The Language Mechanic: Tuning Up English With Logic [Paperback]

M. A. Hockett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0894557610 | ISBN-13: 978-0894557613

Uses logic and humor to teach grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and vocabulary! This effective, comprehensive program provides fun examples and logical reasons for every grammar and punc

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Critical Thinking Books and Software (June 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894557610
• ISBN-13: 978-0894557613
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #848,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!! Wonderful product from Critical Thinking Co., November 19, 2007

By 

Learning All The Time "It's Never Too Late to... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Language Mechanic: Tuning Up English With Logic (Paperback)

What makes this book so great is that it demonstrates why grammar/puncuation rules are so important in a humorous way - a bit like "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" (although this book came first by 3 years). Each lesson begins with a funny, illustrated misunderstanding caused by improper grammar, then clearly explains the grammar rule. For example:

You write: "The girl caught the ball running."
Readers think: The ball was caught as IT ran.
You mean: The running girl caught the ball.

A few pages of exercises follow the example - including a couple of challenge exercises for kids who enjoy logic/thinking thinking games. Some kids might need more practice in the concepts being taught, particularly kids on the lower end of the recommended grades (4-7). I just throw in a couple of extra worksheets for the concepts my daughter struggles with.

Overall, the Language Mechanic is quite comprehensive. It covers capitalization, run-ons and fragments, pronouns, modifiers, verbs, agreement, unnecessary words, punctuation (a separate section on commas), friendly letters, spelling and vocabulary.

I give this book an A+. It encourages a child to think first about what he/she is trying to communicate, and then to use the correct grammar to make his/her point. The humor, the visual, the clear rules, and the well-thought out practice exercises are bound to help help any child learn and retain grammar rules.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and educational, December 7, 2010

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B. Rosamilia - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Language Mechanic: Tuning Up English With Logic (Paperback)

It has been generally helpful and fun to do. The book is well-organized and covers material in a sensible progression. I wouldn't say it is an exhaustive resource for grammar but a good, fun way to "tune up" the mechanics. We are using it in our homeschool to sweep through and find out where the holes remain. There have been occasions when we have used it as a jumping off point for more in depth exploration of a rule but have been satisfied that it covers the majority of concepts in an entertaining fashion. I would recommend it as good, basic, resource workbook.