The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style by Laurie E. Rozakis

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style Reviews

• 
  Asma

  My first in-depth grammar book, and I must say I had fun going through it in detail, and I will also enjoy coming back to it for reference.
  The two things that caught my attention in this book are: the brief summaries at the end of each chapter, and the meaningful sentences and paragraphs used in examples and activities.
  Loved it! Strongly recommended for everyone!
• 
  Bob Nichols

  Generally, the English instructional books I’ve come across are not very clear about verbs and this book is no exception. Learning this stuff is a nightmare.
  
  Rozakis states that “there are six verb tenses in English” and that each tense has “two forms: basic and progressive…(also known as ‘perfect’).” If “perfect” is about a completed action and “progressive” is about on-going action, this division is confusing. Other English instructional books distinguish simple and compound verbs: there are three basic (simple?) verbs (past, present, future) and a perfect, progressive and perfect progressive (i.e., nine forms) for each basic verb tense (e.g., had talked, have talked, will have talked; was talking, am talking, will be talking; had been talking, have been talking, will have been talking). It makes sense that each English instructor has a preferred way of describing English verbs, but the reader would benefit in this case by Rozakis noting that there are other ways to classify as opposed to simply asserting without further explanation that “there are six verb tenses in English.” In particular, the perfect progressive tense explains why Rozakis defines (combines) “progressive” as “perfect,” but she does not explain that the reason for this classification involves the role of the helping verbs, which is what puts the main verb "talk," in its progressive form (talking), into its perfect tense (had been). This prompts a larger issue about the rich and abundant role of linking verbs and helping/auxiliary verbs. These are woven into Rozakis’ text here and there but they need a separate and through discussion, even for a book with this kind of (“Idiots”) title. This is not about getting into the weeds. It’s basic and it doesn’t seem to take much to clarify their roles in English verb usage.
  
  Chapter 24, “Words and Expressions to Avoid,” should be rethought to avoid its strong PC feel. Rather than “cancer patients,” we should use, “people being treated for cancer,” she says. Rather than mentally retarded people,” we should use “people with mental retardation.” “Watch for phrases that suggest that women and men behave in stereotypical ways,” she states, but then Rozakis engages in her own stereotyping. For a test, she lists eight expressions that are euphemisms and states that if you got most of the answers wrong on her test then you must be “working for the government.” Rather than referencing wordiness, unnecessary complexity, overblown or simply “unclear” language, she calls such “bureaucratic language” instead, a term that is not fair to most public servants or a term that just as easily applies to non-governmental organizations. Rozakis wording, “eager for financial or sexual gain,” is preferred she writes to “On the make.” But her words are wordier and convey no picture, and it’s like talking with a dictionary. There are other problems with this chapter, but these examples will suffice.
  
• 
  Francesca Strada

  Probably the most fun book about grammar I have ever had.
• 
  Haley Keller

  This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn grammar. It's especially good for someone who wants to learn how to write better in a business setting. For any non-native English speakers, there are special sections for you throughout the book, which I think is a good idea. Native English speakers don't often speak completely correct English, but there are still a lot of things that come naturally to them that won't to a non-native English speakers.
  
  Read the rest here:
  http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...
• 
  Brenda

  My copy's all marked up and worn out. I like that it's an easy-to-use workbook.
• 
  Elizabeth Clark

  Written for adults who never "got" grammar, but excellent for high school students, too. I have used it in my high school language arts classroom for years!