Rating: 
Summary: Who would have thought grammar could be this much fun?
Review: This is one of the most valuable 'Grammar Texts' I have read. In fact, as I write this review, I'm hoping that what I have learned will demonstrate itself (yikes!). This book is funny, informative, and makes learning very fun and easy.Patricia O'Connor demonstrates the proper use of verbs, pronouns, plurals, how to write with ease, avoiding split infinitives, etc. Essentially everything one needs to know about the elements of the English language are in this text. Moreover, O'Connor's neat remedies and jokes make learning very fun. O'Connor emphasizes punctuation, verbal usage and misuse of certain words, especially certain verbs which often get confused (i.e. 'lay' and 'lie'). There is a lot in this book that is valuable to writers, students, and anyone who simply wants to sharpen their grammar skills. If you have been wanting a book that is not your typical grammar text, then this book is for you. I highly recommend this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Useful reference
Review: I agree with several recurring criticisms in these reviews: O'Conner's neglect of the issues surrounding the title (though you can roughly figure it out for yourself, something she may have intended), her arbitrary approach to other grammarians--one moment scoffing at their rigidity, the next moment unloading stink-bombs and rhetorical miscues of her own--and the relentless witticisms. But I use this book almost every day; when I read, I keep this and a copy of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary close at hand. Having read it, I'm proud to be able to pinpoint all sorts of grammatical errors in stuffy scholarly journals like the Wilson Quarterly. Her glossary and bibliography are immensely useful, and the indexing and chapter layour make it easy to relocate relevant material. It is not very comprehensive, but it has the potential to sharpen your awareness and basic understanding of grammar. I've moved on to the 'Elements of Style,' and have found O'Conner's book helpful in navigating that text as well.
Rating:
Summary: Take Your Grammar -- This Won't Hurt a Bit
Review: This is a promise -- you will write better and be more aware of what you write after reading this book. In fact, you don't even have to read it to benefit. Thanks to a superb Index you can look up your particular point of interest and most likely find that it is clarified somewhere in the book (and, in the text, cross-referenced if there is more than one occasion where it is discussed). Troubled by that nasty it's/its bugaboo? It's demystified in two separate entries. O'Connor's grammatical medicine is particularly painless and great entertainment thanks to the sentences that illustrate the rules of usage. Just opening the book at random here, I find her giving "paradigm" a thoroughly deserved debunking (a "pattern or example," not "a standard of perfection"), "...the darling of those who like to dress up ordinary ideas in technicalities. 'Our ad campaign has paradigmatic resonance,' said Mr. Palaver." Similarly witty examples abound in this very useful and affordable reference for good writing.
Rating:
Summary: A funny look at a serious subject!
Review: Yes, I am a Grammarphobe! When I write, I always have a nagging little feeling that perhaps I have been tripped up by some grammar rule. With this book in hand, you will have a handy reference guide to look up plain English usage. It is a free-flowing, fun read for all those who aspire to good grammar. Patricia T. O'Conner, presents the seemingly arbitrary rules of English in terms anyone can understand. She uses words in sentences so you can easily see the difference in usage. As the editor at the New York Times Book Review, she looks at life in a lighthearted way and gives us all a look at grammar on the funny side. Her entertaining and instructive writing will help you see all those funny mistakes in an easy-to-understand way. "Wow! Who would have thought that you could have such a delicious time with a grammar book? Woe Is I is great fun." --Susan Isaacs. Now tell me...is anyone really fooled by that title?...I thought it was great! If your editor drives you absolutely crazy, this might be a nice break! Perhaps a fun gift from editor to writer. No matter what...I still like "Woe is me!" It just seems more personal. As far as a book title, it is just brilliant and is sure to get everyone's attention.
Rating:
Summary: Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plai
Review: A lighthearted guide written for the grammatically challenged (that includes just about everyone) giving straight advice on the most common mistakes made by writers. O'Conner (copy editor, considers pronouns, split infinitives, subject verb agreement, and cliches, handing over understandable, adult explanations devoid of jargon and dashed with humor e.g. "alright. No, is not <-->it's all wrong." The volume has been selected as a Book-of-the-Month Alternate Selection.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional book. Highly recommended! 10 stars!!!
Review: I'll keep this short and sweet. I manage a group of technical writers at work. For consistency in the professional world of writing, they use the Chicago Manual of Style as the definitive source. Secretly, our lead writer told me she likes "Woe is I" better. I know why: It is much easier to use, has a great index, is fun to read (no one will ever say that about the Chicago Manual of Style), and covers all the essentials. I highly recommend "Woe Is I" to everyone that cares about grammar. For those people, like me, that just want a quick reference to help them write well enough, this is perfect. If you are a professional, buy "Woe Is I" to complement your Chicago Manual of Style. I bet you will use "Woe Is I" more often :)
Rating:
Summary: A Professional Nitpicker's Delight!
Review: Patricia T. O'Conner has accomplished the impossible: She's written a book as informative and enjoyable as Strunk and White's "Elements of Style." Recently, my teenaged son checked out "Woe Is I" from our public library. Being an editor with nineteen years' experience, I probably would have overlooked the book, thinking I didn't need it. Well, the very week he borrowed it, I encountered a puzzling entry in a book I was editing. Sure enough, O'Conner had a section addressing the question (about "since" versus "because"). I was hooked. I found myself taking several extra bathroom breaks just so that I could browse more of "Woe Is I." O'Conner's humor and knowledge shine through nearly every section. Another favorite aspect is that the book continues on from where Strunk and White left off. Some writing rules have changed since the 1979 S&W edition, and I especially appreciated O'Conner's chapter focusing on RIP (outdated) rules. For example, because I often had difficulty teasing out the difference between "like" and "such as," I was thrilled that O'Conner says we no longer need to worry about this distinction. Finally, her list of redundant, hackneyed turns of phrase will help keep my own writing sharper and fresher. I look forward to the updated edition coming out in 2004.
Rating:
Summary: Witty and easy to read
Review: This is one of the best books on the English language that I have read. It makes the subject of grammar (which you probably reply with "Ugh!" and think of those awful middle school and high school hours of studying) actually interesting. It is simple to read and very straightforward without the extra "fluff" that is often found in text books (which is what usually causes me to loose interest very quickly in a book or subject). It also incorporates humor, which is a nice touch and certainly a break from the dry monotony so often found elsewhere. If you are at all interested in grammar or being able to speak well, then this is ten dollars that you cannot afford not to spend.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good and Lots of Fun
Review: There are plenty of grammar books going around. I don't know whether this one is the best, but I don't know what would be better for someone who doesn't need an exhaustive treatment of the subject. For me, humor has mnemonic value, and there's plenty of humor in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good, Funny Introduction to English Grammar
Review: This book was recommended to me a few years ago by an English professor. I wish I had bought the book back then. O'Conner provides an introduction to English grammar that is not only useful, but often funny. Moreover, unlike many books on English grammar, O'Conner manages to avoid using technical jargon. I highly recommend O'Conner's book.
|
