Get a Grip on Your Grammar: 250 Writing and Editing Reminders for the Curious or Confused

by Kris Spisak

Just as we should think before we speak, we need to think before we write.

Most of us are not poets or novelists, but we are all writers. We email, text, and post; we craft memos and reports, menus and outdoor signage, birthday cards and sticky notes on the fridge.

Get a Grip on Your Grammar is a grammar book for those who hate grammar books, a writing resource filled with quick answers and a playful style—not endless, indecipherable grammar jargon.

Get a Grip on Your Grammar is The Elements of Style for the Twitter generation. Designed for student, business, and creative-writing audiences alike, its easily digestible, occasionally witty writing tips will finally teach

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2017

About the author

Kris Spisak knows that well-written words and well-told stories have the ability to change the world. A graduate of the College of William and Mary (B.A.) and the University of Richmond (M.L.A.), Kris wrote her first three books — Get a Grip on Your Grammar: 250 Writing and Editing Reminders for the Curious or Confused (Career Press, 2017; HarperCollins India 2020), The Novel Editing Workbook: 105 Tricks and Tips for Revising Your Fiction Manuscript (Davro Press, 2020), and The Family Story Workbook: 105 Prompts & Pointers for Writing Your History (Davro Press, 2020) — to help writers of all kinds sharpen their storytelling and empower their communications. Her Grammartopia® events and Story Stop Tour programs follow the same mission. Her award-winning debut novel, The Baba Yaga Mask (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, 2022; Tantor Audio, 2023), was inspired by her family’s experience in the post-WWII Ukrainian diaspora and has been called “A complex, poetic tale” by Kirkus Reviews and “edu-tainment at its best” by the Historical Novel Society. Her fifth book, Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods (Red Wheel / Weiser, 2024; Tantor Audio, 2024), acclaimed as a “nuanced work of feminist literary criticism” by Foreword Reviews and "a delicious read" by Atlas Obscura, explores the complex origins of this Slavic folktale character and her lingering lessons for empowering us all.

Kris has been spotlighted in Writer’s Digest and The Huffington Post for her work as an author dedicated to helping other writers, and she is passionate about transforming book signings and storytelling events into humanitarian aid efforts when the opportunity allows. Kris is an active speaker, workshop leader, and literary historian.

Reviews

[Karen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

While most grammar books are filled with rules via a lecturing tone, Kris Spisak brings fun, joy and sometimes a little sass to the topic. It's such an enjoyable read, I didn't realize how much I was learning until I next sat down to write. "Get A Grip on Your Grammar" is filled with writing and editing reminders that aren't just for writers, but for anyone who wants to improve the way they speak and write. Thanks to Spisak, I now understand the correct way to describe her book. It was so entertaining I could not LAY the book down. But when I completed it, I also LAY down more confident in my grammar.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and a must have tool for students, parents, and anyone with the occasional writing question!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it sounds strange, but this book about grammar is actually fun to read! Even if you think you're an expert when it comes to homophones, this book tackles writing (and even speaking) nuances that are fascinating! After reading through just a few pages you'll want to keep going to be certain you know exactly when to use "allude" vs "refer", "regrettably" vs "regretfully", or "travesty" vs "tragedy" just to name a few. This is the perfect gift for any high school or college student, and it certainly doesn't hurt to have this at your fingertips as a parent. It makes me wonder if a student could catch a teacher making an accidental error with this kind of tool in their box! Regardless, (I know not to use irregardless here thanks to the book), it's a fun read and you'll feel much smarter almost instantly!

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The English major within me dearly loved every teasing reminder. Apart from one sneaky misuse of "you're" at the very end, this guide is an entertaining reference for all writers.

[Julie Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With sections on word usage, punctuation, idioms, business writing and etiquette, and creative writing and storytelling, Kris Spisak's Get a Grip on Your Grammar: 250 Writing and Editing Reminders for the Curious or Confused nails it. Nails the most essential. Nails the frequently confused. Nails the odd and quirky. All this in about 200 pages, with clearly defined sections and boldfaced tips; a book that is bound in such a way it feels good in your hands. Falls nicely open as you read.

Spisak's book is informative and entertaining with a tone that is pertinent and specific (it is a grammar book after all). The vibe in this grammar guide strikes a balance between friendly/casual and stern. Tough love for the sake of clarity, preservation of language, and the ultimate goal: helping the writer get his or her or their point across.

On my bookshelf, I filed this title next to Mignon Fogarty's Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. Authority mixed with warmth and wit. A delight to read, I refer to it often and must confess: not only did I add more dog ears than you'd find in a dog park, but I've also littered Spisak's grammar book with Post-its, paperclips, and lots and lots of yellow highlights. (And pink. I've been known to highlight in pink, too.)

Five stars. Highly recommended.

[J Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book. There ought to be more books like this with quick, precise and concise answers to grammar questions. Presented in the form of 250 tips. Includes a section of Documentation at end; also, a linked Index. Loved reading it, sometimes to answer my own questions and sometimes to confirm my own knowledge.

[Jbussen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting for me. I don't know what I was paying attention to in elementary school, but it wasn't how to write. I like that this book reviews when to use : and not ; and " and ( etc. I kinda needed this. And it is written with humor. But does drag in places. I bought it for 2$. For that price I'm calling it a win.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you find yourself writing the wrong word in a sentence that "sounds" the same, this book is for you. The author takes individual words and explains how they should be used. For example: To and too. That is a simple one that almost everyone knows but there are some more complicated ones than that.

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was both informative and enjoyable. The author made everything very easy to understand from a layman's perspective and wrote in a very entertaining way. However, I am sad to say that Writing Tip #246 has the wrong use of "you're." Credibility is totally ruined.

[Kristy McCaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great reference book!! I especially like the clarification of words like 'loath' and 'loathe'. Good stuff here.

[Bruce E Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Informative

The author covers many of the writing errors we all make. This is a good refresher for anyone who cares about the English written word.

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

very funny with lots of good tips

[John Musgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, but even easier to implement the suggestions. Better than any automated grammar checker!

[Ecolpip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book to read and have as a reference.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very handy book. Essential to any writer. It's like a Strunk & White that's actually fun to read!