English Grammar for the Utterly Confused

For students who want to learn the nuts and bolts of English grammarA generation ago, the United States public school system stopped formal instruction in English grammar and consequently created a legion of students and professionals notoriously weak in writing and language skills.English Grammar for the Utterly Confusedis a must-have for anyone who gets that "deer-in-the-headlights" look when asked to recognize a misplaced modifier or even find the verb in a sentence.This user-friendly, witty guide helps everyone-from students taking the GED to professionals writing business plans-learn the structures of English grammar and how to use them easily and proficiently. Demystifying grammar once and for all, this handbook will help all readers acquire the ability to speak and write competently, correctly, and confidently.Key features include: Exercises throughout to develop facility in writing skills Clear explanations of complex concepts Handy icons More than 200 solved problems and examples Test Yourself section in each chapter

Part 1: Welcome to Grammarland
Chapter 1: Parts of Speech
Adjectives
Adverbs
Conjunctions
Interjections
Nouns
Prepositions
Pronouns
Verbs
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Chapter 2: Using Pronouns Correctly
Overview of Pronoun Case
Using the Nominative Case
Using the Objective Case
Using the Possessive Case
Three Other Rules for Using Pronouns
Use Correct Pronoun Reference
The Generic Masculine Pronoun
Using Who, Which, That
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Test Yourself
Chapter 3: Using Verbs Correctly
Overview of Verb Functions
The Six Verb Tenses
Regular and Irregular Verbs
How to Use Tenses
Active and Passive Voice
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Part 2: Usage and Abusage
Chapter 4: Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly
Is It an Adjective or an Adverb?
Positive, Comparative, and Superlative Degrees of Comparisons
Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs
Using Predicate Adjectives after Linking Verbs
Double Negatives
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Chapter 5: Agreement: Matching Sentence Parts
Like Peas in a Pod
A Singular Subject Must Have a Singular Verb
A Plural Subject Must Have a Plural Verb
Collective Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns
Special Problems in Agreement
Agreement of Pronouns and Antecedents
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Chapter 6: The 25 Most Common Usage Problems
Top Trouble Spots in Writing
Most Common Grammar and Usage Errors
Most Common Sentence Errors
Most Common Spelling Errors
Most Common Punctuation Errors
Most Common Capitalization Errors
Most Common Proofreading Errors
Improve Your Writing, One Step at a Time
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Part 3: Sentence Sense
Chapter 7: Phrases and Clauses
Overview of Phrases
Prepositional Phrases
Appositives and Appositive Phrases
Verbal Phrases
Infinitive Phrases
Overview of Clauses
Dependent Clauses
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Chapter 8: Writing Correct and Complete Sentences
What Is a Sentence?
The Four Different Sentence Functions
The Four Different Sentence Types
Choosing Sentence Types
Sentence Errors: Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
Sentence Errors: Fragments
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Chapter 9: Sentence Coordination and Subordination
Coordinating Sentence Parts
Subordinating Sentence Parts
Coordination versus Subordination
Parallel Structure
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Part 4: A Writer’S Tools
Chapter 10: Punctuation
Apostrophes
Brackets
Colons
Commas
Dashes
Ellipsis
Exclamation Marks
Hyphens
Parentheses
Periods
Question Marks
Quotation Marks
Semicolons
Slashes
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Chapter 11: Capitalization and Abbreviations
Avoiding Capital Offenses: The Rules of Capitalization
Capitalize Names and Titles
Capitalize Names of Places and Events
Capitalize Names of Languages and Religions
Capitalize Proper Adjectives and Product Names
Capitalize Names of Organizations, Institutions, Courses, and Famous Buildings
Capitalize Names of Days, Months, and Holidays
Capitalize Time and Other Proper Nouns
Capitalize the First Word of …
Good Things Come in Small Packages: The Rules of Abbreviations
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Part 5: Struttin’ Your Stuff With Style
Chapter 12: Developing Your Own Writing Style
What is Style in Writing?
The Elements of Style
Audience and Style
Purpose and Style
Developing Your Style
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Chapter 13: Diction and Conciseness
What is Diction?
Levels of Diction
Choosing the Appropriate Level of Diction
Less Is More: Be Concise
Three Ways to Write Concise Sentences
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Chapter 14: Words and Expressions to Avoid
Use Nonbiased Language
Replace Clichés with Fresh Expressions
Avoid Empty Language
George Orwell on Style
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Test Yourself
Index