Job Discussion Forums

[Chancellor]

I have in my office at work Golden's Concise English Grammar (Michael Strumpf and Auriel Douglas). Here are some other recommendations:

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Book-Grammar-Punctuation-Mysteries/dp/0966722175/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/104-7631214-6435955

http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Style-Fourth-William-Strunk/dp/020530902X/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_3/104-7631214-6435955

http://www.amazon.com/Grammar-Book-Teachers-Course-Second/dp/0838447252/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2/104-7631214-6435955

http://www.amazon.com/Teachers-Grammar-Book-Second/dp/0805852212/sr=8-15/qid=1167323796/ref=sr_1_15/104-7631214-6435955?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/Between-You-Little-Book-English/dp/1402203314/sr=1-1/qid=1167324268/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7631214-6435955?ie=UTF8&s=books

And, just for fun...

http://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuation/dp/1592400876/sr=1-3/qid=1167324236/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-7631214-6435955?ie=UTF8&s=books

[Stephen Jones]

Strunk & White (aka Strunkenstein or Frankenstrunk) is the most appalling rubbish, and loaded with mistakes. Here's a link to a review
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2005/10/23/frankenstrunk/

There are unfortunately a large number of other 'grammar' books written for the native speaker, that combine total ignorance of twentieth century developments in linguistics. Cochrane's book, which Cnancellor recommends, appears to be one of them.

The other problem of course is that books written for the native speaker don't address the problems the teacher of the second language faces. (why do we say "It's me/It is I" and not "I'm me/I", as the Spanish do; what's the difference between "I'll see him later" and "I'm seeing him later").

The two standard grammars of English are the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, by Pullum and Huddelston and A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language" by Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech and Svartik. Both books cost around $150 and are hefty, weighing in at around 2000 pages each. They also require a reasonable understanding of grammar terminology. It would be a good idea to try and persuade an employer to buy one for the staffroom at some time though.

If you want a book to read, then Pinker's "The Language Instinct" is excellent.