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Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite
When writing a "Dear John: letter, do you fret over whether to hyphenate 'chronic hallitosis'? Have you gotten into trouble misusing who or whom, or worse, lie and lay? And where does the %#@* comma go anyway?
Here's some good news for everyone who's ever been bullied into believing they can't speak their own language: The grammar snobs are bluffing. Half the 'rules' they use to humiliate others are really just judgement calls and the rest they don't even understand themselves. Learn the truth of basic grammar and punctuation from June Casagrande in chapters like:
I'm Writing This While Naked--The Oh-So Steamy Predicate Nominative
I'll Take "I Feel Like a Moron" for $200, Alex--When to Put Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks
Snobbery Up with Which You Should Not Put--Prepositions
Hyphens--Life-Sucking, Mom-and-Apple-Pie-Hating, Mime-Loving, Nerd-Fight-Inciting Daggers of the Damned
In this collection of hilarious anecdotes and essays Casagrande delivers practical lessons not found anywhere else, demystifying the subject and taking it back from the snobs.
Here's some good news for everyone who's ever been bullied into believing they can't speak their own language: The grammar snobs are bluffing. Half the 'rules' they use to humiliate others are really just judgement calls and the rest they don't even understand themselves. Learn the truth of basic grammar and punctuation from June Casagrande in chapters like:
I'm Writing This While Naked--The Oh-So Steamy Predicate Nominative
I'll Take "I Feel Like a Moron" for $200, Alex--When to Put Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks
Snobbery Up with Which You Should Not Put--Prepositions
Hyphens--Life-Sucking, Mom-and-Apple-Pie-Hating, Mime-Loving, Nerd-Fight-Inciting Daggers of the Damned
In this collection of hilarious anecdotes and essays Casagrande delivers practical lessons not found anywhere else, demystifying the subject and taking it back from the snobs.
199 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
April 28, 2014
For Whom the Snob Trolls
Grammar snobs who like to bully people have done an incredible job of alienating the rest of us from even wanting to know stuff like how to use the word “whom.” But there’s a good reason to learn. So good that it’s worth overcoming the visceral aversion to the word that these grammar snobs have instilled in us.
And here is that reason: About half the people you hear spewing the word “whom” in everyday conversation don’t really know how.
It’s now almost normal to just glaze over when you hear about who/whom or I/me or that/which or terms like “subject pronouns” and “object pronouns.” But there is no need to do that — if you stop and take notice, you’ll see that they’re completely self-explanatory. Punctuation, another bugbear, too is pretty darn simple.
In fact most of grammar is extremely simple stuff, with just a few confusing gray areas. These gray areas, of course, are where we make our mistakes and, therefore, where snobs & perfectionists find fodder to intimidate the bejesus out of us.
Casagrande asks the reader to not let this get to them. That’s what the grammar snobs want. And if we retreat now, the meanies win.
Grammar Emperors Wear No Clothes
Casagrande insists that the rules are at best self-evident and at worst ridiculous. So it’s a good thing we didn’t invest too much time reading the works of grammar snobs, punctuation pundits and word pervs. And just to prove her point, she ingress out famous gamer snobs and pulls them down. SHe doesn’t hesitate to discredit the worthies as well — Strunk & White too coming in for special hammering.
So if you ever find yourself being roughed up by people who actually expect you to say ridiculously stuffy-sounding things like, “I did it wrongly,” or “I followed the directions rightly,” just know that, eventually, all grammar bullies get their comeuppance.
Even better, with a little confidence you can be the one who puts them in their place.
Channel The Hatred!
Okay, maybe spite isn’t the best reason to learn grammar and usage. But it’s certainly good motivation. What’s more, the meanies— just by being themselves—have provided us with excellent fodder for having a good time while we learn. And that is the crux of the book, learn good grammar while being really mean and bashing up your bullies.
Stripped of all the foul mouthing, the book is a simple call to learn grammar and not to be intimidated and offended by snobs into ignoring it. Sure, good way to dress it, but does it work? To an extent, yes. Among all the supposed fun are some well articulated and simple rules that might help make grammar easier for the long-bullied.
Casagrande takes a few common worry spots such as whom-usage, me/I, etc. and reassures the reader that they are, in fact, more often right than they think.
And, hey, if making a few jokes at rules and getting righteously angry is what it takes to remember, go right ahead, eh?
Are You a Snob?
Am I one? Yes, of course — anyone who cares for the language is. It is the sense of humor that counts, the idea is to not be snobs that troll. Also, endeavor to not be too harsh as snobs, because most rules have loopholes, if you are good enough a grammarian. If it is the language you care about and not your own ego, then trolling or bullying the occasional honest mistake is not the answer. It will only serve to alienate people from good english.
This is Our Language Too
This funny and useful book tells the lay reader that when the experts can’t even get their stories straight and when professional writers make egregious flubs, it’s actually good news for the rest of us. It means that the seemingly huge gulf between the duds and those in the know isn’t so huge after all. It means that nine out of ten times when we’re worried we don’t know the right way to speak or write the experts don’t know either. It means that our instincts are good and that common sense applies. It means that the super-arcane, super-difficult aspects of the language aren’t things we’re expected to know anyway. It means, in short, that this is our language too and we shouldn’t be afraid to point out occasionally when the emperors struts out with no clothes on.
So, “Whom’s afraid of the big bad grammar snob?” or “Who’s afraid of the big bad grammar snob?” Not you, that’s for sure.
ONE LINE SUMMARY: GRAMMAR EMPERORS WEAR NO CLOTHES.
January 26, 2026
The best-known book on the subject of grammar is probably Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss, which I haven’t read – I may do so one day. I decided to try this one instead. Ms Truss actually gets it in the neck quite a bit in this book, which is written in (mildly) humorous style.
Being a Brit, I might have been better off with Eats, Shoots & Leaves, since it covers British usage whereas Casagrande’s book is very much based around American usage, of less value to me.
The author was once a copy editor, and therefore had to deal a lot with the sort of people who are motivated to write to a newspaper about split infinitives, or because they have seen the words “try and” being used instead of “try to.” I’ll try and remember how strongly certain people feel about that. (Whoops!)
