A useful review of English Grammar with tips for remembering them.

This book is for students learning grammar, writers who are perplexed by a grammar rule and anyone needing a refresher. The author lists a common mistake, such as who/whom, provides incorrect and correct usage, a memory tip and a quiz with an explanation for which I am terrible. The author suggests that since language has been relaxed, we may let those prepositions fly.

Highly recommended. The grammar rules we need in a short, clear and concise manner. This should be in every library, personal, educational or business.


I received an ARC from Castillo Media through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do

I vividly remember my 7th grade English class and my difficulties with grammar. Despite writing for a day job, I am fully aware that my knowledge at this point is based on training and my love of reading. If my writing sounds okay reading it out loud, I'm fine with it (terrible but true). Thankfully, in reading English Grammar, I'm reminded of my hate/love relationship with English grammar -- and how I will never, ever be a grammarian. The quizzes included in the book are incredibly helpful, as are the 'incorrect' and 'correct' examples given and the 'fun facts' are a nice way to drive the point home. This is a great resource for me in my attempt to improve my writing -- I just hope that the information sticks better than it did from 7th grade.

This grammar guide is thorough but to the point and easily accessible. The layout is clean and fun. This is a great little reference book to have.

Handy, interactive guide to common grammar, punctuation, and word usage errors.

Divided into four chapters on grammar, punctuation, word usage, and "high style" (i.e., style and syntax), the book provides short lessons, briefly explaining the issue, giving examples incorrect and correct usage, explanation, and often, an interactive quiz. Some of the topics are quite basic (e.g., homophones such as there/they're/their and accept/except), while others are more complex (e.g., possessive pronouns with gerunds). The explanations are not always clear, presumably particularly for those who do not already know the rules by ear or experience.

Further, the book's value would be heightened by an index, making it easier to find various topics. However, the it is written with good humor and enlivened by amusing illustrations and artwork.

A fun way to brush up on grammar, and learn why those pesky rules exist.

Filled with common writing issues, English Grammar is a fun (yes, actually fun!) way to correct your grammar, punctuation, and word use.

Quick! What is the easiest way to determine whether to use “further” or “farther” and “affect” or “effect”? If you said for the first pair, farther refers to distance, you would be correct! For the second choice, if you said affect is a verb and effect is a noun, you would match what I thought before reading this book. But you would be wrong! Both can be used as nouns or verbs. It depends on usage. Affect is a noun when writing about the flat affect of someone’s face. Effect is a verb when you mean to make happen. You can effect change in your grammar if you read this book. If you wonder how I could be writing a review of a grammar book and start a sentence with “But”, you need to read the author’s section on the changing face of English grammar. Starting a sentence with a conjunction is fully acceptable everywhere but in an English composition class. Just a side note on my side note, does anyone else hear the Conjunction Junction song in their head every time they read or hear the word “conjunction”? They really should bring back the Schoolhouse Rock cartoons.

The author uses clear explanations and examples to explain grammar and punctuation rules. There is even a quiz afterwards for the more complex ideas. There is also a section about the differences between English (from England) and American English. For example, theatre is the English (from England) spelling but theater is the American English spelling. However, just to confuse everyone, Americans use the British spelling when trying to sound refined. Also, Shakespeare used the American spelling. English grammar differences are nothing but inconsistent. Thanks Noah Webster, who the author blames for trying to un-French the English language in An American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828.

If you read through my review all the way to this paragraph, you will probably enjoy English Grammar (the book—not necessarily the subject). It is an excellent reference that is short and to the point. And it entertains while it is teaching you something most writers, reviewers, and basically humans, need to use daily. 4 stars!

Thanks to Zephyros Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book that everyone should own AND use! Bad grammar is a pet peeve of mine, so this was the perfect book for me. I highly recommend it!

English Grammer: 100 Tragically Common Mistakes by Sean Williams Ph.D. is a great and informative guide to common grammar and punctuation errors. Williams divides the book into easy to understand sections that share examples of common issues, takes a look at the rule for this specific concept and then shares how to correct the issue. Williams does a wonderful job of sharing this information in a teachable manner that comes across as relatable and not condescending which can sometimes happen with this kind of guide.

We all make mistakes and sometimes we just don't know all "the rules". Grammar is something I still struggle with as an adult and as someone who shares a lot of writing on the internet, this guide is a perfect addition to my bookshelf. I often need little reminders about different grammar and punctuation or how to use words more effectively. It is wonderful to have a guide that is helpful but also readable and I know I will refer back to this one over and over again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Media for an advanced copy of this book.