Examples are provided of the wrong way of doing things as well as the correct way which makes it easier to remember.
There are lots of examples of bad grammar taken from National newspapers to show you that even the professionals don't get it right. This gives the book a less formal approach, than say Fowler, and doesn't make you feel inferior just because you didn't know what a dangling modifier was.

Bill Bryson has selected a good range with examples of confusing spellings, punctuation, and grammar that will serve as an excellent starting point for anyone who wishes to take certain sections further.


Worth having   August 15, 2003
 37 out of 48 found this review helpful

I guess the best complement i can give to this book is that once you have it, you'll be lost without it. If ever any doubts about correct word usage or punctuation occurs when writing you letter, article etc... you can jump to this book for an answer. The best thing about this book in my opinion though is that the author provides correct usage examples and wrong usage examples, you dont have to trust his advice, you can see why the correct usage works better. Much more friendly than 'this is how it is done!'.

Anyway, if you write a fair amount, it is invalubale. If, like me, you just like to know these things, it is worth the PRICE amazon are selling it at the moment, i'm not sure if i'd pay PRICE. So take the oppurtunity just now to get it cheap while it lasts, this book will be one that you use more than you think, at this price it is more than a worthwhile investment


indispensable   June 19, 2003
 37 out of 39 found this review helpful

As an aspiring english student, I was bought this book as a stocking filler last christmas and have found it indispensable. Both useful and entertaining this book used all the time when I am writing. It has vastly increased my vocabulary and even some of my spelling as well as now being able tell someone the defference between egoism and egotism or the defference between an optometrist and an optician.

Very useful if you are remotely interested in the english language.


useful guide for every serious student of english language   November 21, 2001
 26 out of 34 found this review helpful

I found this book very useful for all serious english learners. It is realy concise and definitive guide to the most commonly encountered problems of English spelling and usage. It is fully revised and updated edition and it is highly entertaining guide to the perplexing aspects of the language for the general reader too. I am fan of Bill Bryson, so I strongly recomand all his books.


a must have for every bookshelf   January 29, 2001
 25 out of 33 found this review helpful

this superb book gives the reader a great understanding of those troublesome words, written in an easy to understand format. Great for being a geek at the dinner table!