Improve the writing and speaking skills you use every day
Graceless with grammar? Perplexed by punctuation? Have no fear! This second Australian edition of English Grammar For Dummies explains everything from basic sentence structure to the finer points of grammar. Packed with expert advice, this book will help you to communicate more effectively and make the right impression every time.
- Structure sentences correctly learn everything from making verbs agree to understanding clauses
- Avoid and fix common mistakes find out how to revise the things your grammar checker underlines
- Punctuate like a professional explore the correct use of commas, apostrophes, colons, semicolons and dashes
- Polish your writing style discover how good grammar and good style go hand in hand
Open the book and find:
- Ways to accessorise with adjectives and adverbs
- Tips for pairing the correct pronoun with the noun
- Advice about how to use numerals in documents
- Hints for writing emails and slide presentations
- Explanations of errors missed by spell checkers
Learn to:
- Improve your writing and editing
- Understand and apply grammar rules
- Avoid common errors
- Connect grammar with style
Table des matières
Introduction 1
Part I: Understanding Verbs and Sentences 7
Chapter 1: Who Cares about Grammar? 9
Chapter 2: Verbs: The Engine of the Sentence21
Chapter 3: Timing is Everything: Understanding Verb Tense 35
Chapter 4: Who’s Doing What? Finding the Subject 53
Chapter 5: One with the Lot: The Complete Sentence 61
Chapter 6: Following On: Objects and Complements 75
Part II: Adding Detail and Avoiding Common Errors 87
Chapter 7: Driving a Road Train: Joining Sentences 89
Chapter 8: Accessorising: Modifying with Adjectives and Adverbs 105
Chapter 9: Filling the Gaps: Prepositions, Interjections and Articles 121
Chapter 10: She’ll Be Right: Handling Pronouns 133
Chapter 11: Making it Match: About Agreement 151
Part III: Punctuating for Precision 161
Chapter 12: Commas: Pauses That Count 163
Chapter 13: Apostrophes: They’re There for a Reason 183
Chapter 14: Quotations: He Said, She Said 197
Chapter 15: Adding Information: Semicolons and Colons 223
Chapter 16: Dots and Dashes: Ellipses, Hyphens, Dashes and Slashes 235
Chapter 17: CAPITAL LETTERS and Numerals 245
Part IV: Grammar with Style — the Finer Points 257
Chapter 18: Perfecting Pronouns 259
Chapter 19: Finetuning Verbs and Verbals 271
Chapter 20: Saying What You Want to Say: Descriptions 289
Chapter 21: Refining Your Writing: Grammar in Action 305
Chapter 22: e-Grammar: Accuracy in Electronic Communication 331
Part V: The Part of Tens 347
Chapter 23: Ten Common Grammar Errors and How to Revise Them 349
Chapter 24: Ten Things Grammar and Spell Checkers Can’t Do 355
Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Improve Your Writing 361
Chapter 26: Ten Ways two to Improve Your Editing 367
Glossary 373
Index 385
A propos de l’auteur
Wendy M Anderson is an author, editor and educator. She has taught effective communication in classroom and business environments for over 20 years.
Geraldine Woods has taught grammar for over 25 years.
Lesley J Ward is a founding member of the UK Society for Editors and Proofreaders.