Edith Hope Fine - Nitty-Gritty Grammar: A Not-So-Serious Guide to Clear Communication

Her request baffled us. Who would come? What would keep people from nodding off? Would we need a brass band to liven up our six-hour workshop? Then again, we are both nutty enough to have liked diagramming in school. As teachers, weve touted grammar and explained it to young children, teenagers, and adults. As writers, we constantly edit and proofread, ever on the lookout for grammar gaffesscrutinizing manuscripts, menus, billboards, articles, and ads. We even offer a grammar service, called Goof-Proofers! Slam dunk! The class was a go. First came a nonthreatening, practical title: Nitty-Gritty Grammar.

Second, we needed razzle-dazzle. Given that grammar is a very serious business, we naturally thought of cartoons. Knowing that a good belly laugh is worth twenty furrowed brows, we culled our vast collection to find great grammar cartoons. We knew that most people hadnt thought about grammar since high school; wed ease them in with humor. Third, we honed in on the basicsthe structure beneath our often perplexing English language. Our first students helped guide us, with questions such as Whats a subject? Agreement? Arent prepositions those three-letter words? How do you spell potato? Over the years, weve taught a wonderfully eclectic mix of peoplesales reps, parents, students, medical workers, lawyers, engineers, secretaries, retirees, teachers, social workers, human resource managers, reporters, people new to English, and many others.

We always promise students two As if they remember to spell grammar with two as! Class participants cite similar complaintsMy boss redlines my work! I never learned grammar in the first place, Grammars my downfall, I listen to newscasters mistakes, and then wonder about the rules! Before we knew it, friends, relatives, and students were sending us grammar pet peeves, puzzlers, and gems for our Blooper Patrol Handbook. This became the Ticker Tape that runs through this book at the bottom of the page. Nitty Gritty Grammar: A Not-So-Serious Guide to Clear Communication is for people who want to speak and write well and who cant afford to have errors tarnish their image. This feet-on-the-ground guide is designed in short sound bitesperfect for reading while on a coffee break, stirring the stew, or waiting in the doctors office. In just minutes a day, you can review grammar basics, spot common errors, and brush up on your skills. Weve designed this book to be funny, unintimidating, and clear.

Popular cartoons illustrate key points. Look for the right way, the wrong way, and the why to help you conquer grammar pitfalls. As you plunge into this refresher, remember our maxim: Basically, between you and Iwhoops!grammar is fun! Edith H. Fine and Judith P. Josephson Encinitas, California December 1997

Words do specific jobs in sentences to create meaning. Verbs are the engines that power sentences.

Without a verb, a sentence goes nowhere. Verbs show action or express a state of being. the tunnel of love. of TV dinners. Nouns are namers.