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Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students
2012 Teachers' Choice, International Reading Association
Here is a complete and comprehensive guide to all things grammar from Grammar Girl, a.k.a. Mignon Fogarty, whose popular podcasts have been downloaded over twenty million times and whose first book, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing,was a New York Times bestseller. For beginners to more advanced students, this guide covers it all: the parts of speech, sentences, and punctuation are all explained clearly and concisely with the warmth, wit, and accessibility Grammar Girl is known for. Pop quizzes are scattered throughout to reinforce the explanations, as well as Grammar Girl's trademark Quick and Dirty Tips--easy and fun memory tricks to help with those challenging rules. Complete with a writing style chapter and a guide to the different kinds of writing--everything from school papers to letter writing to e-mails--this guide is sure to become the one-stop, essential book on every student's desk.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2008
174 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Mignon Fogarty
21 books1,325 followersMignon Fogarty is better known as Grammar Girl — five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards, an inductee in the Podcasting Hall of Fame, the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network, and the former chair of media entrepreneurship in the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada. She is the author of seven books about language, including the New York Times bestseller, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. She has also appeared as a guest expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 16, 2020
No matter how casual or professional your need to write is, you will likely find something here to help you improve. Just flipping through the appendix before reading it in earnest I found a vital correction to make in my own writing; I have been making the error of always capitalizing cardinal directions for who knows how long. I frequently thought it looked weird but thought that was the rule. I read enough sprawling epic fantasy in which directions must be stated aplenty, but never noticed this discrepancy in my own casual writing. "You learn something new every day," said the horse.
I was never taught English grammar in grade school because that stage of my education was in French. The French never stuck, because English was still my primary language at home, and I never in my life made a concerted effort to solidify French fluency. It's pretty much gone now. So although I have always read and conducted my life in English, until now I could not have told you what a gerund is. I am still not sure whether I can quickly identify if a piece of writing contained a lot of adverbs. I can tell you which self-published books I have looked at recently that cry out for the author to read this or other grammar primers, in my search for self-published fantasy that is worth my time to read (hint: SPFBO), and I readily admit that my own writing style can stand some polishing. I drift towards wordiness and the passive voice, occasionally catch myself incorrectly using the possessive "it's", and am often unsure of the order of punctutation around brackets and parentheses. At least I never confuse their, there and they're. I read Grammar Girl both to spruce up my own writing as one step in furthering my appreciation of the written word.
This is a lightly exhaustive textbook directed at teenagers but absolutely useful for all ages. I would hate to use it to learn the parts of speech (boring) but the section on punctuation was very helpful. In Strunk-and-White-ian fashion, there is also a long section on common writing errors. You probably make at least one of these regularly, judging by how often I find myself correcting affect/effect when I read. Sadly, loose/lose is not addressed so we still live with that particular curse.
Now feel free to point out any grammatical errors or sloppy form in this review.
I was never taught English grammar in grade school because that stage of my education was in French. The French never stuck, because English was still my primary language at home, and I never in my life made a concerted effort to solidify French fluency. It's pretty much gone now. So although I have always read and conducted my life in English, until now I could not have told you what a gerund is. I am still not sure whether I can quickly identify if a piece of writing contained a lot of adverbs. I can tell you which self-published books I have looked at recently that cry out for the author to read this or other grammar primers, in my search for self-published fantasy that is worth my time to read (hint: SPFBO), and I readily admit that my own writing style can stand some polishing. I drift towards wordiness and the passive voice, occasionally catch myself incorrectly using the possessive "it's", and am often unsure of the order of punctutation around brackets and parentheses. At least I never confuse their, there and they're. I read Grammar Girl both to spruce up my own writing as one step in furthering my appreciation of the written word.
This is a lightly exhaustive textbook directed at teenagers but absolutely useful for all ages. I would hate to use it to learn the parts of speech (boring) but the section on punctuation was very helpful. In Strunk-and-White-ian fashion, there is also a long section on common writing errors. You probably make at least one of these regularly, judging by how often I find myself correcting affect/effect when I read. Sadly, loose/lose is not addressed so we still live with that particular curse.
Now feel free to point out any grammatical errors or sloppy form in this review.
December 28, 2013
A solid 3 stars
I am a huge fan of Grammar Girl. In fact, whenever I have a grammar question I always refer to her site. I also have an app for her podcasts.
This book covers it all (at least superficially), from grammar to punctuation to commonly misused words. There is even a short section that offers basic writing tips, as well as an appendix and glossary.
The best part, however, is the writing, which is humorous and accessible.
So why only 3 stars?
