A comprehensive but light-hearted guide to grammar for the twenty-first century. Agitated about apostrophes? Struggling with spelling? Dithering over dangling participles? Stumped by the subjunctive? Relax. Help is at hand... For native English speakers who realise that there is more to good English than meets the eye, but don’t know where to start; for parents struggling to explain the finer details to their kids; and for English- language students everywhere . . . this is the only book you need. Grammar for Grown-Ups guides you through the perils, pitfalls and problematic aspects of the English language, with fun test-yourself sections all the way.

Everything you need to know but never learnt in school. This is a straight talking and methodical grammar reference guide that is perfect for anyone who wants to write with confidence. Packed with entertaining examples and quotes from everyone from Homer the Greek to Homer Simpson, the guide keeps readers engaged with a wealth of great quotations to help get writing up to scratch.

A practical and entertaining handbook that will help anyone get their written messages across in a clear and effective way.

INSTANT #1 BESTSELLER! A brand-new book from the #1 bestselling author of The Break and The Woman Who Stole My Life. They're a glamorous family, the Caseys. Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together--birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie--who has the most money--insists on it. Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . . Still, everything manages to stay under control--that is, until Ed's wife, Cara, gets a concussion and can't keep her thoughts or opinions to herself. One careless remark at Johnny's birthday party, with the entire family present, and Cara starts spilling all their secrets. As everything unravels, each of the adults finds themselves wondering if it's--finally--the time to grow up.

"How good is your grammar? John Sutherland poses this infinitely fascinating question, and puts us all on the spot in the most illuminating and enriching way. Full of tests and quizzes, HGYG? is not a rule book, or 'primer' - although the author lays down a set of 'Queensberry Rules' (he is, after all, a professor), before getting on to the interesting stuff. And interesting it is...How much does it matter, for example, that for purists 'Telephone' is ungrammatical, 'Television' grammatical? How grammatically disastrous was the 42nd President's proclamation to the world, 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman'...? Does it matter that USS Enterprise resolves to boldly go at warp speed through the split infinitive...? Elsewhere 'bad' grammar, as text-books define it, is a creative necessity: If poetry is the graveyard of grammar (Think e e cummings), then popular music dances merrily on grammar's grave ('I feel good!' -surely that should be 'well', James?), while text-speak could be either linguistic barbarism or a fascinating test-tube example of grammar's powers of adaptation. This book offers a deliciously challenging parlour game approach to grammar. It is a quizzy, fizzy, learned book, which will entertain, amuse and instruct - wherever English is spoke (sic)."--Wheelers.co.nz.

This book takes you back to the basics; the simple rules and tricks that will help anyone to master the language.

Grammar for Grown-ups is a new-concept grammar book for adults to improve their grammar skills without resorting to tedious schoolbooks. Author Rayn Random quotes the most common mistakes, shows how to quickly fix them, and remember them. The book is an easy read and quick reference for anyone seeking greater business and social success.

Do you know how to use semicolons, where to put your apostrophes and when to use commas? Do you know the difference between affect and effect, if and whether, or who and whom? Do you know why this stuff matters? If you've reached a stage in your career or education where your writing needs to be high quality, Grammar for Grown-ups is a must for your top drawer. Vocational rather than academic, Grammar for Grown-ups is packed with real-life examples and keeps you engaged with a wealth of great quotations from Homer the Greek to Homer the Simpson. Straight talking and methodical, Craig Shrives draws on his years as an intelligence officer as well as over a decade spent compiling his popular grammar website to present a comprehensive but light-hearted and easily digestible grammar reference guide.

A nostalgic compendium of essential knowledge that can help you show the world that you’re smarter than a ten-year-old after all! Have you ever stared blankly at your kids when they’ve asked why the sky is blue? Or clumsily changed the subject when they’ve wanted to know why the wind blows? If you’re done with school, it’s likely you’re also done knowing the difference between an isosceles and equilateral triangle, and you probably leave participles dangling all over the place. Well, not anymore! Thanks to professional know-it-alls Foley and Coates, you can now gain back your self-respect and actually show those kids a thing or two as you tell it to them straight (and not make it up from fragments of facts you kind of remember). Packed with all the basic facts that have managed to free-fall from our heads over the years, Homework for Grown-ups is the ultimate grammar school refresher course in book form. In fact, there’s even a quiz at the end of each chapter to ensure you’ve been paying attention! Written in the light, engaging style of a favorite teacher and featuring lessons in English, math, history, science, geography, art, and even home economics and recess, this fun and handy guide will help you stop hemming and hawing and start speaking with a lot more authority—and a little less shame. E. FOLEY and B. COATES are editors at Vintage who both live in London.