Description
Book SynopsisThis is an entertaining guide to the most common grammatical mistakes in English, from apostrophe atrocities to the lie/lay conundrum. Using examples of errors found in major newspapers, magazines, and TV broadcasting, Thomas Parrish's fictional friend "the Grouchy Grammarian" explains basic elements of grammar and good writing.
Trade Review“…this is a lighthearted but highly effective reminder for anyone looking to avoid the pitfalls of the English language…” (Good Book Guide, June 2003)
Table of ContentsThe Grouch and I.
The Topics.
1. Think!
2. Agreement; or, Where Did the Subject Go?
3. Special Kinds of Subjects.
4. A Bit More about Each.
5. There-the Introducer.
6. Former Greats.
7. Just Because They Sound Alike.
8. The Reason Isn't Because.
9. May and Might: Did They or Didn't They?
10. As of Yet.
11. Floaters and Danglers.
12. A.M./Morning, P.M./Afternoon, Evening.
13. Would Have vs. Had.
14. Apostrophe Atrocities.
15. It's a Contraction-Really.
16. Whom Cares?
17. Whiches, Who's, and That's.
18. Where's the Irony?
19. The Intrusive Of.
20. Preposition Propositions.
21. But Won't You Miss Me?
22. Well, Better, Best, Most.
23. Between Who and What?: Prepositions with More Than One Object.
24. Other . . . or Else.
25. Lie, Lay.
26. A Case of Lead Poisoning.
27. Silly Tautologies.
28. False Series.
29. French Misses.
30. None Is, None Are?
31. Drug Is a Drag. It Must Have Snuck In.
32. And/Or.
33. Overworked and Undereffective.
34. Quantities, Numbers.
35. Watering What You're Writing: The Alleged Criminal and the Alleged Crime.
36. Only But Not Lonely.
37. Pairs-Some Trickier Than Others.
38. Between vs. Among.
39. Those Good Old Sayings.
40. Fuzz.
41. As . . .Than.
42. Not Appropriate.
43. Sorry, You've Already Used That One.
44. From Classical Tongues.
45. Like, Like.
46. Just the Facts, Ma'am.
47. Lost Causes?
The Grouch Reflects.
Afterword.
Using This Book.
Thanks.
From the Grouch's Shelves-A Bibliography.
Index.