Overall, the book provides a guide to good grammar whilst also advising us not to get too fussy. For example she argues that use of the comma is generally best left to the judgment of the writer, although a sentence with a lot of commas should probably be broken up into shorter sentences. She also argues that the meaning of words does change over time and that to some extent we need to accept that. A lot of people get exercised about the use of the word “literally.” I’m something of a traditionalist myself and restrict my own use of “literally” to where I think it’s appropriate, but I also recognise that nowadays many people use it in the sense of “figuratively.”
At the risk of sounding pompous, most of the advice in here covers rules I already knew, although I might not have been able to describe them to someone else. I still picked up some useful pointers though. The difference between “that” and “which,” was one I was always unclear on, and another was when it was appropriate to say “Jane and I,” as opposed to “Jane and me.” Whether to use the singular or the plural for collective nouns is another where my practice is erratic. This book might be useful for future reference.
Possibly the main message of the book, though, is to highlight that English can be maddeningly illogical and inconsistent when it comes to grammar, and that exceptions apply to almost every rule. The author has a message for grammar snobs who confront others about their linguistic misdemeanours. The message is that, sooner or later, you will find it’s your face that ends up on the barroom floor.
Being a Brit, I might have been better off with Eats, Shoots & Leaves, since it covers British usage whereas Casagrande’s book is very much based around American usage, of less value to me.
The author was once a copy editor, and therefore had to deal a lot with the sort of people who are motivated to write to a newspaper about split infinitives, or because they have seen the words “try and” being used instead of “try to.” I’ll try and remember how strongly certain people feel about that. (Whoops!)
Overall, the book provides a guide to good grammar whilst also advising us not to get too fussy. For example she argues that use of the comma is generally best left to the judgment of the writer, although a sentence with a lot of commas should probably be broken up into shorter sentences. She also argues that the meaning of words does change over time and that to some extent we need to accept that. A lot of people get exercised about the use of the word “literally.” I’m something of a traditionalist myself and restrict my own use of “literally” to where I think it’s appropriate, but I also recognise that nowadays many people use it in the sense of “figuratively.”
At the risk of sounding pompous, most of the advice in here covers rules I already knew, although I might not have been able to describe them to someone else. I still picked up some useful pointers though. The difference between “that” and “which,” was one I was always unclear on, and another was when it was appropriate to say “Jane and I,” as opposed to “Jane and me.” Whether to use the singular or the plural for collective nouns is another where my practice is erratic. This book might be useful for future reference.
Possibly the main message of the book, though, is to highlight that English can be maddeningly illogical and inconsistent when it comes to grammar, and that exceptions apply to almost every rule. The author has a message for grammar snobs who confront others about their linguistic misdemeanours. The message is that, sooner or later, you will find it’s your face that ends up on the barroom floor.
March 13, 2017
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this little gem of a book!!!
Having been a proofreader in my "previous life," sending someone's masterpiece back to them all marked up created a LOT of hostility in the workplace! I tried using a pink pen to soften the rejection, but no one was comforted by the color. Eventually, I convinced these writers that my goal was to make them look good. My bailiwick was punctuation and grammar. I wasn't questioning their content, but I was trying to polish it up and make it easier for the reader to understand.
It was 22 years ago, when I left that position and entered into retirement bliss. At my going-away-party, which I'm sure everyone was as happy as I, I received over a dozen, different shaped and sized PINK pens! I might add that I gained many friends, while working there, and we all came to appreciate the joint effort to produce a professional product.
Since that time, I have grown a bit rusty in an area I always found interesting. Yes, I get excited over punctuation. One of my pet peeves is seeing commas and periods placed outside of quotation marks! That's why Chapter 10, "The Comma Denominator," was my favorite part of "Grammar Snobs..."
June Casagrande makes grammar fun. She has you laughing as you're learning. The chapters are brief, informative and entertaining. I will be referring back to this little book often. (The memory tends to fade as we do.)
I'm so certain the people who read this book will enjoy it that I recommend it to everyone who writes anything.
Having been a proofreader in my "previous life," sending someone's masterpiece back to them all marked up created a LOT of hostility in the workplace! I tried using a pink pen to soften the rejection, but no one was comforted by the color. Eventually, I convinced these writers that my goal was to make them look good. My bailiwick was punctuation and grammar. I wasn't questioning their content, but I was trying to polish it up and make it easier for the reader to understand.
It was 22 years ago, when I left that position and entered into retirement bliss. At my going-away-party, which I'm sure everyone was as happy as I, I received over a dozen, different shaped and sized PINK pens! I might add that I gained many friends, while working there, and we all came to appreciate the joint effort to produce a professional product.
Since that time, I have grown a bit rusty in an area I always found interesting. Yes, I get excited over punctuation. One of my pet peeves is seeing commas and periods placed outside of quotation marks! That's why Chapter 10, "The Comma Denominator," was my favorite part of "Grammar Snobs..."
June Casagrande makes grammar fun. She has you laughing as you're learning. The chapters are brief, informative and entertaining. I will be referring back to this little book often. (The memory tends to fade as we do.)
I'm so certain the people who read this book will enjoy it that I recommend it to everyone who writes anything.
June 4, 2022
Hello my fellow writers and creative types! I've devoted my Instagram feed to the review of scary and spooky materials for the Halloween Season. And what's more terrifying than grammar and punctuation, am I right? Besides, look at that cover... nightmarish! So let's go. Here's what I like and don't like about June Casagrande's Grammar Snobs:
Likes:
1. With one glaring exception that I'll note below, Casagrande is hilarious. I mean, she's a nerd, so many of her jokes are completely nerdy, and some of them fall a little flat. But it's not just about the jokes. It's about her tone and her obvious love for the language, which really does make this woman laugh. She wants to share that joy with you, so if you can learn the pile of rotten prunes that is grammar from anyone, might as well do it from the laughing girl, am I right?
2. I love this book's organization. Short pithy chapters make a disagreeable topic easy to consume, even in large chunks if you're feeling plucky.
