The Elements of Grammar

Rating:
Summary: A Stiff, Lifeless, Taciturn Overview
Review: "The Elements of Grammar," intended as a companion for the excellent "The Elements of Style," suffers from a stiff, lifeless presentation that detracts mightily from the grammatical advice. The format of the book itself hinders the reader: the type is too small and relentlessly the same; the examples that follow the rules are set in even smaller type; no visual guides or aids link paired columns of text, making one's eyes climb up and down; and the chapters lack any internal navigational devices to help the reader find his or her way.

The author's explanations lack the authority required for this book to find a spot on my desk. For instance, we are told that a comma may be used to separate the month from the year when the date is omitted, but that current usage permits writing the month and year without a comma between them. I prefer the definitive advice in "The Chicago Manual of Style," which indicates no comma is needed when a month and year appear without the date.

In discussing the use of colons to introduce a list, the author allows a colon to follow a verb, bringing the sentence to a dead stop and interrupting the connection of verb and object or complement.

References to the Government Printing Office Style Manual do not help her case. That style manual is hopelessly outdated and insular

In fairness, Ms. Shertzer delivers a no-frills, somewhat taciturn overview to grammar and usage and one could do much worse than to follow most of the advice here. But this book is not the first choice for a novice editor or young writer unless already thoroughly steeped in the rules and practice of grammar. And in that case, this book's usefulness would be minimal. Seasoned editors and writers would not find this book that useful and many no doubt have nearly new, little used copies of this book wedged into their reference shelves.

Rating:
Summary: A Stiff, Lifeless, Taciturn Overview
Review: "The Elements of Grammar," intended as a companion for the excellent "The Elements of Style," suffers from a stiff, lifeless presentation that detracts mightily from the grammatical advice. The format of the book itself hinders the reader: the type is too small and relentlessly the same; the examples that follow the rules are set in even smaller type; no visual guides or aids link paired columns of text, making one's eyes climb up and down; and the chapters lack any internal navigational devices to help the reader find his or her way.

The author's explanations lack the authority required for this book to find a spot on my desk. For instance, we are told that a comma may be used to separate the month from the year when the date is omitted, but that current usage permits writing the month and year without a comma between them. I prefer the definitive advice in "The Chicago Manual of Style," which indicates no comma is needed when a month and year appear without the date.

In discussing the use of colons to introduce a list, the author allows a colon to follow a verb, bringing the sentence to a dead stop and interrupting the connection of verb and object or complement.

References to the Government Printing Office Style Manual do not help her case. That style manual is hopelessly outdated and insular

In fairness, Ms. Shertzer delivers a no-frills, somewhat taciturn overview to grammar and usage and one could do much worse than to follow most of the advice here. But this book is not the first choice for a novice editor or young writer unless already thoroughly steeped in the rules and practice of grammar. And in that case, this book's usefulness would be minimal. Seasoned editors and writers would not find this book that useful and many no doubt have nearly new, little used copies of this book wedged into their reference shelves.

Rating:
Summary: I thought this book is great
Review: Before my reading of the book I have much struggels with my grammer usedge.... Now (after I read it) I should be proefishent in doing the writing plus I will be better for speeking (verbully) to!!

Rating:
Summary: I thought this book is great
Review: Before my reading of the book I have much struggels with my grammer usedge.... Now (after I read it) I should be proefishent in doing the writing plus I will be better for speeking (verbully) to!!

Rating:
Summary: A clear-cut reference.
Review: I like this book because it "cuts to the chase." It's a lean book with a lot of instructional power. It simply delivers fact without the fluff.

Rating:
Summary: Low-down, funky grammar blues
Review: I originally purchased this volume in conjunction with 'The Elements of Style,' but 'The Elements of Grammar' has been as frustrating to me as the other was exhilarating. The author presupposes you have either retained the torturous grammar lessons of high school or typically excell at abstruse terminology, as her explanations for complex grammatical concepts are terse, making it difficult to build upon lessons and terms learned from chapter to chapter. Isn't this what makes us despise the study of grammar in the first place? Maybe I'm way out of line. Nevertheless, there are three excellent, more user-friendly alternate recommendations I can make: Edward Johnson's 'Handbook of Good English,' Patricia O'Connor's 'Woe is I,' or the Harbrace College Handbook (explicit to a fault), all of which you can purchase here at Amazon.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite grammar guides
Review: Lucid, informative, & portable. My 1st edition (1986) is in tatters, so thanks for this update.

Rating:
Summary: Concise & Comprehensive Reference
Review: This is a handy, concise reference for everyday grammar. It would benefit everyone if more writers would refer to its rules. With the advent of e-mail, more and more Americans are writing every day, with less and less literacy. As to the "Business Grammar", please note the illustration. The word "business" is not in the actual title, and the book seems to have no special orientation toward business usage. It is, however, quite comprehensive, and should meet the needs of most writers - whether business, professional, or personal.