Best book for crash course in english grammar?

Alex/Mugaaz · #1 12-02-2005, 03:18 AM

Anyway there is a new job position at work that requires me to grammar nazi skills. I've never had schooling in English grammar due to moving around so often. I basically just wing it. I'm proficient at the language and have no problem spelling. I have problems with things like comma usage, colons, when to use apostrophes, or when to underline, do I put magazine article names in italics, pointing out what the subject is, etc.

So should I just go find an ACT book, or is there something better? I can memorize easily for the test, but I'd rather get a book that is designed well so I can learn this permanently. I don't want to forget it all again, which is what happened last time when I had to study this for the ACT.

(braces for people correcting the grammar in this post)

lapoker17 · #2 12-02-2005, 03:25 AM

New York Times Manual of Style and Usage is the Bible

Brom · #3 12-02-2005, 03:26 AM

Your use of five different types of punctuation marks in your post already puts you in the 99th percentile of OOT.

Alex/Mugaaz · #4 12-02-2005, 03:30 AM

[ QUOTE ]
New York Times Manual of Style and Usage is the Bible

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it the Bible because it's absolutely correct or because it's great at teaching grammar.

lapoker17 · #5 12-02-2005, 03:33 AM

Uh, what's the difference?

Just get it - Most people who write a lot professionally use it - journalists, creative teams, etc...

Alex/Mugaaz · #6 12-02-2005, 03:39 AM

I only have a couple hours to learn this. So how well the book is set up matters. If the book just contains the rules for estoeric things, but is designed poorly there are probably better choices for me. I'm looking for something like 3 steps above an idiots guide.

Ed Miller · #7 12-02-2005, 06:16 AM

Read Strunk and White, The Elements of Style

sfer · #8 12-02-2005, 10:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Read Strunk and White, The Elements of Style

[/ QUOTE ]

Slow Play Ray · #9 12-02-2005, 10:45 AM

Go back 20 years in time and start reading a lot of books - it'll come naturally.

MrTrik · #10 12-02-2005, 12:17 PM

I doubt you will learn correct grammar usage in a couple hours, but Ed's suggestion is a fantastic one in this situation.

Elements of Style is short and very succinct. It's what my professors used when I was in college and is still one of the best sources for this information available.

I should re-read it one of these days to refresh everything.