3. It takes a special person to laugh at oneself and one's entire profession in a book that's available to the entire world. Learning grammar and punctuation from someone that unconscious of herself strips the mystery and fog right from the subject. I will doubtless read other books on grammar and punctuation, but I'm glad this was among the first. I'm glad I will have Casagrande's irreverent voice in my head forever now where grammar and punctuation are concerned.
Dislikes:
1. She makes some bad jokes. We all do it; and besides, she drops a lot of jokes in this book. But then there's chapter 8, "An Open Letter to Someone Who Knows I Once Tried To Be a Grammar Snob but Failed--", which covers probably exactly what you guessed. In the middle of this hilarious grammar book, Casagrande confides she once treated someone truly horribly over grammar. I didn't even believe the anecdote. I thought it was another bad joke. You'll all have to decide for yourselves, but the tone just didn't match the rest of the book.
Honestly, I think she gets a pass for a poorly placed anecdote, because this book is excellent otherwise. She takes the terrifying demon that is grammar and vanquishes that monster with humor and irreverence. Even if you think you have a handle on this subject, I recommend you give this text a look; you might discover something you didn't know, like I did!
Happy Halloween everyone! Be Safe!
Likes:
1. With one glaring exception that I'll note below, Casagrande is hilarious. I mean, she's a nerd, so many of her jokes are completely nerdy, and some of them fall a little flat. But it's not just about the jokes. It's about her tone and her obvious love for the language, which really does make this woman laugh. She wants to share that joy with you, so if you can learn the pile of rotten prunes that is grammar from anyone, might as well do it from the laughing girl, am I right?
2. I love this book's organization. Short pithy chapters make a disagreeable topic easy to consume, even in large chunks if you're feeling plucky.
3. It takes a special person to laugh at oneself and one's entire profession in a book that's available to the entire world. Learning grammar and punctuation from someone that unconscious of herself strips the mystery and fog right from the subject. I will doubtless read other books on grammar and punctuation, but I'm glad this was among the first. I'm glad I will have Casagrande's irreverent voice in my head forever now where grammar and punctuation are concerned.
Dislikes:
1. She makes some bad jokes. We all do it; and besides, she drops a lot of jokes in this book. But then there's chapter 8, "An Open Letter to Someone Who Knows I Once Tried To Be a Grammar Snob but Failed--", which covers probably exactly what you guessed. In the middle of this hilarious grammar book, Casagrande confides she once treated someone truly horribly over grammar. I didn't even believe the anecdote. I thought it was another bad joke. You'll all have to decide for yourselves, but the tone just didn't match the rest of the book.
Honestly, I think she gets a pass for a poorly placed anecdote, because this book is excellent otherwise. She takes the terrifying demon that is grammar and vanquishes that monster with humor and irreverence. Even if you think you have a handle on this subject, I recommend you give this text a look; you might discover something you didn't know, like I did!
Happy Halloween everyone! Be Safe!
June 14, 2014
June Casagrande is my personal deity. You should know that before you read the rest of this review (or while deciding whether or not to do so).
She's funny, she's smart, and she knows when to take grammar seriously and when to tell it to get over itself, already.
I could quote this book like mad -- and, let's face it, I have and will continue to do so. But really, there are only two things you need to know about it.
The first is that Casagrande doesn't mind saying that there are plenty of times when our language hasn't decided what the rules are.
For instance, which of the following is correct: "I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me," or "I appreciate your taking the time to meet with me?"
When should you use "each other," and when should you employ "one another" instead?
Is it correct to say "It is I she loves," or "It is me she loves"?
Here's Casagrande's answer, and boy howdy does she back it up with research:
The answer to all these questions and more: Nobody knows.
When I say nobody knows, I don't mean that the experts bicker over the right way to do these things. These are not cases in which they simply disagree. These are cases in which they truly don't have a clue. If they tell you otherwise, they're bluffing. They would like us to believe that they hold such mystical wisdom, but the truth is they're as clueless as the rest of us.
Which basically sums up the difference between a grammar nerd, who finds this answer fascinating and a little reassuring, and a grammar snob, who enjoys hitting other people over the head with the force of her rightness and does NOT relish the idea of having to live and let live when it comes to language usage.
The second thing you need to know about this book is that it's called Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies. This title will either give you a giggle or make your face pucker up like you just bit a lemon.
If it's the first, buy this book, because the whole thing is written in exactly this tone. It's ridiculously informative, and you'll enjoy every minute of learning how our language actually works.
If you made the lemon face, buy this book and read it because I want to watch you cry.
Either way, long live June Casagrande.
And now if you'll excuse me, I have some incense to light. That altar I have set up in the corner is getting chilly.
She's funny, she's smart, and she knows when to take grammar seriously and when to tell it to get over itself, already.
I could quote this book like mad -- and, let's face it, I have and will continue to do so. But really, there are only two things you need to know about it.
The first is that Casagrande doesn't mind saying that there are plenty of times when our language hasn't decided what the rules are.
For instance, which of the following is correct: "I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me," or "I appreciate your taking the time to meet with me?"
When should you use "each other," and when should you employ "one another" instead?
Is it correct to say "It is I she loves," or "It is me she loves"?
Here's Casagrande's answer, and boy howdy does she back it up with research:
The answer to all these questions and more: Nobody knows.
When I say nobody knows, I don't mean that the experts bicker over the right way to do these things. These are not cases in which they simply disagree. These are cases in which they truly don't have a clue. If they tell you otherwise, they're bluffing. They would like us to believe that they hold such mystical wisdom, but the truth is they're as clueless as the rest of us.
Which basically sums up the difference between a grammar nerd, who finds this answer fascinating and a little reassuring, and a grammar snob, who enjoys hitting other people over the head with the force of her rightness and does NOT relish the idea of having to live and let live when it comes to language usage.
The second thing you need to know about this book is that it's called Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies. This title will either give you a giggle or make your face pucker up like you just bit a lemon.
If it's the first, buy this book, because the whole thing is written in exactly this tone. It's ridiculously informative, and you'll enjoy every minute of learning how our language actually works.
If you made the lemon face, buy this book and read it because I want to watch you cry.
Either way, long live June Casagrande.