Some areas of the book could have been covered in greater detail with more practical examples. Quizzes at the end of each topic would have also been nice. There were some quizzes, but I wanted more. Still, if you're looking for a general guide that covers the basics, this may be it.
I am a huge fan of Grammar Girl. In fact, whenever I have a grammar question I always refer to her site. I also have an app for her podcasts.
This book covers it all (at least superficially), from grammar to punctuation to commonly misused words. There is even a short section that offers basic writing tips, as well as an appendix and glossary.
The best part, however, is the writing, which is humorous and accessible.
So why only 3 stars?
Some areas of the book could have been covered in greater detail with more practical examples. Quizzes at the end of each topic would have also been nice. There were some quizzes, but I wanted more. Still, if you're looking for a general guide that covers the basics, this may be it.
May 16, 2012
Hello. The book i recommend to ELD students is Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students. This is a non-fiction book. This book is wrote by Mignon Fogarty (Grammar Girl is what she called herself). My dad recommended this book to me. He said it was a good book for improving my English. This book is a grammar book. It teaches you how to use the right tense; when to use the right preposition; etc. Although this book is really boring, but it helps me a lot. This is a really helpful book for ESL students even for teachers.
I recommend this book to ELD class. I believe this book will help the students a lot.
I recommend this book to ELD class. I believe this book will help the students a lot.
September 19, 2011
These books are GOLDEN.
Language study has never been cooler.
Give her podcast a listen, too.
Language study has never been cooler.
Give her podcast a listen, too.
February 17, 2021
An approachable and effective guide to English grammar. I love Grammar Girl.
August 3, 2011
Grammar Girl’s book for students is approachable, orange
(From my blog: editor mark.wordpress.com)
Grammar was not my subject. In high school English class, we did a unit on grammar every semester. It always seemed to be the same thing to me. The work was either obvious (I could recite “Grammar Rock” with the best of them) or unnecessarily confusing (English is like that). The book we used seemed authoritative, but there just seemed to be more rules and guidelines in there than anyone could possibly know. There wasn’t, it turned out, but it seemed that way.
I might be decades behind the time in my perception of grammar textbooks, but the criteria I would use to judge are the level of detail (less is more), the level of intimidation, and the clarity of the rules listed.
My first impression of Mignon Fogarty’s new student grammar is that it’s very orange. It’s inescapably orange with a cover reminiscent of the old Chicago Manual of Style (now blue) and a matching orange inside for headings, examples and shading. Its title opts for bravado over brevity: “Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students.” It has cartoon drawings, most featuring the familiar Aardvark and Squiggly (a snail) of previous Grammar Girl books. We can give it points for lack of intimidation right away.
Before I get too deep into my opinions, a disclosure: Mignon Fogarty and I tend to run with the same crowd; we’re friends. My daughter worked as her intern. And she sent me her books to review. I can’t write an unbiased review, but I’ll do my best. I wouldn’t have agreed to look at her books if I didn’t have immense respect for the job she does as Grammar Girl.
My appreciation of Fogarty has always been her approach, which is to thoroughly research questions and give clear answers that acknowledge exceptions. Her popularity stems not from her authority as an experienced English teacher or university professor (she’s neither), but from the idea that she’s there to help those who seek help. She doesn’t claim to know all, but she’s happy to check it out and get back to you. And when she does, she doesn’t overlook history, reasoning and common usage to pedantically wag a finger (at a split infinitive, for instance).
This book reflects the Grammar Girl formula. It’s friendly, funny, conversational and scholarly. Here, for example, is Fogarty’s advice on answering the phone for those who still answer phones.
When people call me and ask, “May I speak to Grammar Girl?” I properly respond, “This is she.”
She explains why, then acknowledges reality:
Now, the problem is that 90 percent of you are almost certainly thinking, “That sounds really weird. Is she serious?” Well, yeah, I’m serious. That is the traditional rule, but fortunately, most grammarians forgive you for not following the rule because it sounds fussy, even to us.
“The Ultimate Writing Guide for Students” follows the course I expect of a grammar book, starting with parts of speech (“A noun is a person, place or thing”), working through sentence structure and punctuation, and ending with tips on writing. I imagine young learners mastering the basics the rushing forward to the really useful stuff starting in chapter four: affect vs. effect, bring vs. take, fewer vs. less, hanged vs. hung, lay vs. lie, nauseous vs. nauseated, who vs. whom. It concludes with a useful but brief set of appendices with quick tips.
Fogarty’s audience for a student grammar might not be so eager to seek help as those who follow her through her podcasts, website, e-mail notices and previous books. But this new grammar does not intimidate, it does not overwhelm and it is clearly presented for easy digestion.
