Kathleen Sears - Grammar 101: From Split Infinitives to Dangling Participles, an Essential Guide to Understanding Grammar

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Contains material adapted from the following title published by Adams Media, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.: The Everything Grammar and Style Book, 2nd Edition by Susan Thurman, copyright 2008, ISBN: 978-1-59869-452-9.

Think grammar and spelling arent important? Then you should consider this:

A misplaced comma on the Tariff Act of June 6, 1872, cost the United States government an estimated $2 million in revenue

A missing hyphen in a NASA document forced the destruction of a billon-dollar satellite that was meant to collect data on Venus

A missing word in a 1631 printing of the Bible promoted rampant promiscuity

As these examples show, correct grammar is essential for proper communication and understanding. If you use grammar incorrectly, it reflects badly on your speaking and writing skillsand it may cause others to doubt your reliability. Proper English grammar, correct English grammar, is a vital matter. But what exactly is grammar?

The study of language began around the sixth century B.C. in both Greece and India. Indian scholars concentrated on transmission of Sanskrit while the Greeks focused on the study of written language. Both Plato and Aristotle took an interest in this study of language and provided the discussion for the concept of parts of speech. The Greek scholar Dionysius Thrax even wrote a grammar text of sorts entitled The Art of Letters that discussed the nature of letters, syllables, and word forms. Thraxs work laid the basis for many of the grammar concepts we still hold to today.

English grammar, our standard set of rules for spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure, had its beginnings in the Middle Ages. At this time, the English language had no standard or regulation and had become the third language in its own countryit was essentially a language of the lower classes. In fact, there were so many regional dialects of English at this time that people in one part of England could not understand people from neighboring regionseven one as close as 50 miles away. By the 1600s, this lack of consistency made people believe that the English language was not as good as French and Latin and that it needed to be improved. As a result, the first English grammars were created.

The first attempts at codifying an English grammar were based on Latin grammar, but these versions often fell short because many of the nuances of English could not be made to follow Latins grammatical rules. However, in 1775, when Samuel Johnson published his Dictionary of the English Language , the rules for standard English grammar were finally established, leading to effective communication across all the people of England.

By the end of that century an American named Lindley Murray published the most prominent and influential work on English grammar. Murrays book English Grammar Adapted to the Different Classes of Learners was not just a description of grammar but rather a kind of handbook for how to write proper English. Following Murrays lead, many other volumes on grammar followedincluding Noah Websters A Grammatical Institute of the English Language , which became the backbone of American education and taught more than five generations of children the rules of spelling and grammar. By the nineteenth century the rules of English grammar were widespreadfrom schools, houses, and universities to newspapers and booksand proper grammar had finally taken hold.

Yet despite its pivotal importance, many people still see grammar as a difficult and taxing subject to learn. While it is true that grammar is a large topic with many rules and even some exceptions, Grammar 101 simplifies the topic for you and gives you an easy-to-understand survey of English grammar rules. Whether you have struggled to master grammar in the past or are just interested in learning all you can about this nuanced and fascinating discipline, this straightforward guide will take you step by step through all the skills you need to learn, including:

Understanding the individual parts of speech and elements of a sentence

Using the correct punctuation in your sentences

Avoiding the most common grammatical, spelling, and writing mistakes

With hundreds of concrete examples that show you the correct and incorrect ways to construct clear and eloquent sentences, youll learn how to write and speak with confidence. This book has all the ingredients you need to master grammar and become a great communicator.

So whether youre looking to fill in some holes in your knowledge, get a refresher on what you learned in high school or college, or are merely supplementing an English course youre taking, Grammar 101 has got you covered. From misplaced commas, problems with agreement, and trying to figure out things like whether you should use effect or affect , this guide will walk you through each problem situation and show you the correct path to choose.