And now if you'll excuse me, I have some incense to light. That altar I have set up in the corner is getting chilly.
February 10, 2015
The book is rather snarky but has moments of being very funny. There are some good explanations of certain grammar rules done in a non-teacherly way. But, at times it gets bogged down in its own cuteness. Maybe a book more clearly arranged, more user-friendly, and, yes, more teacherly would be a better guide to follow.
June 23, 2016
It was a fun book, if a bit confusing at times.
May 2, 2018
This is one book that should be kept at your fingertips whenever you are writing something more involved than a shopping list. Inserting humor into the rules of grammar was a stroke of genius. Maybe if high school texts followed suit, more kids would pay attention. I listened to the audio version, which was a hoot, but a print version would be much easier to reference. Regardless, (and that IS the correct word usage), this book is one that should be read and reread, especially when you are feeling a bit insecure about the English language.
July 16, 2017
Lots to mull over with this one! Will be back soon.
April 13, 2012
I purchased this book based on the recommendation of someone at the same time I purchased Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss. I read Eats, Shoots & Leaves several months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I identified with the author’s concern for the laxness and the lowering of standards for using grammar and punctuation correctly. The book was not only a great refresher, but I learned several new things.
Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite, although marginally funny in places, is primarily a direct attack on people who use grammar correctly and hold the rest of us accountable to do the same, specifically Truss and other named grammarians. The author, June Casagrande, strove to arm her readers with ammunition to repel snide remarks from grammar snobs; those people who are constantly correcting or looking down their noses at others who use incorrect grammar. Although the title of the book should have given me a clue (duh!), I did not want or need that kind of ammunition.
For the most part, I did not find this book helpful. There was almost an “anything goes” attitude toward grammar or what one can “get away with” when dealing with a grammar snob. I much prefer knowing what is and is not correct and when there is a choice or the rules are silent, what is the preferable usage. I came away from reading this book unenlightened.
Perhaps all of this makes me a grammar snob or a grammar-snob wannabe, but then so be it. As Lynne Truss wrote, “Sticklers unite!”
I stand with her.
Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite, although marginally funny in places, is primarily a direct attack on people who use grammar correctly and hold the rest of us accountable to do the same, specifically Truss and other named grammarians. The author, June Casagrande, strove to arm her readers with ammunition to repel snide remarks from grammar snobs; those people who are constantly correcting or looking down their noses at others who use incorrect grammar. Although the title of the book should have given me a clue (duh!), I did not want or need that kind of ammunition.
For the most part, I did not find this book helpful. There was almost an “anything goes” attitude toward grammar or what one can “get away with” when dealing with a grammar snob. I much prefer knowing what is and is not correct and when there is a choice or the rules are silent, what is the preferable usage. I came away from reading this book unenlightened.
Perhaps all of this makes me a grammar snob or a grammar-snob wannabe, but then so be it. As Lynne Truss wrote, “Sticklers unite!”
I stand with her.
October 22, 2007
I didn't expect the same level of enthusiasm as Lynn Truss put into Eats, Shoots and Leaves, but I was disappointed in this. And I get that it was an anti-grammar snob book, but isn't that a bit hypocritical for the author of a, you know, book about correct grammar usage? Skip the weak humor unless you're really into anti-grammar humor (there must be a club out there, right?), and just buy a grammar guide. It will probably be much clearer.
That said, there's a lot of good information buried in the cartoon references.
That said, there's a lot of good information buried in the cartoon references.
September 30, 2019
This might have been a 3 star review … until I found myself skimming the last 40 pages.
But I did learn a few things. The Simpsons is the most linguistically correct television show. Which led into a discussion of "'til" vs "till". I have been guilty of using 'til. There's no such word - unless you're being cutesy - open 'til 12. I had assumed, incorrectly, that it was a shortened version of until. WRONG! Till is the shortened version of until. I stand corrected and hope to never make this mistake again!
At one point she is telling the reader about mistakes that have appeared in her newspaper (the one she works for) and I about fell off my chair - "'doggy-dog' world" - presumably for dog-eat-dog world. I'm still falling off my chair over it.
And, then, of course, there is "it's" vs. "its". I always forget and do my best to avoid the situation. One is possessive (its) and one is a contraction (it's). I always forget.
But, really, this book seemed primarily a way to snipe at people who write grammar books. Possibly especially Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. But Truss is abandoned in favor of Safire and others. And a big dispute between the AP Rule Book and the The Chicago Manual of Style.
But I did learn a few things. The Simpsons is the most linguistically correct television show. Which led into a discussion of "'til" vs "till". I have been guilty of using 'til. There's no such word - unless you're being cutesy - open 'til 12. I had assumed, incorrectly, that it was a shortened version of until. WRONG! Till is the shortened version of until. I stand corrected and hope to never make this mistake again!
At one point she is telling the reader about mistakes that have appeared in her newspaper (the one she works for) and I about fell off my chair - "'doggy-dog' world" - presumably for dog-eat-dog world. I'm still falling off my chair over it.
And, then, of course, there is "it's" vs. "its". I always forget and do my best to avoid the situation. One is possessive (its) and one is a contraction (it's). I always forget.
But, really, this book seemed primarily a way to snipe at people who write grammar books. Possibly especially Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. But Truss is abandoned in favor of Safire and others. And a big dispute between the AP Rule Book and the The Chicago Manual of Style.
November 9, 2009
OK, so, yes, this is a grammar book. Author June Casagrande covers pronoun agreement, commas, and lots of common errors. But (yes, it is okay to start a sentence with "but") this author is unique in her approach. She is funny (though, after a while, the "outsider" shtick gets a little old). Even better than that, Casagrande overviews the opinions of the major grammar and usage bibles on all the key issues of the day. In doing so, Casagrande makes clear just how unclear modern English grammar is. Too many of the "rules" are, ultimately, unknowable, because it always depends on which guide you consult and which format you are writing for (yes, it is also okay to end a sentence in a preposition). For a grammar snob, this book is a great ego check; for a grammar novice, there is comfort in the reality that even the experts can't seem to agree. Although I may never read this book cover to cover again, I will certainly file it next to Fowler's and the Chicago Style Manual and the MLA guide....It's easy to look something up, to find out what all those others will say, and maybe get a chuckle in the process.