Years ago, I used to keep extra copies of Rene Cappon’s “The Word” to give to budding newspaper journalists. Now, I intend to keep a few of these orange books around for young learners.
(From my blog: editor mark.wordpress.com)
Grammar was not my subject. In high school English class, we did a unit on grammar every semester. It always seemed to be the same thing to me. The work was either obvious (I could recite “Grammar Rock” with the best of them) or unnecessarily confusing (English is like that). The book we used seemed authoritative, but there just seemed to be more rules and guidelines in there than anyone could possibly know. There wasn’t, it turned out, but it seemed that way.
I might be decades behind the time in my perception of grammar textbooks, but the criteria I would use to judge are the level of detail (less is more), the level of intimidation, and the clarity of the rules listed.
My first impression of Mignon Fogarty’s new student grammar is that it’s very orange. It’s inescapably orange with a cover reminiscent of the old Chicago Manual of Style (now blue) and a matching orange inside for headings, examples and shading. Its title opts for bravado over brevity: “Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students.” It has cartoon drawings, most featuring the familiar Aardvark and Squiggly (a snail) of previous Grammar Girl books. We can give it points for lack of intimidation right away.
Before I get too deep into my opinions, a disclosure: Mignon Fogarty and I tend to run with the same crowd; we’re friends. My daughter worked as her intern. And she sent me her books to review. I can’t write an unbiased review, but I’ll do my best. I wouldn’t have agreed to look at her books if I didn’t have immense respect for the job she does as Grammar Girl.
My appreciation of Fogarty has always been her approach, which is to thoroughly research questions and give clear answers that acknowledge exceptions. Her popularity stems not from her authority as an experienced English teacher or university professor (she’s neither), but from the idea that she’s there to help those who seek help. She doesn’t claim to know all, but she’s happy to check it out and get back to you. And when she does, she doesn’t overlook history, reasoning and common usage to pedantically wag a finger (at a split infinitive, for instance).
This book reflects the Grammar Girl formula. It’s friendly, funny, conversational and scholarly. Here, for example, is Fogarty’s advice on answering the phone for those who still answer phones.
When people call me and ask, “May I speak to Grammar Girl?” I properly respond, “This is she.”
She explains why, then acknowledges reality:
Now, the problem is that 90 percent of you are almost certainly thinking, “That sounds really weird. Is she serious?” Well, yeah, I’m serious. That is the traditional rule, but fortunately, most grammarians forgive you for not following the rule because it sounds fussy, even to us.
“The Ultimate Writing Guide for Students” follows the course I expect of a grammar book, starting with parts of speech (“A noun is a person, place or thing”), working through sentence structure and punctuation, and ending with tips on writing. I imagine young learners mastering the basics the rushing forward to the really useful stuff starting in chapter four: affect vs. effect, bring vs. take, fewer vs. less, hanged vs. hung, lay vs. lie, nauseous vs. nauseated, who vs. whom. It concludes with a useful but brief set of appendices with quick tips.
Fogarty’s audience for a student grammar might not be so eager to seek help as those who follow her through her podcasts, website, e-mail notices and previous books. But this new grammar does not intimidate, it does not overwhelm and it is clearly presented for easy digestion.
Years ago, I used to keep extra copies of Rene Cappon’s “The Word” to give to budding newspaper journalists. Now, I intend to keep a few of these orange books around for young learners.
September 24, 2020
Honestly, I don't think there is a perfect solution, and I would like to avoid the question because I know that no matter what I say, I'm going to make someone angry. Many grammarians have a hard time agreeing on this as well.
Sometimes things aren't technically wrong or wordy; they're just painfully awkward.
Mignon Fogarty created the persona of "Grammar Girl" to voice a podcast tackling the ambiguities and misunderstandings of oral and written communication. With self-deprecating humor, Fogarty outlines a problem inherent in grammar or usage and then, based on a close study of the subject, provides sage suggestions to avoid the problem in the future. This background prepared her to author a writing guide for students.
I have taught high school English and have used examples and concepts from this book. Fogarty's approach bears fruit; however, her forays into silliness tend to be awkward. Because she tries hard to be hip, her intended audience, the youth of America, often read her attempts with, if not outright contempt, exasperated eye-rolling. For the teacher, however, the concepts and examples are useful and, with a modicum of work, engaging in the classroom. In a sense, Fogarty recognizes her true audience: She continually advises students to, when faced with a grammatical ambiguity standard rules do not clarify, practice the rule in the manner prescribed by the teacher.
