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The Joy of Syntax: A Simple Guide to All the Grammar You Know You Should Know
Language columnist June Casagrande presents a fun and breezy guide to everything a grown-up interested in grammar needs to know.
When it comes to grammar, it seems like everyone--even die-hard word nerds--feel they missed something in school. The Joy of Syntax picks up where sixth grade left off, providing a fresh foundation in English syntax served up by someone with an impressive record of making this otherwise inaccessible subject a true joy. With simple, pithy information on everything from basic parts of speech and sentence structure to usage and grammar pitfalls, this guide provides everything you need to approach grammar with confidence.
When it comes to grammar, it seems like everyone--even die-hard word nerds--feel they missed something in school. The Joy of Syntax picks up where sixth grade left off, providing a fresh foundation in English syntax served up by someone with an impressive record of making this otherwise inaccessible subject a true joy. With simple, pithy information on everything from basic parts of speech and sentence structure to usage and grammar pitfalls, this guide provides everything you need to approach grammar with confidence.
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2018
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454 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 17, 2024
Yeah, I read a book about grammar. SO WHAT?!? Come at me.
Even worse, I LOVED it. I was fascinated by it, so enthralled I read portions out loud to anyone sitting next to me. Luckily, one of those people was David Bonagura, noted Latinist and published author, who clearly appreciated the technical aspects of this guide. We had some great chats waiting for the hurdles to start.
Everyone else, however…like my wife and daughter, like the coaches at the next meet I attended…didn’t appreciate it as much. Those are the people who laughed at what I giant geek I am. The normal people.
This stems from my “grammar ulcer,” the pit in my stomach that gurgles with acidic pain when someone misuses “literally” or writes, “May you give me that PDF, please?” I suppose I picked this up because I want to be right when I correct someone, so I can feel better after having had my teeth knocked out.
It starts well with lots of the basics. It gets a little too technical about midway, using terminology only true lexicologists use, and you can feel free to smack me with a sack of nickels if I ever get THAT bad. But then comes an awesome section called “Usage and Propriety,” which was just what I was looking for. And I learned you CAN end a sentence with a preposition, and you never have to use whom, ever! It’s like Maalox for my grammar soul.
A few takeaways:
• There’s no official English Rulebook. No “proper” English. The language evolves based on what English speakers at the time agree upon.
• Some things are grammatically incorrect but idiomatically OK. So, “There’s so many people outside” is wrong but is generally acceptable. (I have a little issue with this – ooh! My grammar ulcer again!)
• The front part of the dictionary tells you how to use it. You’ll find conjugation of irregular verbs, whether a verb is transitive or not, and what the superlatives of some adjectives are. Oh, man – I see dictionaries in a whole new way.
• There’s a whole guide to word usage. YES!
I borrowed this from the library, but Imma get this sucker from Amazon. Word Nerds, unite!
Even worse, I LOVED it. I was fascinated by it, so enthralled I read portions out loud to anyone sitting next to me. Luckily, one of those people was David Bonagura, noted Latinist and published author, who clearly appreciated the technical aspects of this guide. We had some great chats waiting for the hurdles to start.
Everyone else, however…like my wife and daughter, like the coaches at the next meet I attended…didn’t appreciate it as much. Those are the people who laughed at what I giant geek I am. The normal people.
This stems from my “grammar ulcer,” the pit in my stomach that gurgles with acidic pain when someone misuses “literally” or writes, “May you give me that PDF, please?” I suppose I picked this up because I want to be right when I correct someone, so I can feel better after having had my teeth knocked out.
It starts well with lots of the basics. It gets a little too technical about midway, using terminology only true lexicologists use, and you can feel free to smack me with a sack of nickels if I ever get THAT bad. But then comes an awesome section called “Usage and Propriety,” which was just what I was looking for. And I learned you CAN end a sentence with a preposition, and you never have to use whom, ever! It’s like Maalox for my grammar soul.
A few takeaways:
• There’s no official English Rulebook. No “proper” English. The language evolves based on what English speakers at the time agree upon.
• Some things are grammatically incorrect but idiomatically OK. So, “There’s so many people outside” is wrong but is generally acceptable. (I have a little issue with this – ooh! My grammar ulcer again!)
• The front part of the dictionary tells you how to use it. You’ll find conjugation of irregular verbs, whether a verb is transitive or not, and what the superlatives of some adjectives are. Oh, man – I see dictionaries in a whole new way.
