Library Weblog

Grammar

Today is National Grammar (not Grammer) Day. The magic Dewey number for English usage is a straightforward 428.2

The subject tracings, on the other hand, are confusing. They include
English language --Usage.
English language --Errors in usage.
English language --Syntax.
English language --Grammar.
English language --Style.
English language --Punctuation.
Any given book may have only one or two of these tracings.

This is a case where browsing the stacks may work better than trying a subject search. This is a fairly small library so just walk over to 428.2 and take a look. (Try 420 or plain 428 for some of our older titles).

What do we have?

• Two by June Casagrande: Grammar snobs are great big meanies : a guide to language for fun and spite and Mortal syntax : 101 language choices that will get you clobbered by the grammar snobs-even if you're right.
• Several charming books by William Safire, including In love with Norma Loquendi.
• The best seller Eats, shoots & leaves : the zero tolerance approach to punctuation by Lynne Truss.
• Torn wings and faux pas : a flashbook of style, a beastly guide through the writer's labyrinth by Karen Elizabeth Gordon.
• and many more.

Note: Why aren't the words in the book titles capitalized? Because these were snipped directly from our catalog. In library catalogs only initial words and proper nouns are capitalized within book titles.

Here is a list of common usage errors. Find your favorites.

Posted by library at March 4, 2010 04:23 PM