Finally, as with her podcast, Fogarty disarms Grammar Nazis by examining the source of many of their sacred rules:
Blame Latin for the logic behind the 19th-century rule about not splitting infinitives. In Latin there are no two-word infinitives, so it's impossible to split one. Early on, many English teachers decided that because infinitives couldn't be split in Latin, they shouldn't be split in English either.
While this book provides a better understanding of the writing process, it does not inspire any zeal to brow-beat the grammatically ignorant. Fogarty seldom admonishes; she deconstructs grammar myths and demonstrates correct usage without snarkiness or condescension. Her conclusion sums up her book concisely:
I hope I've given you the tools you need to write with confidence. I think of grammar and usage as the rules to the game of writing, and the rules are just the building blocks of creativity. Writing proper sentences doesn't ensure that your work will be inspiring, but it can keep errors from marring your brilliance.
Sometimes things aren't technically wrong or wordy; they're just painfully awkward.
Mignon Fogarty created the persona of "Grammar Girl" to voice a podcast tackling the ambiguities and misunderstandings of oral and written communication. With self-deprecating humor, Fogarty outlines a problem inherent in grammar or usage and then, based on a close study of the subject, provides sage suggestions to avoid the problem in the future. This background prepared her to author a writing guide for students.
I have taught high school English and have used examples and concepts from this book. Fogarty's approach bears fruit; however, her forays into silliness tend to be awkward. Because she tries hard to be hip, her intended audience, the youth of America, often read her attempts with, if not outright contempt, exasperated eye-rolling. For the teacher, however, the concepts and examples are useful and, with a modicum of work, engaging in the classroom. In a sense, Fogarty recognizes her true audience: She continually advises students to, when faced with a grammatical ambiguity standard rules do not clarify, practice the rule in the manner prescribed by the teacher.
Finally, as with her podcast, Fogarty disarms Grammar Nazis by examining the source of many of their sacred rules:
Blame Latin for the logic behind the 19th-century rule about not splitting infinitives. In Latin there are no two-word infinitives, so it's impossible to split one. Early on, many English teachers decided that because infinitives couldn't be split in Latin, they shouldn't be split in English either.
While this book provides a better understanding of the writing process, it does not inspire any zeal to brow-beat the grammatically ignorant. Fogarty seldom admonishes; she deconstructs grammar myths and demonstrates correct usage without snarkiness or condescension. Her conclusion sums up her book concisely:
I hope I've given you the tools you need to write with confidence. I think of grammar and usage as the rules to the game of writing, and the rules are just the building blocks of creativity. Writing proper sentences doesn't ensure that your work will be inspiring, but it can keep errors from marring your brilliance.
August 16, 2018
This book has a lot of information regarding parts of speech, punctuation, diction, and style, but I didn't love her presentation. She tries to come off as jokey and informal, which I get, but it didn't work for me. I also found that, too often, she'd explain a rule, mention various exceptions to the rule, and suggest choosing whatever the teacher prefers. Part four of the book, "Quick and Dirty Tips", features clarifications of common mistakes (e.g., than/then and affect/effect). It's a great section except for when she lists: "Biannual Versus Semiannual: (See Semiannual Versus Biannual)". If someone's not reading the book from start to finish and is looking only for clarification of those words, that person can go straight to the index to find the page. Section five, though, is the most interesting to me as it goes over economy of language and the variation of sentence structure. These are areas that students need the most help in.
August 24, 2019
I'm using this as a supplement text for my Freshman Composition class. When I read the introduction, I knew this was the book for us. It's good to learn hard and fast, "quick and dirty [grammar] tips," but why? Because it helps us express our ideas. I'm glad she uses grammar as a tool for conveying ideas and messages, not as a whip, not as a fix-it-all solution to your writing problems. Even when you know grammar, writing can and is still challenging! Grammar just builds confidence, and that's what my students need.
I've only been using it for one week or so, but I think it's being received well. I just wish that her website actually had quizzes for each section (as promised) and wasn't just a collection of her podcasts. I like her podcast--- don't get me wrong. But if I wanted her podcasts, I'd go find them. What I want is more worksheets and exercises that go hand-in-hand with her chapters. Hence the 4-star rating.
I've only been using it for one week or so, but I think it's being received well. I just wish that her website actually had quizzes for each section (as promised) and wasn't just a collection of her podcasts. I like her podcast--- don't get me wrong. But if I wanted her podcasts, I'd go find them. What I want is more worksheets and exercises that go hand-in-hand with her chapters. Hence the 4-star rating.