Want to read
May 25, 2016Snark City. Fun as an audiobook.
I must remember to use the phrase " You/They will get their comeuppance" more.
Not only is " To Boldly Go where No Man has Gone before" correct English; it is F-ing awesome.....
This book is written to make fun of the people and outsnark those who have the need to publicly correct your every grammar gaff.
You know the type.....
No Mr Parker, It's Whom Are You Going to Call ? Ghostbusters
(Putting this down till I have a road trip, Recommended , Great Fun)
I must remember to use the phrase " You/They will get their comeuppance" more.
Not only is " To Boldly Go where No Man has Gone before" correct English; it is F-ing awesome.....
This book is written to make fun of the people and outsnark those who have the need to publicly correct your every grammar gaff.
You know the type.....
No Mr Parker, It's Whom Are You Going to Call ? Ghostbusters
(Putting this down till I have a road trip, Recommended , Great Fun)
April 26, 2016
One of the best books I've read this year. Witty. I'm looking forward to reading more by June Casagrande.
January 13, 2013
I am a grammar snob; or, rather, I am a grammar nerd/geek. While grammar snobs attack others because of their misuse of grammar, grammar nerds and geeks appreciate the rules of grammar and try to help others when they're unsure how to use grammar properly. June Casagrande, author of Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite, hates the former group; she explains how most of them know how to spot grammar mistakes but not how to explain why they're mistakes.
If you're looking for a light, witty read on grammar, pick up this book. I can't even tell you how many times I laughed from her humor. (Isn't this funny? Even though grammar is usually a dry subject, she somehow found a way to make it humorous. For example: After Casagrande comes up with an excuse to use if you ever accidentally say the word "irregardless" in front of a grammar snob, she says, "There are other traps from which there is no escape. For example, if you pronounce the word 'supposedly' with a 'b,' you're screwed.") If you're looking for little grammar tricks to remember, pick up this book; you'll learn when to use "may" or "might," "which" or "that," "less than" or "fewer than," and many, many more helpful tips (including why it should say "10 Items or Fewer" in the checkout line instead of "10 Items or Less").
But, if you have serious questions about grammar, skip this book and pick up Strunk and White's The Elements of Style (or any other reputable grammar book). Most of Casagrande's advice ends up being something along the lines of, "Most grammar experts disagree about this rule, so it's okay to disregard it if you want to." I'm pretty strict about the rules of grammar, so I winced every time I heard this advice.
If you're looking for a light, witty read on grammar, pick up this book. I can't even tell you how many times I laughed from her humor. (Isn't this funny? Even though grammar is usually a dry subject, she somehow found a way to make it humorous. For example: After Casagrande comes up with an excuse to use if you ever accidentally say the word "irregardless" in front of a grammar snob, she says, "There are other traps from which there is no escape. For example, if you pronounce the word 'supposedly' with a 'b,' you're screwed.") If you're looking for little grammar tricks to remember, pick up this book; you'll learn when to use "may" or "might," "which" or "that," "less than" or "fewer than," and many, many more helpful tips (including why it should say "10 Items or Fewer" in the checkout line instead of "10 Items or Less").
But, if you have serious questions about grammar, skip this book and pick up Strunk and White's The Elements of Style (or any other reputable grammar book). Most of Casagrande's advice ends up being something along the lines of, "Most grammar experts disagree about this rule, so it's okay to disregard it if you want to." I'm pretty strict about the rules of grammar, so I winced every time I heard this advice.
July 18, 2009
I have got to stop choosing books based on whether the title makes me laugh. When Bad Christians Happen to Good People didn't do much for me either.
I did learn two things from this book.
One, grizzly bears were so named because brown grizzlies have silver-tipped fur. So referring to a person as grizzled refers to that individual having grayish hair, not to him or her being tough or weathered.
Two, if you want a practical guide to grammar, buy a book that has the word usage in the title. These are usually arranged alphabetically, so you can look up what you need rather than wading/floundering/wandering through chapter after chapter . . . as I did with this book.
I'm impressed that the author became a success despite dropping out of school in the ninth grade. I'm less impressed at her carping about Lynne Truss and other grammar-book authors. I think their tremendous success is the reason that she got a book contract.
I did learn two things from this book.
One, grizzly bears were so named because brown grizzlies have silver-tipped fur. So referring to a person as grizzled refers to that individual having grayish hair, not to him or her being tough or weathered.
Two, if you want a practical guide to grammar, buy a book that has the word usage in the title. These are usually arranged alphabetically, so you can look up what you need rather than wading/floundering/wandering through chapter after chapter . . . as I did with this book.
I'm impressed that the author became a success despite dropping out of school in the ninth grade. I'm less impressed at her carping about Lynne Truss and other grammar-book authors. I think their tremendous success is the reason that she got a book contract.
September 19, 2011
I appreciate what the author is trying to do, but this frankly isn't a very good book. It is condescending (while trying to sound friendly), and it makes unnecessary mistakes (we can split some infinitives, but Casagrande seems to split them for fun). It could certainly be better-organized, and there are rules that she simply ignores (there really is a difference between "Do you mind me asking?" and "Do you mind my asking?"). I do love a good grammar book, and I am all for relaxing rules and allowing language to evolve, but there should be a good reason for it, and bullying "grammar snobs" isn't a good reason. There are enough pressing issues left out and so much space wasted on silly anecdotes that are supposed to appeal to the non-grammar-snob reader that I find this book sorely lacking.
May 2, 2016
A delightfully snarky guide to basic grammar, the examples are hysterical and you will remember them. The author also doesn't assume you know the arcane language of grammar, something I was only exposed to in my 30's studying Japanese. Some books on this subject are so dry that they could be used in the perfect martini.
It also proves my oft stated comment, "English is the language from Hell.", with her press clipping "SATAN UNVEILS NEW LANGUAGE: ENGLISH". ROTFL. Having some experience with grammar snobs, if you're feeling especially nasty, you can always ask them if, "Do you want fries with that?" is grammatically correct.
