Grammar for grown-ups: everything you need to know but never learnt in school

by Craig Shrives

Do you know how to use semicolons, where to put your apostrophes and when to use commas? Do you know the difference between affect and effect, if and whether, or who and whom? (Does anyone still say whom?) More importantly, do you know why this stuff matters?

The truth is that if your writing isn't up to scratch, it just won't be taken seriously. So, if you've reached a stage in your career or education where your writing needs to be high quality, Grammar for Grown Ups is a must for your top drawer. Vocational rather than academic, Grammar for Grown Ups is packed with real-life examples and keeps you engaged with a wealth of great quotations from Homer the Greek to Homer the Simpson.

Straight talking and methodical, Craig Shrives draws on his years as an intelligence officer as well as over a decade spent compiling his popular grammar website to present a comprehensive but light-hearted and easily digestible grammar reference guide. Find out whether winter should have a capital W, the difference between a hyphen and a dash, where to place your commas and crucial cross-Atlantic differences.

Grammar for Grown Ups is perfect for anyone who wants to brush up on half-remembered rules and write with confidence.

Originally published under the title Grammar Rules

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Writing, Self Help

243 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Rachael Hewison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've recently just finished editing a book for a first time writer, my first in fact (and hopefully more to come if any of you guys are interested) and this book was my avid companion. I'd say my grammar was pretty good prior to reading this book but it was fantastic at ironing out the common mistakes that I and many of you make.
It was set out simply and it was easy to find the section you were looking for. Shrives explained his points very clearly and used fantastic examples of when to use certain words or punctuation and when not too. He does use the same examples repeatedly but he warns you at the start that this is not really a book to read from cover to cover. It's brilliant for just dipping in and finding what you need.
It's funny, it's well thought out and a very useful guide to grammar.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really useful grammar book to have on your shelf.

I've read it through (it took a while - I recommend doing it in chunks, even though the author does make it fun) and now I will leave it on my shelf as a reference.

It covers everything, even down to confused words like "Effect and Affect" etc.

[Grasiela Rocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for easy grammar to improve my English, then I found an easy way to understand when and how to use grammar topics. It is a little bit more discussing than explaining, although it still helped me.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best grammar book out there. It's very easy to follow and a lot better than the Dummies guide. How anyone could give this less than three stars is beyond me.

[Mohammad]

i want to read this book

[T.S. Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really comprehensive and easy to follow guide to grammar. This will be one I continue to dip into when doing self-edits and when working on alphas.

[Jaimie-Rose Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilarious

[Beccy · Rating 2 out of 5]

True rating; 1.5 stars

This may be a useful guide to English grammar for those who are learning the language, but I didn't find anything useful in the book.

Not to mention the author's main message is that grammar or punctuation can be used differently, so if you choose to use it one way to be consistent, and then he isn't consistent himself when setting out examples.

[cwrigh13]

handy