June 17, 2017
This is a very quick and useful tool to remind teachers (and students) of grammar rules. Grammar Girl gives brief and basic understanding of almost every grammar question that I have seen as a teacher in a clear and easy way. Not only does she provide the definition and understanding of the grammar, but easy to follow and understand examples. This resource will definitely be used in my classroom for clarification and for word study/grammar lesson instruction.
May 23, 2019
Great book! This book was very informative and fun to read. I had to read this book for an on-line course and I am so glad that I did.
I love Ms. Fogarty's writing style. She has cute characters to explain writing rules. Who would have thought that a book about grammar would be so interesting!
I love Ms. Fogarty's writing style. She has cute characters to explain writing rules. Who would have thought that a book about grammar would be so interesting!
May 17, 2021
This is a great guide for students or anyone looking to improve their grammar knowledge. Split into five sections (parts of speech, sentence types, punctuation, usage errors, and writing), there's great advice written explicitly, and it's easy to understand for newer writers. I'd recommend seventh grade and up! Definitely something I would use with my students.
December 9, 2022
All the basics you need to know explained in a friendly and entertaining manner (her witty remarks and clever titles made me chuckle!). Fogarty is so likable and keeps a potentially-boring subject (grammar) fun and easily understandable. The illustrations, abundant examples, glossary, and appendix make this book so much better.
May 22, 2020
I’ve been looking for this book for years on goodreads because I read it when I started to learn English . And I just wanna say I’m grateful that this book has helped me tons and saved my poor English .
March 18, 2022
Mignon Fogarty is great. I am now hooked on her website (Quick and Dirty Tips) too, and I like to compare Fogarty's grammar explanations to other author's. Often, I find her explanations the most simple and concise. This book would be a good resource for any student.
October 18, 2024
I think this book was excellent! Lots of simple, straight-to-the-point material that was easy to digest. Concepts were explained pretty well overall, and the author's tone was just perfect! I read this for a grammar course and enjoyed reading through the book.
January 9, 2019
Very fun and student-friendly. I knew all of the rules and concepts, but plan on using some of the examples in my classroom for students.
Read
June 15, 2019So much information!
July 4, 2021
Must have resource for writers
September 4, 2023
This is a fantastic book on grammar. Every writer should have this book in their collection,and every teacher should also have it.
October 14, 2021
A good read to help with language development.
March 1, 2020
About the book: This guide covers different aspects of writing. It is geared towards high schol and university students.
First impressions: I’ve been a fan of Mignon Fogarty, better known as Grammar Girl, for many years now. I picked up this book when I was still in school, but I never got around to reading it cover to cover until now when I`m no longer a student.
Content: The book has chapters on parts of speech, sentences, puncutation, grammar rules, and writing style/advice. There’s also a glossary, bibliography, index, as well as other sections. I especially liked the tips and pop quizzes scattered throughout.
“Writers—professional writers—get writer’s block at different points in their lives.”
Writing: Even when explanining complicated rules, Fogarty is concise and to the point. She writes in a way that’s clear and easy to understand.
Final thoughts: I enjoyed reading the entire guide from beginning to end. It’s also a useful resource to flip through and skim certain sections. I highly recommend Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students to anyone who wants to learn more about grammar and improve as a writer.
First impressions: I’ve been a fan of Mignon Fogarty, better known as Grammar Girl, for many years now. I picked up this book when I was still in school, but I never got around to reading it cover to cover until now when I`m no longer a student.
Content: The book has chapters on parts of speech, sentences, puncutation, grammar rules, and writing style/advice. There’s also a glossary, bibliography, index, as well as other sections. I especially liked the tips and pop quizzes scattered throughout.
“Writers—professional writers—get writer’s block at different points in their lives.”
Writing: Even when explanining complicated rules, Fogarty is concise and to the point. She writes in a way that’s clear and easy to understand.
Final thoughts: I enjoyed reading the entire guide from beginning to end. It’s also a useful resource to flip through and skim certain sections. I highly recommend Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students to anyone who wants to learn more about grammar and improve as a writer.
March 18, 2017
Great book for beginning grammar. Had to read this as part of my English 100 class.
July 21, 2011
Have you ever tried to read a writing guide? Did you stay awake long enough to find the page on quotation marks or dependent clauses or whatever you were looking for? Yeah, me neither. Maybe I’ve flipped through a guide or even read a paragraph or two if I’ve needed to look up a specific issue, but this is the first time I’ve ever read a writing guide all the way through. Like all of Grammar Girl’s books and posts, this guide is entertaining!
