Customer Reviews

Better Punctuation in 30 Minutes a Day (Better English)

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I really would like an answer. This is a book to improve your punctuation and grammar, and you should see the first chapter. Don't believe me look inside the book.
Here are some examples in the EXERCISES of serious editing errors.
In the first exercise compound sentances this is a word for word example on page 20
Cathy caught the heel of ON of her expensive new shoes in a crack on the sidewalk and the heel of her shoe broke off. (CAPS mine)

Now you are suppose to put the commas in correctly, but using on instead of one, in an English book, is just plain wrong.

Also for exercise two the anser key didn't provide any answers; because, the text tells you to underline the phrases, and the answer key doesn't underline the correct phrases.

In exercise "More Necessary Elements" the third problem drops an entire clause between the problem and the answer key.
The problem is: My friends Hannah and Rebecca whom I haven't seen for six years are coming to visit me this week.

Again we are suppose to add in the punctuation, but when you turn to the answer key the phrase "whom I haven't seen for six years" is not addressed.

Finally, in just the first chapter, the last example is in the last exercise.

In "Items in a Series" the 2 problem is this, word for word.
"The corn beans squash tomatoes and various things are coming up the garden"
Again we are suppose to put in the commas but if I saw vegetables coming up the garden without anyone carrying them I think I would move. In the answer they do add the preposition in before the garden.

These mistakes were in the first part of the first chapter in an English book!
There are a couple of good points. Amoung them are the rules are clearly defined and the problems that have answers do make sense. It is clearly geared for adults that want to sharpen their punctuation skills, but the editorial errors overwhelm the good parts, so I have to give this two stars.