And speaking more about Hell, being a copy editor or reading the slush pile are punishments reserved for the worst sinners.
More of her writing available here: Grammar Underground
It also proves my oft stated comment, "English is the language from Hell.", with her press clipping "SATAN UNVEILS NEW LANGUAGE: ENGLISH". ROTFL. Having some experience with grammar snobs, if you're feeling especially nasty, you can always ask them if, "Do you want fries with that?" is grammatically correct.
And speaking more about Hell, being a copy editor or reading the slush pile are punishments reserved for the worst sinners.
More of her writing available here: Grammar Underground
September 4, 2009
One thing that I find rarely works is when authors think they are very clever and very funny and use that "humor" nonstop.
In addition to having to read through page after page of trying-too-hard-to-be-funny text and examples, the book is neither well organized nor particularly helpful.
While I did appreciate the bottom-line messages of her book (trust yourself, and a lot of the time there is no single right answer), she didn't really provide a lot of learning or demonstrate any particular knowledge.
At least reading this made me ready to pick up heavier fare for my next book, and also did have me put Eats, Shoots & Leaves back on the shelf -- I'm not ready to attck another book on this topic for a while.
In addition to having to read through page after page of trying-too-hard-to-be-funny text and examples, the book is neither well organized nor particularly helpful.
While I did appreciate the bottom-line messages of her book (trust yourself, and a lot of the time there is no single right answer), she didn't really provide a lot of learning or demonstrate any particular knowledge.
At least reading this made me ready to pick up heavier fare for my next book, and also did have me put Eats, Shoots & Leaves back on the shelf -- I'm not ready to attck another book on this topic for a while.
July 8, 2007
I'm not yet finished with this but it is LAUGH OUT LOUD hilariousness about one of the subjects I hold near and dear to my heart..grammar! It's very funny, very well written and more than once I found myself saying, 'Oh my! I am the person about whom she is writing!!!!!' :)
Short, cute and a quick summer read. Gearing up for the Potter release in a few weeks!
Short, cute and a quick summer read. Gearing up for the Potter release in a few weeks!
June 9, 2024
Considering writing in to complain about a typo by one of your favorite journalists? This book gives you a few good reasons to avoid such an action, the primary one being that you might be a bully, but additionally, you might be wrong. It turns out, correct grammar is not only hard, it's oftentimes arbitrary, but it's also not rocket science. I found this volume humorous and less wordy than the sequel (which I read last week), but it still occasionally falls into the trap of just saying too much when I would have liked to get to the point. I definitely recommend this to anyone who has claimed the label "curmudgeon" when it comes to your opinions on grammar, but you also might not like being called out that much.
July 14, 2013
I think this review is best done by simply discussing the conclusions I made while reading:
Grammar Snobs is probably the funniest grammar book available. Casegrande has a wicked sense of humor, and some of her jokes are bawdy to the point of being one-liners for the Simpsons or Family Guy. She tells her reader that she researched both for this book, and it shows (in the best way). Her jokes mostly hit the mark, and in several places I was laughing out loud in public places, trying to hide the fact that this was a grammar book and that people would think I had gone insane. Laughing. At a grammar book. Yep.
The book is not for everyone. The book is for everyone. As I read through the book, I tried to figure out her target audience. I wondered if she felt she was targeting the snobs themselves. I wondered if she was targeting neophyte grammarphiles who feel a compulsion to jump straight into the heavy lifting that comes with grammar. I wondered too if it was written for those individuals (me!) in the trenches of grammar warfare. The book strikes a strange balance between these three groups. Her name-dropping suggests the first one—-many jokes are much funnier if you actually know the people she is talking about (well, not know, but, you know, professionally and stuff). Her direct address of the reader also suggests the second: “The reigning grammar snobs have no desire to help the majority of people who would like to use the language with greater confidence but who don’t want to dedicate their lives to the stuff” (192). In other words, I want to help you, but the rest of them don’t. This also plays a bit into the third possible audience; is she admonishing editors/teachers to go easier on the people who must simply use the English language rather than knowing the mechanics of it? I’m not sure. The book suffers a bit for this uncertainty, yet it is balanced by Casagrande’s genuine, infectious desire to better the reader.
Grammar Snobs does a fantastic job of showing the dissonance between various language authorities. Many of us grew up being told archaic rules like ‘Don’t split an infinitive!’ without being told why. The secret in all of those classrooms—-the dangerous idea that teachers would brutally punish if they saw it in their students (my teachers, especially)—-was that they didn’t know either. The teachers were taught it was bad, and they accepted it. Their teachers were taught ... and so on and so on until the present day. The fact is that English doesn’t split infinitives because good old perfect Latin doesn’t split infinitives (never mind the silly idea that Latin’s infinitives are only one word long while English uses ‘to’ with the base). Casagrande discusses splitting infinitives in her book, and she actively encourages her readers to go about splitting them as long as it makes them happy. She doesn't discuss the historical roots of the issue, but she does get across the central point. She shows that various language authorities (all self-proclaimed) cannot make up their minds about this situation. As such, she gives her reader a kind of carte blanche to split infinitives. That’s as good of an explanation as any, and I think that the average reader (the second group) only needs to know this in order to feel justified and to boldly go forth and do so. I like any purported authority who encourages speakers to do what they already intuitively know is right—-grammarians have ruined the language more than any backwater mountain man.
(To defend that in brief, as I know some teeth will be ground on this point: Latin is dead, meaning that no one speaks it any longer. People say that it is thus static; since no one speaks it, Latin cannot adapt and grow to encompass new words. For instance, Latin has no word for the internet. Grammarians try to make English static while, on the other hand, mountain men growl it, spit it, chew it, and double modal it, using it ‘As she might ought to be spoken’.)
Casagrande skims through explanations in certain places. You may have noticed this in the last point I made, but it’s a big one for me. She gives reasonable critiques of the rules; she offers excellent advice throughout the book; she also never deigns to be the language authority, only its messenger ... but she also doesn’t bother to bring more technical information to the discussion. For instance, in her talk about fewer/less, she doesn’t use the words ‘count’ or ‘mass’ in reference to nouns. She does bring in analogous distinctions, but it seemed strange to me that she would skip using the language reserved for this idea since this terminology is so intuitive.