Grammar Girl, because of her training in language and in the hard sciences, understands how to explain the importance of proper usage for clarity, but she also explains that sometimes rules exist out of tradition. She also tackles grammar myths (like that ending a sentence in a preposition one). Her examples are easy to understand and fun (I especially like the section on misplaced modifiers). The quick and dirty tips and the pop quizzes throughout are very cool and quite handy. If you haven’t seen her blog or heard her podcast, I highly recommend both. She tackles big things, like commas, and minor things, like “nauseous” versus “nauseated.”
Other bonuses in the new guide include tips that perhaps were not designed specifically to help ESL learners, but would still be immensely helpful for such students. Tips like FANBOYS and ordering adjectives, for example, are things that many native speakers take for granted, but having them described simply but completely is helpful for any user of the English language.
Also included are tips for drafting and proofreading one’s own writing. Additionally, she gives tips that as a comp teacher, I’ve tried to drill into my students’ minds, like “show, don’t tell,” “avoid cliches like the plague,” and “you need to know if a website is credible.” I am so happy I have Grammar Girl to back me up on these points.
A couple of years ago, I was teaching comma rules to a technical writing class at MSOE. I was trying to explain restrictive elements and nonrestrictive elements to the class and several of the students weren’t getting it. They were frustrated and I was frustrated. One guy kept saying that in every example I gave, the elements all seemed unnecessary so they should all be offset by commas. I didn’t understand how he didn’t just SEE it. As I read the section in this book about restrictive elements and nonrestrictive elements, I realized that if I’d just explained it the way Grammar Girl did, a whole lot of headaches would have been prevented. This book is coming with me to school every day from now on so that when a grammar or usage question comes up, I can simply take Grammar Girl’s wording and examples to explain it much more succinctly than I am often able on my own. (It’s hard to come up with sentence examples on the fly, have you noticed?)
This is the best writing guide I’ve seen (and I’ve seen A LOT in my years as student and teacher). This book is fun, complete, and user-friendly, but it’s also truly inexpensive. (The hardcover list price is $20, and I’m sure that the spiral bound writing reference guides by Diana Hacker easily cost over $50 at the school bookstore). Sure, the Hacker-type guides have MLA in them (and Grammar Girl’s does not), but most students just use easybib now anyway, so it’s not like they’re going to be looking up MLA format in a book the way I did as an undergrad.
I am requiring Grammar Girl’s guide for my college composition class this fall, and I recommend it to every high school, ESL, and college writing teacher out there. Even if you don’t require it as a text, you should still have it on hand and consider putting it on your syllabus as a recommended text.
Grammar Girl, because of her training in language and in the hard sciences, understands how to explain the importance of proper usage for clarity, but she also explains that sometimes rules exist out of tradition. She also tackles grammar myths (like that ending a sentence in a preposition one). Her examples are easy to understand and fun (I especially like the section on misplaced modifiers). The quick and dirty tips and the pop quizzes throughout are very cool and quite handy. If you haven’t seen her blog or heard her podcast, I highly recommend both. She tackles big things, like commas, and minor things, like “nauseous” versus “nauseated.”
Other bonuses in the new guide include tips that perhaps were not designed specifically to help ESL learners, but would still be immensely helpful for such students. Tips like FANBOYS and ordering adjectives, for example, are things that many native speakers take for granted, but having them described simply but completely is helpful for any user of the English language.
Also included are tips for drafting and proofreading one’s own writing. Additionally, she gives tips that as a comp teacher, I’ve tried to drill into my students’ minds, like “show, don’t tell,” “avoid cliches like the plague,” and “you need to know if a website is credible.” I am so happy I have Grammar Girl to back me up on these points.
A couple of years ago, I was teaching comma rules to a technical writing class at MSOE. I was trying to explain restrictive elements and nonrestrictive elements to the class and several of the students weren’t getting it. They were frustrated and I was frustrated. One guy kept saying that in every example I gave, the elements all seemed unnecessary so they should all be offset by commas. I didn’t understand how he didn’t just SEE it. As I read the section in this book about restrictive elements and nonrestrictive elements, I realized that if I’d just explained it the way Grammar Girl did, a whole lot of headaches would have been prevented. This book is coming with me to school every day from now on so that when a grammar or usage question comes up, I can simply take Grammar Girl’s wording and examples to explain it much more succinctly than I am often able on my own. (It’s hard to come up with sentence examples on the fly, have you noticed?)
This is the best writing guide I’ve seen (and I’ve seen A LOT in my years as student and teacher). This book is fun, complete, and user-friendly, but it’s also truly inexpensive. (The hardcover list price is $20, and I’m sure that the spiral bound writing reference guides by Diana Hacker easily cost over $50 at the school bookstore). Sure, the Hacker-type guides have MLA in them (and Grammar Girl’s does not), but most students just use easybib now anyway, so it’s not like they’re going to be looking up MLA format in a book the way I did as an undergrad.
