Book Review: Mortal Syntax
Posted on 10 November 2008 by Rachel Longo-Tosoian
I was never taught proper grammar as a child. Sure, I know the difference between there/their/they’re, witch/which and weather/whether, but I didn’t know a thing about syntaxes, clauses or even gerunds. It wasn’t until I found myself in grammar class this past year that I was schooled (literally.) grasping onto what I should have learned years ago was a hard task, but I made it, and now, because of my grammar loving teaching, I have learned to love and appreciate grammar too.
Upon a recent trip to the library, I spotted a little red book out of the corner of my eye. June Casagrande’s handy guide to grammar titled Mortal Syntax: 101 Language Choices that will get you Clobbered by the Grammar Snobs – Even if you’re Right. Quite a little mouthful, but at 238 pages, and no more than four pages per chapter, this book is an absolute must read.
The author takes common mistakes everybody makes when speaking or writing and corrects them. Casagrande also offers humorous stories of how she has dealt with the so-called Grammar Snobs in her career, and makes multiple pop culture references in her solutions.
Examples of the chapters in this book included “This is between you and I” (the correct phrase is “this is between you and me”), “I wish I was taller” (I wish I were taller) and “I feel so sick, so I’m going to lay down” (I feel so sick, so I’m going to lie down”) among 98 other examples of poor and incorrect grammar people use on a daily basis and don’t even know it.
I have never had so much fun reading anything that resembled a textbook. I would recommend this book for anyone. The chapters are quick and very easy to read. You will not feel as though a stuffy, old-fashioned teacher is lecturing you. This book is a great read, so pick it up if you can.
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November 12th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Thanks for the review, Rachel! I’m going to get this book. I’m weird like that, I know, but this is right up my alley. Kind of odd to find it here, in some ways, but then again, why not? It’s all culture in the end, right?