# Recommendation for a good book on English Grammar. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379 "2016-02-07T01:53:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/1 "2016-02-07T01:53:58Z")
I am looking for a good English grammar book. I was born in the U.S.A. and am not looking for a grammar book for ESL. On the other hand, if you want to recommend an English grammar book for ESL, that is cool too. In high school, we were all required to carry [Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition](http://www.amazon.com/Warriners-English-Grammar-Composition-Liberty/dp/0153118040), but that was decades ago. Is that book still a reputable reference? Suggestion for a good book on copy-editing (Ce) would also be welcomed here. - Forgive any grammatical errors in the above 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/2 "2016-02-07T09:57:39Z")
Try [Eats, Shoots and Leaves](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Lynne-Truss/dp/0007329067) for punctuation and the [Penguin Dictionary of English Grammar](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Dictionary-English-Grammar-Reference/dp/0140514643). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/3 "2016-02-07T17:54:52Z")
The Associated Press Stylebook. The bible for journalists and their editors. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/4 "2016-02-07T19:51:04Z")
[The Chicago Manual of Style](http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Manual-Style-16th/dp/0226104206/) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/5 "2016-02-07T19:59:31Z")
Elements of Style, by Strunk & White ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/6 "2016-02-07T21:15:28Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Elements of Style, by Strunk & White One and done. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/7 "2016-02-07T21:27:21Z")
All of those are excellent, and I can’t argue with any of them. Using them will allow you to seem as though you are the well-educated, articulate person you are. However, I must warn you that none of them are holy books or statutory law. If you go around correcting other people’s grammar and usage, most of those people won’t be grateful for your help. Some of them will even compare you to a terminal digestive port. If you are a teacher, and you do your correcting in a classroom situation, that’s allowed. That won’t make them any more grateful, though. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/8 "2016-02-07T21:37:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Elements of Style, by Strunk & White This one here. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/9 "2016-02-07T22:22:05Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Elements of Style, by Strunk & White > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > One and done. > [@Arrendajo](#): > > This one here. And that’s all she wrote ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/10 "2016-02-07T22:38:36Z")
One more for Elements of Style. **Arrendajo** actually gave me that book as one of my birthday presents last year. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/11 "2016-02-07T22:48:35Z")
Hey, I finally ‘won’ a thread! ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/12 "2016-02-07T23:12:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Hey, I finally ‘won’ a thread! Did you know that being the winner of this particular thread comes with the great responsibility of never again making a grammar mistake? Good luck! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/13 "2016-02-08T01:37:56Z")
Thanks Guys! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/14 "2016-02-08T03:55:12Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > Did you know that being the winner of this particular thread comes with the great responsibility of never again making a grammar mistake? > > Good luck! 😛 I’m a purty good Englisher, but I’ll give it my best. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/15 "2016-02-08T04:02:51Z")
It’s worth pointing out that the little book (as it’s called) is considered by some to be outdated in certain respects. Those people are troglodytes and may be safely ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/16 "2016-02-08T04:29:24Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The Associated Press Stylebook. The bible for journalists and their editors. dropzone, the AP Stylebook over [The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage?](http://www.amazon.com/York-Times-Manual-Style-Usage/dp/081296389X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454905866&sr=8-1&keywords=NY+Times+style+guide) Do tell. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/17 "2016-02-08T04:30:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > It’s worth pointing out that the little book (as it’s called) is considered by some to be outdated in certain respects. > > Those people are troglodytes and may be safely ignored. What “little book” are you referring to, Johnny Bravo? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/18 "2016-02-09T22:08:13Z")
Sorry, missed the question. _The Elements of Style_ was nicknamed “the little book” because of its size and brevity. Emphasis on _little_. It was published privately by William Strunk and later revised and expanded upon by E.B. White. As with literally every essay White wrote, the introduction to _The Elements of Style_ is [worth a read.\*](http://academic.csuohio.edu/simond/courses/elos3.pdf) \*.pdf warning ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/19 "2016-02-09T23:20:47Z")
For academic papers, especially for the minutiae of citing printed and electronic sources, I recommend [The Bedford Handbook](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/bedford-handbook-with-2009-mla-and-2010-apa-updates-diana-hacker/1100924810/2672607827939?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+Textbooks_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP20452&k_clickid=3x20452) by Diana Hacker. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379/20 "2016-02-10T03:57:12Z")
Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style by Virginia Tufte [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-a-good-book-on-english-grammar/745379.md?page=2)