I am requiring Grammar Girl’s guide for my college composition class this fall, and I recommend it to every high school, ESL, and college writing teacher out there. Even if you don’t require it as a text, you should still have it on hand and consider putting it on your syllabus as a recommended text.
July 28, 2011
This review covers Grammar Girl's three recent releases:
Good writing skills are a must in any professional career, and there’s no secret to being a good writer: Learn the tools of English, and practice. And read, of course. A lot.
Students can use a hand learning the basics — and the trickier points — of language, and that’s where three new books come in.
Mignon Fogarty, better known as “Grammar Girl,” has written several books on grammar and produces am award-winning grammar podcast each week. But she wrote her three latest books just for students, to help them learn new words, navigate tricky meanings, and put them all together into clear, coherent English.
“101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know” (St. Martin’s Griffin, 118 pages, $5.99) and “101 Misused Words You’ll Never Confuse Again” (St. Martin’s Griffin, 119 pages, $5.99) are short, handy word guides.
The first is simply a list of good words for students to know, such as “canard,” “ironic” and “rancor.” Each is defined and then illustrated with an example taken from literature, TV shows, politics, movies and journalism. The examples are largely fresh and modern, and do a good job of showing the words in context. There’s not a pronunciation guide, though, so you’ll have to hit the dictionary to find out how to say “schadenfreude.”
The second guide actually contains more than 101 words, as most entries differentiate at least two words that are commonly mixed up. The entries include “affect/effect,” “lay/lie” and “till/’til/until.” Each word is explained and illustrated with the same caliber of examples as the “Graduate” guide, but an added feature in this book are “quick and dirty tips” for most entries — these offer a mnemonic or short sentence to help people remember the differences.
“The Ultimate Writing Guide for Students” (Henry Holt, 284 pages, $19.99 hardcover/$12.99 paperback) is a much meatier reference, going beyond vocabulary into grammar and the structure of writing. But it’s not a dry, boring reference. From its bright orange theme color to its tips sprinkled throughout to its “Grammar Schmammar” intro, this guide is both informative and user-friendly.
The book starts with the basics — parts of speech — then moves on to sentences, punctuation and tips on common pitfalls. It ends up with a great pep-talk chapter that offers tips and examples on how to clarify and streamline writing, getting over writer’s block, and editing and proofing your work.
It’s all done in a light, friendly style with copious examples of what to do, and focuses much more on what to do than on what not to do. The main message — good for anyone who writes, not just students — is: You can write; here are the tools.
Good writing skills are a must in any professional career, and there’s no secret to being a good writer: Learn the tools of English, and practice. And read, of course. A lot.
Students can use a hand learning the basics — and the trickier points — of language, and that’s where three new books come in.
Mignon Fogarty, better known as “Grammar Girl,” has written several books on grammar and produces am award-winning grammar podcast each week. But she wrote her three latest books just for students, to help them learn new words, navigate tricky meanings, and put them all together into clear, coherent English.
“101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know” (St. Martin’s Griffin, 118 pages, $5.99) and “101 Misused Words You’ll Never Confuse Again” (St. Martin’s Griffin, 119 pages, $5.99) are short, handy word guides.
The first is simply a list of good words for students to know, such as “canard,” “ironic” and “rancor.” Each is defined and then illustrated with an example taken from literature, TV shows, politics, movies and journalism. The examples are largely fresh and modern, and do a good job of showing the words in context. There’s not a pronunciation guide, though, so you’ll have to hit the dictionary to find out how to say “schadenfreude.”
The second guide actually contains more than 101 words, as most entries differentiate at least two words that are commonly mixed up. The entries include “affect/effect,” “lay/lie” and “till/’til/until.” Each word is explained and illustrated with the same caliber of examples as the “Graduate” guide, but an added feature in this book are “quick and dirty tips” for most entries — these offer a mnemonic or short sentence to help people remember the differences.
“The Ultimate Writing Guide for Students” (Henry Holt, 284 pages, $19.99 hardcover/$12.99 paperback) is a much meatier reference, going beyond vocabulary into grammar and the structure of writing. But it’s not a dry, boring reference. From its bright orange theme color to its tips sprinkled throughout to its “Grammar Schmammar” intro, this guide is both informative and user-friendly.
The book starts with the basics — parts of speech — then moves on to sentences, punctuation and tips on common pitfalls. It ends up with a great pep-talk chapter that offers tips and examples on how to clarify and streamline writing, getting over writer’s block, and editing and proofing your work.
