Great Giveaway: Glamour of Grammar Review and Giveaway! Ends 10/03

Book Description
From the Publisher's Website

Early in the history of English, the words "grammar" and "glamour" meant the same thing: the power to charm. Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools, aims to put the glamour back in grammar with this fun, engaging alternative to stuffy instructionals. In this practical guide, readers will learn everything from the different parts of speech to why effective writers prefer concrete nouns and active verbs. THE GLAMOUR OF GRAMMAR gives readers all the tools they need to"live inside the language"--to take advantage of grammar to perfect their use of English, to instill meaning, and to charm through their writing. With this indispensable book, readers will come to see just how glamorous grammar can be.




My Thoughts
First off I should disclose that I consider myself an amateur linguist. I love language, all language and all apects of it, from Latin to African American Vernacular English, from etymology to phonetics. I have a B.A. in French, minor in History and was one class away from a minor in English when I ran out of financial aid and had to go ahead and graduate. I was working toward a double degree in French and History with a minor in English.  I am a member of both the French and English National Honor Societies.  I tell you this not to brag but to make you aware of where I am coming from.

That being said, I love this book.  Every time I pick it up I feel like a kid in a candy store because I know I'm going to learn something new.  This is a book I will be re-reading and referencing often, especially as a blogger.  Roy Peter Clark does an excellent job of making confusing rules and practices make sense.  The keepsakes at the end of each chapter are great take-aways and help the reader remember the main points.  I also love the reference material at the end of the book.

This book is great for anyone who writes, students, bloggers, authors, journalists, anyone really.  It's chock full of tips and tricks to improve your writing without being stuffy and boring.  Clark is really funny and does an excellent job of making grammar glamorous.

Win It!
One lucky reader will win their own copy of The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English.

Mandatory Entry:
To enter follow this blog and leave a comment with one of your biggest grammar hang-ups.  What trips you up, confuses or frustrates you?   I'll go first.  I'm horrible about comma splices.  In fact, I caught myself falling into that trap several times while writing this post.  Include your usernames and email if it's not visible in your profile. This must be done FIRST and your email must either be included or visible in your profile or all entries will be disqualified.

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