The Elements of Grammar

by Margaret Shertzer

This is The Elements of Grammar.

Genres: Reference, Writing, Nonfiction, Language, Crafts, Education, Teaching

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Joseph Carrabis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I previously reviewed Arthur Plotnik’s “The Elements of Editing” and Strunk and White’s “The Elements of Style”, both of which are worthy reads. Shertzer's The Elements of Grammar was the third of the three volume set I purchased years ago and finally sat down to read.
First, it's a quick read. At least I found it so, and perhaps because I still remember Mrs. Woodbury's 4th grade class in which grammar played a major role.
My volume is from 1986 (I mentioned years ago, right?) and is based on a 1950s text. I was fascinated by how much grammar rules have changed, and anthrolinguists should give this a good read as it shows language shifts recognizable in retrospect. Case in point, "like," as in "So he said, like..." It left me wondering what Panenglish grammar rules will be.
It did clear up several confusions I had in my own work (mostly because I remember what I was taught - good job, Mrs. Woodbury! - and some editors are more current in their grammar than I). It still serves as a good general reference.
I provide more details and conclusions on my blog.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil, Central patron, July 2018, 3 stars:

Definitely aimed at advanced high school students, college age students, or adults. This book is part of a series of books which include the classic The Elements of Style. It is a bit of a chore to read; however, you will learn useful ways to improve your writing if you can slog through it.

[John Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It never hurts to review the rules of grammar and usage. Doing so can prevent an embarrassing error down the line. This book, however, is no better than what's available on dozens of free web sites, so there's no reason to head to your local bookstore or amazon.com to find a copy.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent grammar book!

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now outdated with some usages having gone completely out of style. Hard to follow due to a lack of clear explanations. Glaring inconsistencies (check out the usage of 'Both' with no explanation as to the difference on pages 20 and 21).

[J.D. Steens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the better books on English grammar and is good to have around for continual reference. The spelling rules at the end of the book were excellent. It's hard to believe how people learn English. The terminology itself is daunting - predicate, nominative, voice, case, transitive, pluperfect, indicative, etc. And grammar books consistently advocate that we write clearly! Verbs involve action or a state of being (inaction), which raises a question about why opposites are combined under one heading. Given the pervasiveness of "to be" under all its forms ("Is be am are was were been....") we might profit from a full chapter on this verb alone - not on usage as such, but on what "to be" conveys about how and why this verb ties so much of the human experience together. This book refers to "correct usage," which begs the question about who or what, in a living language, makes such determinations. "Correct usage" says thus and so, the author writes. Ah, the virtues of the passive-like voice. Elsewhere, the book uses the more apt, "current usage permits," "some authorities prefer," "American usage generally prefers," and so forth, which acknowledges at least implicitly that correct/incorrect is distinct from actual usage. Clarity of expression is one thing, but "correct usage" seems to insist on something more. A deeper issue is why "incorrect usage" grates and why using "English correctly and gracefully" is important, often viscerally so, for so many of us.

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend whose writing I admired and who acted as a first reader ("beta") for me recommended this specific book--she said it was her go to grammar. It's not as lively as Woe Is I or Eats, Shoots & Leaves, but it's a solid, succinct (168 pages) grammar on rules of correct English usage: punctuation, capitalization, parts of the sentence, often confused words, foreign words, numbers, signs and symbols, etc.

[Jamees · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow sounds zzzzz but important. i keep it at my desk always
as you can tell from my syntax

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for everyone who wants to speak and write English correctly.