It’s all done in a light, friendly style with copious examples of what to do, and focuses much more on what to do than on what not to do. The main message — good for anyone who writes, not just students — is: You can write; here are the tools.
December 22, 2013
I think this is a fantastic book that anyone would benefit from reading. I wasn't so sure when I started the book because it starts with very basic grammar, such as the parts of speech, and I thought "Well, this would be great for students but I'm a teacher – I know all this stuff." I was pleased to discover that some of the ways she explains things are the way I have been explaining them to student for the past several years (such as the two different ways to determine whether one needs a comma between coordinate adjectives).
As the book moved on, however, I discovered that I was actually learning some things too. Things I understood but could never really explain. Well, now I can. This book has an incredible amount of information, but Grammar Girl's smooth, friendly, folksy style makes it an easy and fun read. You're going to feel absolutely stuffed with knowledge and understanding, but it certainly does not read like a boring old grammar book.
If you want to get a feel for Grammar Girl's style, subscribe to her podcast on Quick and Dirty Tricks.
As the book moved on, however, I discovered that I was actually learning some things too. Things I understood but could never really explain. Well, now I can. This book has an incredible amount of information, but Grammar Girl's smooth, friendly, folksy style makes it an easy and fun read. You're going to feel absolutely stuffed with knowledge and understanding, but it certainly does not read like a boring old grammar book.
If you want to get a feel for Grammar Girl's style, subscribe to her podcast on Quick and Dirty Tricks.
May 1, 2015
I loved this book. It was educational and entertaining.
Mignon Fogarty is amazing for the work she does in educating the masses on how to use proper grammar. I am terrified to write a long review on a book about grammar when my own is so poor, but I just had to try. While this is a beginners guide, it was till quite comprehensive and gave a great starting point for people new to grammar or refreshing skills that we haven't used in a while.
I found it to be an easy read and loved the illustrations of Aardvark and Squiggly. They made the reading even more enjoyable. If you have a teen in your life, or just feel overwhelmed by some of the other grammar boos, this is the perfect book for you. I gives you the basics and helps you understand the proper usage.
Thanks Grammar Girl. I will restrict my semi-colons, be mindful of my comma usage and become friends with the apostrophes. You have set me on the correct path to better grammar.
Mignon Fogarty is amazing for the work she does in educating the masses on how to use proper grammar. I am terrified to write a long review on a book about grammar when my own is so poor, but I just had to try. While this is a beginners guide, it was till quite comprehensive and gave a great starting point for people new to grammar or refreshing skills that we haven't used in a while.
I found it to be an easy read and loved the illustrations of Aardvark and Squiggly. They made the reading even more enjoyable. If you have a teen in your life, or just feel overwhelmed by some of the other grammar boos, this is the perfect book for you. I gives you the basics and helps you understand the proper usage.
Thanks Grammar Girl. I will restrict my semi-colons, be mindful of my comma usage and become friends with the apostrophes. You have set me on the correct path to better grammar.
July 31, 2011
Grammar Girl’s Ultimate Writing Guide for Students is a handy book for students and professionals alike. In an easily understandable manner, Grammar Girl covers the English language in a light and fun – yet informative – way. I highly recommend this book for those professionals for whom English is a second language. The comprehensive index enables you to find the subjects for which you need help in a flash. This book would be a worthwhile gift to any student, any professional, and any person, for that matter, who wants to improve the quality of their writing without having to take a formal class.
November 24, 2021
A Grammar/Writing book can be also amusing and fun like this! Seeing this book at schools and cram schools in Korea, you will snort and end up picking a real grammar book for memorizing key points and solving questions.
However, if the ultimate goal of learning a foreign language is doing active part such as writing and speaking, and if you want to be better at writing, why don't you just start this book, instead ignoring, saying it is only a kids' book. I learned a lot from the punctuation chapter, though not sure how much now still I remember.
However, if the ultimate goal of learning a foreign language is doing active part such as writing and speaking, and if you want to be better at writing, why don't you just start this book, instead ignoring, saying it is only a kids' book. I learned a lot from the punctuation chapter, though not sure how much now still I remember.
March 23, 2015
Pretty helpful book for grammar. This was part of my required reading for my Writing Skills class through the American College of Healthcare Sciences. I learned a few things I didn't know, refreshed my memory on things I had forgotten, and laughed at a few of the sentences and comments about the characters Squiggly and Aardvark. I recommend this book to anyone who could use some help with grammar. This book is based on the weekly podcasts by Grammar Girl.
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