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"Smashing Grammar" by Craig Shrives

Written by the founder of grammar-monster.com, "Smashing Grammar" is a grammar book for advanced learners (e.g., teachers of English, advanced students, or business writers).

With this book, Craig has set out to help you master – or "smash" – the terminology required to take your writing to the next level.

"Smashing Grammar" is divided into three sections:

• A-Z Grammar Glossary
(This section explains grammar terminology, from the basics to advanced terms. It is especially useful because every entry concludes with a valuable and succinct explanation of why the grammar term matters for a writer.)
• A-Z of Punctuation
(Packed with entertaining examples, this section provides definitive, well-explained rules for using all the principal punctuation marks. Punctuation should not be guesswork. There are rules.)
• A-Z of Easily Confused Words
(This section covers all the homonyms and near homonyms that plague writers and offers tips on how to remember which to use.)

Each entry starts with a short, simple explanation of the grammatical term and some basic examples. These are followed by real-life, entertaining examples, which have been selected for their ability to explain the point and to engage the reader.

Here's the best bit. Every entry concludes with a succinct explanation of why the grammatical term is relevant to a writer. For example, after reminding readers what verbs are (in a crisp and entertaining way), Craig then explains why writers should employ more verbs and verbals in their writing to improve reading flow and conciseness. As well as an alphabetical index, "Smashing Grammar" features a handy "functional" index that ranks common writing mistakes by their ability to damage your credibility. The alphabetical index is for quick reference. The functional one is for prioritizing reading.

Buy "Smashing Grammar" from Amazon