This leads to the only true complaint that I have. Sometimes Casagrande gets too sidetracked with her humor and stories. For instance, she spent a great deal of time telling the reader about being naked in the bathtub in one chapter. I get this—-and I get the underlying reason for it—-but it does get a bit too overwhelming in some spots. As I mentioned earlier, her jokes hit the mark for the most part, but there are a few that fall flat. I think that any great comedian has this issue, meaning that I forgave it as a I read. I only note it because I'm not sure that all readers will. Some may feel that she is being too irreverent without spending enough time on the meat of the book. I think that given the topic, Casagrande has done the best possible job that a writer could do.
Bottom line: I would recommend this book to anyone in the three groups mentioned above. The first group will find the book infuriating. The second will find it helpful. The third will find it hilarious.
Grammar Snobs is probably the funniest grammar book available. Casegrande has a wicked sense of humor, and some of her jokes are bawdy to the point of being one-liners for the Simpsons or Family Guy. She tells her reader that she researched both for this book, and it shows (in the best way). Her jokes mostly hit the mark, and in several places I was laughing out loud in public places, trying to hide the fact that this was a grammar book and that people would think I had gone insane. Laughing. At a grammar book. Yep.
The book is not for everyone. The book is for everyone. As I read through the book, I tried to figure out her target audience. I wondered if she felt she was targeting the snobs themselves. I wondered if she was targeting neophyte grammarphiles who feel a compulsion to jump straight into the heavy lifting that comes with grammar. I wondered too if it was written for those individuals (me!) in the trenches of grammar warfare. The book strikes a strange balance between these three groups. Her name-dropping suggests the first one—-many jokes are much funnier if you actually know the people she is talking about (well, not know, but, you know, professionally and stuff). Her direct address of the reader also suggests the second: “The reigning grammar snobs have no desire to help the majority of people who would like to use the language with greater confidence but who don’t want to dedicate their lives to the stuff” (192). In other words, I want to help you, but the rest of them don’t. This also plays a bit into the third possible audience; is she admonishing editors/teachers to go easier on the people who must simply use the English language rather than knowing the mechanics of it? I’m not sure. The book suffers a bit for this uncertainty, yet it is balanced by Casagrande’s genuine, infectious desire to better the reader.
Grammar Snobs does a fantastic job of showing the dissonance between various language authorities. Many of us grew up being told archaic rules like ‘Don’t split an infinitive!’ without being told why. The secret in all of those classrooms—-the dangerous idea that teachers would brutally punish if they saw it in their students (my teachers, especially)—-was that they didn’t know either. The teachers were taught it was bad, and they accepted it. Their teachers were taught ... and so on and so on until the present day. The fact is that English doesn’t split infinitives because good old perfect Latin doesn’t split infinitives (never mind the silly idea that Latin’s infinitives are only one word long while English uses ‘to’ with the base). Casagrande discusses splitting infinitives in her book, and she actively encourages her readers to go about splitting them as long as it makes them happy. She doesn't discuss the historical roots of the issue, but she does get across the central point. She shows that various language authorities (all self-proclaimed) cannot make up their minds about this situation. As such, she gives her reader a kind of carte blanche to split infinitives. That’s as good of an explanation as any, and I think that the average reader (the second group) only needs to know this in order to feel justified and to boldly go forth and do so. I like any purported authority who encourages speakers to do what they already intuitively know is right—-grammarians have ruined the language more than any backwater mountain man.
(To defend that in brief, as I know some teeth will be ground on this point: Latin is dead, meaning that no one speaks it any longer. People say that it is thus static; since no one speaks it, Latin cannot adapt and grow to encompass new words. For instance, Latin has no word for the internet. Grammarians try to make English static while, on the other hand, mountain men growl it, spit it, chew it, and double modal it, using it ‘As she might ought to be spoken’.)
Casagrande skims through explanations in certain places. You may have noticed this in the last point I made, but it’s a big one for me. She gives reasonable critiques of the rules; she offers excellent advice throughout the book; she also never deigns to be the language authority, only its messenger ... but she also doesn’t bother to bring more technical information to the discussion. For instance, in her talk about fewer/less, she doesn’t use the words ‘count’ or ‘mass’ in reference to nouns. She does bring in analogous distinctions, but it seemed strange to me that she would skip using the language reserved for this idea since this terminology is so intuitive.
This leads to the only true complaint that I have. Sometimes Casagrande gets too sidetracked with her humor and stories. For instance, she spent a great deal of time telling the reader about being naked in the bathtub in one chapter. I get this—-and I get the underlying reason for it—-but it does get a bit too overwhelming in some spots. As I mentioned earlier, her jokes hit the mark for the most part, but there are a few that fall flat. I think that any great comedian has this issue, meaning that I forgave it as a I read. I only note it because I'm not sure that all readers will. Some may feel that she is being too irreverent without spending enough time on the meat of the book. I think that given the topic, Casagrande has done the best possible job that a writer could do.
Bottom line: I would recommend this book to anyone in the three groups mentioned above. The first group will find the book infuriating. The second will find it helpful. The third will find it hilarious.
February 27, 2018
Read for an English class. Liked Eats, Shoots, and Leaves better.
February 21, 2015
Grammar nazis, snobs, meanies- call them whatever you like- June Casagrande made sure to paint a picture of a bunch of conservative people with (probably) broomsticks stuck up their asses. She debates about Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation and about every dictionary she's found nearby. The conclusion is clear: the rules not only change, there are as many rules as there are sources. Some rules applied to text in books won't apply to articles. More, what you may read in LA newspaper would be written differently in the New York Times.
This is fascinating.
Now, I'm by no means a snob. Can't really be one given that English is not my mother tongue. The thing is, I'd love to be one because, I'm afraid, Mrs Casagrande painted the picture in all the wrong colours. Not only this, but also because I'd rather be a snob than be among the group that 'doesn't really care' about the language, as the author recommends. Sure this book tries to 'sell' language rules in a funny and easy way, but I really don't see why the need to exaggerate about 'snobs'. To make readers feel better about themselves, probably. Hear me out then: if you ever use the wrong phrase/grammar and someone corrects you, don't hang down your head or feel offended, just say 'thank you' and try to never make the mistake again. Otherwise, who's the snob in here? This is how you learn in every environment, whether it applies to grammar or new software at work.