• There’s a whole guide to word usage. YES!
I borrowed this from the library, but Imma get this sucker from Amazon. Word Nerds, unite!
January 25, 2023
It took me three years to finish, if that’s any indication on how gripping this read was.
February 11, 2025
This book is useful to an editor who already has a strong grasp of grammar, and it will take a spot on my reference shelf. Simple? Nope. A joy to read? Unlikely. This book delves into the complex construction of sentences and the countless ways you can break them down, using grammatical terms that will be unfamiliar to many. I learned a few new ones.
Some narrative sentences could have been better constructed for easier reading, and much of the text was dry. But it's a grammar guide. It's hard to make them fun. The author has some controversial views on acceptable usage and how much certain grammar issues matter. I'll be looking up some of the things she said to see whether I have new things to learn or whether I shall continue to disagree with her. But no two editors will ever agree on everything, and it's useful to have different points of view on hand. There's a handy usage guide and glossary at the back.
Adding to my reference collection makes me happy in a nerdy sort of way.
Some narrative sentences could have been better constructed for easier reading, and much of the text was dry. But it's a grammar guide. It's hard to make them fun. The author has some controversial views on acceptable usage and how much certain grammar issues matter. I'll be looking up some of the things she said to see whether I have new things to learn or whether I shall continue to disagree with her. But no two editors will ever agree on everything, and it's useful to have different points of view on hand. There's a handy usage guide and glossary at the back.
Adding to my reference collection makes me happy in a nerdy sort of way.
May 28, 2020
The Joy of Syntax is quite a splendid book. It is separated into different parts, each helping you learn more and more grammar. I found this book really helpful, especially on the glossary part. The glossary includes explanations on the usages of words, a feature I find very useful. I also liked how the explanation for grammar in different portions of the book was easy to understand. I thought this book was really good, but it did have some confusing bits, that wouldn't really make this book a simple guide. I would recommend this book to older teens and adults who are well versed with grammar and writing.
December 12, 2020
Sandwiched between accessible and enjoyable introductions and closing chapters are a couple dozen, very dry chapters that cram in a lot of syntax and grammar terms in a fashion that isn't exactly designed to be easily committed to memory. Nevertheless, Casagrande does illuminate a fair few often disputed grammar issues (e.g. less versus fewer) throughout this little guidebook and if you can grit your teeth to get through the more technical bits you're more likely than not to walk away with a better grasp of the wonderfully arbitrary English language.
February 12, 2020
This little book is the one to turn to when you want to know how a word is functioning in a sentence and the name for that part of speech. You remember that “and” is a conjunction, but is it a coordinating conjunction, a
subordinating conjunction, or a correlative conjunction? (the first) June Casagrande writes in an approachable, easy-to-read manner.
subordinating conjunction, or a correlative conjunction? (the first) June Casagrande writes in an approachable, easy-to-read manner.
August 21, 2020
This book is an excellent remedial course in grammar and usage. It's brisk, conversational in tone, and covers pretty much everything you need to know about the syntactical unit, how to build sentences and how to analyze them.
June 25, 2021
4.5 stars
grammar and syntax (lighter on the syntax) made simple and straightforward; a great, thorough intro; Casagrande does take some suprising, controversial stances in her Usage Guide (chapter 29)
grammar and syntax (lighter on the syntax) made simple and straightforward; a great, thorough intro; Casagrande does take some suprising, controversial stances in her Usage Guide (chapter 29)
September 10, 2023
DNF since this is more of a reference book than something I would read cover to cover. This is an accessible grammar guide. For a more technical approach, check out Garner’s chapters in the Chicago Manual of Style.
July 26, 2018
Not user friendly
Condescending and boring
Didn’t get anything out of it
It’s small where it should be large
Monochromatic when format change would be better
Condescending and boring
Didn’t get anything out of it
It’s small where it should be large
Monochromatic when format change would be better
September 9, 2018
I'm not sure you could call this fun. It was confusing and assumed you knew a lot more about grammar than I would have thought from a book called A Simple Guide.
Not really worth the money for me.
Not really worth the money for me.
December 11, 2018
Good reference and refresher
January 12, 2020
EXCELLENT!!!
November 15, 2020
A book every writer should have as a reference.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews