The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English [Kindle Edition]

Roy Peter Clark (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Grammar is a subject that typically induces wincing, wheezing, or worse. Clark, a lifelong whiz at the subject, wants readers to fully appreciate the importance of good grammar and the qualities of superior writing. To that end, he has laid out several entertaining, easy-to-follow rules, governing everything from punctuation to alliteration, that promise to dramatically improve one's writing and develop an appreciation for language. Clark draws on examples ranging from DeLillo to Rowling, a breadth of text that readers will appreciate as much as the author's humorous approach. Who knew that a discussion of grammar could induce laughter? This is an eminently readable, extremely enjoyable guide that readers will find highly useful on their path to development, not just as writers, but as readers.
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Review

"A grammar manual for the 21^st century--a little more earthy, a little more relaxed. A welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone who cares about language." (Ammon Shea, New York Times Book Review )

"A fine common-sense guide to the proper use of language." (Barbara Fisher, the Boston Globe )

"A streamlined, accessible, witty book...[Clark] is a coach rather than a scold, encouraging readers to 'live inside the language.'" (Colette Bancroft, St. Petersburg Times )

"[Clark] is not of the hectoring, bullying school of language advice. He is an encourager...A good book for an aspiring writer, human and sensible about the great craft, relishing its possibilities and its power." (John E. McIntyre, The Baltimore Sun )

"An engaging and witty exploration of the shifting rules of English grammar...Clark shows breathtaking knowledge of how language is used in the real world and a passionate commitment to helping writers make good choices." (Chuck Leddy, Minneapolis Star Tribune )

"[Roy Peter] Clark takes readers through a well-paced presentation...he conveys the magic that is to be found in English, in its ever active evolution." (Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal )

"Who knew that a discussion of grammar could induce laughter? This is an eminently readable, extremely enjoyable guide that readers will find highly useful on their path to development, not just as writers, but as readers." (Publishers Weekly )

"What I learned from this book:
1) That grammar has meant mastery of all arts and letters (to the Greeks) and power, magic, and enchantment (to the Scots). Wow.
2) That for the artful writer, no decision is too small, including whether to use a or the. Awesome.
3) That there are right-branching, left-branching, and middle-branching sentences. How cool!
4) That Roy Peter Clark, a modern-day Pied Piper of grammar, makes good writing both approachable and doable. Phew!" (Constance Hale, author of Sin and Syntax )

"If there is indeed a glamour to grammar, I should have known Roy Peter Clark would be the one to spot it. Clark is a trusty guide for anyone wanting to avoid the (many) pitfalls and scale the (hard-won) peaks of perpetrating prose."
(Ben Yagoda, author of Memoir: A History and The Sound on the Page: Style and Voice in Writing )

"Who, other than a word-lover like Roy Peter Clark, would dare link "glamour" with (ugh) "grammar"? Here it is--a book of enchantment about words and how words work and what they mean and how to spell them, where even lowly semicolons get appreciated as "swinging gates" in a sentence. Who'd a thunk a book on grammar could be fun? And humorous. Check out "cleave" and "cleaveage."" (Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking )

"Roy Peter Clark, the Jedi master of writing coaches, has delivered another indispensable classic for every author, young and old. The Glamour of Grammar crackles with wit and wisdom and with page after page of rock-solid strategies to guide writers toward prose that sings with vivid clarity." (Thomas French, author of Zoo Story )

"If grammar is medicine, then Roy Clark gives us the spoonful of sugar to help it go down. A wonderful tour through the labyrinth of language." (Anne Hull, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, The Washington Post )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 475 KB
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (August 16, 2010)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003JTHXHM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,180 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #23 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Reference > Words & Language > Grammar

More About the Author

Roy Peter Clark is senior scholar at the Poynter Institute and founder of its writing center. Cole C. Campbell has been editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Virginian-Pilot, and the Greensboro News and Record and has served as a Fellow at the Poynter Institute, the Kettering Foundation, and the Knight program for journalists at Stanford University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone who wants to write, August 27, 2010

By 

S. Deeth "Sheila Deeth" (OR, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English (Hardcover)

So, what do you think about when you hear the word "grammar"? As a kid, I would think "Uh oh; I guess I wrote something wrong again." As a young adult I'd say, "Hey, that's just the way I speak." As an Englishwoman moving to America I'd groan that it's not just the spellings that are different here but the grammar rules as well. And after reading this book I'd say, "Wow!"

So, what about my punctuation above? Why did I put that question mark outside the quotes when the exclamation point went inside at the end of the paragraph? I'd often wondered how to punctuate quotes, and since I want to be a writer, I'd often thought I really ought to learn. At last I have.

Clark's book starts by pointing out that "glamour" and "grammar" come from the same root. I guess is makes sense. After all, we "spell" words correctly or otherwise, and wizards cast "spells." Grammar's just the next step.

I used to teach chess, and I'd explain to the kids that there are two types of rules. Some have to be obeyed (pawns move forwards for example), or else you're not playing chess. Others are there to be understood and used judiciously (such as "Don't get your queen out too soon") to set or avoid falling into traps. Once you know the rules, you know what it means when they're broken.

Spelling's probably the first sort of rule, and Clark includes a chapter on how meanings can change where the wrong spelling or wrong word is used. Suddenly you're not saying what you thought; your reader's dragged out of the writing; you're not playing the same game. But other grammar rules can be judiciously broken. We just have to know what we're doing and why--be prepared for what the reader will see, and be ready to make sure it's what we intend.

Clark's chapters are written with delightful style, great voice, amazing examples, and just pure fun. (Yes, grammar can be fun!) There's advice for aspiring writers that any of us could use--the value of the well-chosen long or short word, the nuances of sound or foreign phrase, the alliteration of short and long sentences... And then there are chapter endings with quick and easily read "Keepsakes." There he might emphasize a point, help the reader practice a technique, or simply list the rules. (That's how I learned how to punctuate my first paragraph.)

Clark doesn't want to regiment our writing. He acknowledges how different countries (UK and US for example), industries (newspaper vs book), and even publishers have their own chosen styles. Obey the rules of your intended audience he says. But then he frees us to shift those chess pieces round and win the game.

Is grammar glamorous? It certainly is now. I love this book, and I'd recommend that everyone who loves reading or writing really should read it. I can hardly believe how lucky I was to get a copy to review--you'll hardly believe how lucky you are if you get your own copy too. And, just for reference, since Roy Peter Clark is vice president and senior scholar at the Poynter Institute, I have no qualms about trusting him to give me, and you, the right facts.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roy Clark's Glamorous Grammar, August 22, 2010

By 

Donald K. Fry - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English (Hardcover)

Roy Clark's new book, The Glamour of Grammar, is none of the following:
* A treatise on grammar
* A guide to grammar and style
* Competition for Strunk and White
* A volume of snarling "do nots."
Roy loves words and wants you to love them too in ways that will help you as a writer. He burrows beneath English words to show you their deep roots and reverberations. The "Glamour" in his title refers to magic powers, both in historical origins and modern persuasiveness. This book will enrich what you hear and what you write.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grammar is Awesome!, September 1, 2010

By 

Monique (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English (Hardcover)

Learn to lie or lay,
as well as the principles behind the distinction,
Turn a language problem into a language lesson: lie
means "recline" and lay means"to place"
But in Hawaii, expect a lei.
(from the back cover)

With a lesson like the one above, how could you possibly go wrong with this book. While I've always been incredibly interested in the English language, reading this book turns it from an interesting subject to a fascinating one. If you only buy one book to help you write better, this would be the one.

Some people are born writers. Others of us learn to write by reading how other people write, and by practice. This is a book to keep on your nightstand (if you use your laptop in bed like I do) or on your desk (if you're a "real" writer (LOL!)) as you're writing (or before you start). There are so many practical lessons to be learned. Clark didn't write a book that you're supposed to read from start to finish. You could literally open the book in the middle, find the beginning of a passage and start reading. You're going to learn a new technique (like using shorter sentences to stretch out the story). Or you could start at the beginning and read a mini lesson at a time. Either way, you're not going to want to put the book down. It's just that good.

Although it's like going to English class all over again, it's so much better. While Mrs. Brusnwick was one of my favorite teachers, class did get a little, umm, boring.To be fair, Mr. Harris really tried to teach me that advanced math stuff, but I wasn't smart enough then. I'll still not smart enough.