improve your writing with this easy to understand guide.

I have enjoyed Grammar Girl's website and podcast for years and this guide is a perfect reference to use at home, school or at the office. 

Words and phrases are alphabetized which make them easy to find in a hurry. I love the fact that famous quotes are used as examples. The hints on using plural forms and correct spellings were particularly helpful to me. I'm embarrassed to say that I have probably written donut and smokey before. Not anymore! 

I had fun reading this with my teenage son. We were both surprised to find that our grammar skills are not as good as we thought. 

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to have at your fingertips. Have you ever asked yourself 'Is it affect or effect' or 'Do you lie on a bed or lay on a bed?' So many times these words are confused. Mignon Fogarty takes on 101 words that cause a lot of trouble in the English language.
This book goes through the words in alphabetical order. Fogarty uses excerpts and quotations from well-known books to illustrate her points. She also includes some 'quick and dirty tips' to help you remember the correct way to use certain words.
Overall I think this is a good book for anyone to keep handy. If you often get confused over which word is the right word then this book is for you.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time is a great reference book, as well as an enjoyable read. I've always been annoyed by DJ's who say things like "The band ARE touring in June." Now my inner grammarian understands why those pet peeves bug me so much. This book is as fascinating as it is entertaining, and I recommend it not only for students and writers, but also for readers and anyone who enjoys learning about words.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many grammar related books and have subscribed to Grammar Girl's podcast for many years. I do these things because I have a respect for grammar and a desire to perfect it in my own life, and because I have such a difficult time internalizing grammar rules! This book, like Fogarty's other grammar books, is very effective and helpful. I learned a lot of things quickly, and when I forget them they'll be easy to look up.

[Marianne Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, every person with access to a phone or computer is composing messages that can potentially be read by hundreds, even millions, of people online. Blogs, self-published stories, and books abound. To avoid sounding like an illiterate, or simply to decrease the chances of your words being misunderstood, I highly recommend Grammar Girl’s new book, 101 Troublesome Words You’ll Master in No Time. Read the rest of my review.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bottom line, Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master In No Time is not only an educational read, but it is a fun read. The examples given from some of my favorite books, movies and television shows really accentuated the lessons that she was trying to teach. If you are in need of a refresher course in some of the tough words, give this one a shot. You will be all caught up in no time!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love Grammer Girl. I refer to her site and books frequently and here is just another example of her awesomeness! Laid out beautifully with excellent examples given and entertaining fun facts, which make learning fun, I think her series of books are wonderful for students, business people and writers or anyone interested in speaking the English language properly!

[Denise Du Vernay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grammar Girl does it again! What I like about this book in particular is that she has not only tackled words whose definitions are tricky to remember, but words and phrases that are problematic for other reasons, such as cultural stickiness. This book is useful and fun and would make a great gift, not just for the people in your life who misuse words, but for writers and students as well.

[Deidre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mignon Fogarty is a grammar nerd's best friend. She doesn't always have a definitive answer but she is able to offer solid guidance. Better yet, she uses humor, insight, and quotes from beloved literature, pop fiction, and television show scripts to make many of her points. This latest book clears up confusion regarding many common words and shows how language is an ever-evolving organism.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you....Goodreads Giveaway winner! excited about reading this book...great addition to my library shelf.

Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time is a great reference book, as well as an enjoyable read.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much what you would think. I'm not sure that I would call a lot of these troublesome words, though. Mostly it's just nitpicking. If you want to be very exact in your english, though, this is the book for you.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a review copy through NetGalley. Loved it! Check out a full review at my blog.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time by Mignon Fogarty in a giveaway for free on Goodreads First/Reads will post reviews soon!! Thank You!! Reesa***