Last weekend I visited Half Price Books on a mission to gather the tools necessary to become a bonafide grammar geek. If you’re familiar with my b*list, you’ll know that this pursuit is a life goal of mine, and has been for awhile. The short story behind it is that I’ve always loved writing and grammar, and I nearly majored in English. However, I fell for design, and haven’t once looked back. If you ever wonder why I blog, I will tell you now that a big part of it has to do with my love of writing. Now, while I know enough about grammar and punctuation to be a little bit dangerous, I am no expert (a fact that is obvious to all the editors in the audience). I would like that to change, however. My mild obsession with grammar and punctuation and vocabulary is about to become a full-fledged love affair. I am diving in with both feet, armed with a dictionary in one hand, a punctuation guide in the other, and a red pen tucked behind my ear. Wish me luck!
With the exception of A Moveable Feast (not the one you’re thinking of, but a book on foodie adventures around the world), the entire stack of books pictured above is dedicated to my grammar geek initiative. The titles are as follows:
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
The American Heritage Student Grammar Dictionary
100 Words Almost Everyone Mispronounces
East, Shoots & Leaves
Lynne Truss
I have a few other books on hand from my college days, which I will be dusting off and adding to the pile. In the meantime, I am looking for your suggestions. If you are an editor, copywriter, or a fellow (hopeful or established) grammar geek, share your tips, ideas, and favorite resources with me here! I am all ears.
Oooh! I have some suggestions. (I am a current English and journalism double major … teehee.)
A Grammar Book for You and I (Oops Me)
The Things That Make Us (Sic) <– This one is HILARIOUS!
You are speaking my language! I’m a copy editor (ericamidkiff.com for more info about that), and I love all things grammar-related! It’s nice to see that someone else feels the same.
Some of my much-used resources:
Chicago Manual of Style (the 16th edition is out). This is a style guide that you can reference when you have questions about how to correctly do almost anything. Keep in mind that other style guides exist that are also correct; the idea is to pick one for each project you work on, to maintain consistency within that project. [Check out their website; they have a fun Q&A section that can be entertaining at times!]
Garner’s Modern American Usage. This book is SO FUN. It’s an alphabetical listing of how words and phrases are used correctly (and incorrectly!) in the English language. It’s really helpful to look up commonly used phrases, many of which are used incorrectly. [Example: People often say "chomping at the bit," but the phrase is actually "champing at the bit." Garner's explains why!]
This list (http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors) features usage issues as well. [Example: difference between affect/effect, ascent/assent, etc.]
You also have some of my favorites up there! Yay, grammar. I feel like we need a club!
Strunk and White. Nothing like it.
I second Strunk and White. I also recommend
Write Right and Rewrite Right, both by Jane Venolia.
Oh, if only I wasn’t at home! My classroom has loads of books on grammar, because I teach English! I definitely have Eats, Shoots, and Leaves there, and I also have The Grouchy Grammarian (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grouchy-grammarian-thomas-parrish/1102283929?ean=9780471223832&itm=1&usri=the%2bgrouchy%2bgrammarian). Also, Purdue University has an online writing lab that I always send my students to as a resource (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/).
Good luck!
Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson? I haven’t read it myself, but it looks fun.
You’ll appreciate this then. http://www.cracked.com/blog/9-words-youre-confusing-with-other-words/
Oh my, that last book: Eats, shoots and leaves : my favorite (among very few) jokes in english (or any language)! I randomly entertain my kids with that ” Dont’t you know who you are talking to?” “No” says the waitress”. “Check out the dictionary!” You know, talking with low freightening tone as panda bears do…:)
The one suggested in comments: Bill Bryson. I recently read his Notes From the Small Island and it was hilarious!
By the way: I understand your obsession for grammars, I use to be one. They say that English is a triange standing on it’s small corner: you can survive with very little but there is endless amount of things and words to learn. Finnish is very opposite. You need to know relatively lot to be able to make sentences; both words and grammar. But when you know: that’s it. There is a limit in grammar, point where everything is “grammared” …
you have a misspelling in your book list: mispronounces is spelled wrong (and I realize you were talking about grammar, not spelling, but thought you might want to know!). also, I have no grammar book recommendations for you. sorry! but now I am intrigued to check out all the ones people have been listing!
I love this post! I am an editor/writer in my day job. The AP Style Guide is a must.