June Casagrande's writing is reader-friendly, witty but, sometimes, tiresome. The author did mention some of the most common mistakes which helped me in one way, and surprised me in the other. I'm fairly sure most of non-native speakers find it amusing/annoying how many English speakers still don't get the grasp of it's=/=its, just to name this one. And believe me, when the author suggests to, when in doubt, use the form that looks/sounds better to you, I can only smile and nod.
I was fairly convinced this book was written to mock people caring about language. It was only partly true. I read it enjoying it and hating it equally- whatever dominates in your case, remember that language is beautiful.
This is fascinating.
Now, I'm by no means a snob. Can't really be one given that English is not my mother tongue. The thing is, I'd love to be one because, I'm afraid, Mrs Casagrande painted the picture in all the wrong colours. Not only this, but also because I'd rather be a snob than be among the group that 'doesn't really care' about the language, as the author recommends. Sure this book tries to 'sell' language rules in a funny and easy way, but I really don't see why the need to exaggerate about 'snobs'. To make readers feel better about themselves, probably. Hear me out then: if you ever use the wrong phrase/grammar and someone corrects you, don't hang down your head or feel offended, just say 'thank you' and try to never make the mistake again. Otherwise, who's the snob in here? This is how you learn in every environment, whether it applies to grammar or new software at work.
June Casagrande's writing is reader-friendly, witty but, sometimes, tiresome. The author did mention some of the most common mistakes which helped me in one way, and surprised me in the other. I'm fairly sure most of non-native speakers find it amusing/annoying how many English speakers still don't get the grasp of it's=/=its, just to name this one. And believe me, when the author suggests to, when in doubt, use the form that looks/sounds better to you, I can only smile and nod.
I was fairly convinced this book was written to mock people caring about language. It was only partly true. I read it enjoying it and hating it equally- whatever dominates in your case, remember that language is beautiful.
February 23, 2012
Well, you've got to love a book that teaches you something and gives you some laughs at the same time. Especially something as dry and - yes, admittedly - boring as the science of grammar. I was using this book as a filler between a few other tomes I was reading (so much easier to cart around in my purse and soooo much easier on my back) and just so happened to find a gem! You can't ask for more than that!
Definitely witty and full of interesting tidbits and rules of those sticky points in the english language, the short chapters are easy and fun to read. I think my favorite chapter was at the end - called 'Satan's Vocabulary'. It really brings home how crazy the english language is! Or at least, how devilishly tricky it can be.
This is a good book to read - or have as a source for those sticky language situations that you run into. The entertainment factor is worth the read alone!
Definitely witty and full of interesting tidbits and rules of those sticky points in the english language, the short chapters are easy and fun to read. I think my favorite chapter was at the end - called 'Satan's Vocabulary'. It really brings home how crazy the english language is! Or at least, how devilishly tricky it can be.
This is a good book to read - or have as a source for those sticky language situations that you run into. The entertainment factor is worth the read alone!
July 9, 2012
Note: This review is a repeat of a previous review with Casagrande's name substituted for the author of the original work. This is further supplemented with lyrics from Lisa Hannigan.
A refreshing read and able to be got through in one sitting. Casagrande has a gift for pressing her tongue firmly into her cheek and gluing it there. Her critics seem to have mistaken this for seriousness and a preacher's declarative form, but I just don't see it. Many people want a stern guide to grammar and punctuation that settles all questions finally and convincingly, but there is not obviously any such thing out there. Those who disagree with Casagrande on minor points would more constructively point this out and expend some effort on acknowledging agreements, rather than always dissolving into missive disagreement.
"I tie the knots to remember in my heart,
So I choke and I sputter to a stop
I am a borrower and lender of the lot."
A refreshing read and able to be got through in one sitting. Casagrande has a gift for pressing her tongue firmly into her cheek and gluing it there. Her critics seem to have mistaken this for seriousness and a preacher's declarative form, but I just don't see it. Many people want a stern guide to grammar and punctuation that settles all questions finally and convincingly, but there is not obviously any such thing out there. Those who disagree with Casagrande on minor points would more constructively point this out and expend some effort on acknowledging agreements, rather than always dissolving into missive disagreement.
"I tie the knots to remember in my heart,
So I choke and I sputter to a stop
I am a borrower and lender of the lot."
December 11, 2015
Sometimes the author tries too hard, but mostly super fun and very funny!
My favorite line is from Chapter 28: Possessives and Words Ending in "S," "X," and "Z on p 121. "'Since feelings on these matters sometimes run high, users of this manual may wish to modify or add to the exceptions' (a footnote thought by many also to appear at the end of the Ten Commandments)." Oh, I definitely enjoyed that one!
In addition to being highly entertaining, there is some seriously useful info in here to be used as a standard reference guide. Well done Ms. Casagrande!
My favorite line is from Chapter 28: Possessives and Words Ending in "S," "X," and "Z on p 121. "'Since feelings on these matters sometimes run high, users of this manual may wish to modify or add to the exceptions' (a footnote thought by many also to appear at the end of the Ten Commandments)." Oh, I definitely enjoyed that one!
In addition to being highly entertaining, there is some seriously useful info in here to be used as a standard reference guide. Well done Ms. Casagrande!
February 16, 2016
I found this book enjoyable but at times tedious. Casagrande herself acknowledges the tedium of the semi-colon vs. colon wars, but that does not stop it actually becoming tedious. I did appreciate her referencing multiple sources to point out that there is little agreement among experts on the questions that trip up common folk. I now feel more at ease with my usual approach of going with my best judgement.
October 8, 2007
This book did clarify some grammar ambiguities for me while making me laugh out loud at times. However, in the end, it's not comprehensive enough to be a reference book (though in her defense, I don't think that was author's intention anyway). And she perseverates on "grammar meanies" so much that I started to find it tiresome and juvenile after a while.
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