Patricia T. O'Conner

A guide to English grammar and style reveals the underlying logic of the language with the help of examples organized according to specific problems.

The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English

Woe is I

A guide to proper writing offers advice on organizing ideas, formulating sentences, following grammatical rules, and using verbs and adjectives.

What Everyone who Writes Should Know about Writing

Words Fail Me

The bestselling guide to grammar--now new and expanded--includes a whole new chapter on language in the age of email.

Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English

Stewart Kellerman

This witty and informative book debunks myths that bamboozle word-loving fansand offers a delightful primer on the eccentricities of the English language.288 pp.

Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language

Origins of the Specious

From the bestselling author of Woe Is I: A guide to grammar fundamentals that’s sympathetic to the struggling writer and often just plain funny” (The Seattle Times). Whether you need to improve your skills for work or school, or aspire to the Great American Novel, a grounding in grammar, spelling, and punctuation is essential—not just to make you look like a professional but to communicate effectively in emails, essays, or anything you need to write. This painless, practical book is filled with short, snappy chapters, crystal-clear examples, and a “playful sense of humor” (The New York Times Book Review)—covering everything from “Pronoun Pileups” and “Verbs That Zing” to “What to Do When You’re Stuck.” With these simple, straightforward tips, you can learn how to sort your thoughts and make sentences that make sense. “Students writing papers, employees preparing reports, and those who just want to be understood in print may benefit from this fun-to-use answer to Strunk and White. O’Connor uses humor as she takes apart sentences and their parts and shows how each element is used effectively.” —Booklist

What Everyone Who Writes Should Know about Writing

Do you cringe when a talking head pronounces “niche” as NITCH? Do you get bent out of shape when your teenager begins a sentence with “and”? Do you think British spellings are more “civilised” than the American versions? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’re myth-informed. In Origins of the Specious, word mavens Patricia T. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman reveal why some of grammar’s best-known “rules” aren’t—and never were—rules at all. This playfully witty, rigorously researched book sets the record straight about bogus word origins, politically correct fictions, phony français, fake acronyms, and more. Here are some shockers: “They” was once commonly used for both singular and plural, much the way “you” is today. And an eighteenth-century female grammarian, of all people, is largely responsible for the all-purpose “he.” From the Queen’s English to street slang, this eye-opening romp will be the toast of grammarphiles and the salvation of grammarphobes. Take our word for it.

A guide to e-mail offers advice on etiquette, basic English grammar, phrases to avoid, and style questions.

Patricia T. O'Conner

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