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14 Best English Grammar Books [2024 Edition]

English grammar books are treasure troves of information on punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure , word usage and so much more.

You’ll find plenty that claim to be the “best English grammar book” online, but only a handful actually live up to that promise.

But don’t worry. Whether you’re aiming to pass an English proficiency exam, or you just want to be better understood by your English-speaking friends, we’ve got you covered with these 14 English grammar books to hone your writing and speaking skills to perfection. 

1. Best Overall: The “Grammar in Use” Series

2. most comprehensive reference: “the cambridge grammar of the english language”, 3. best for learning grammar basics: “a student’s introduction to english grammar”, 4. most straightforward english grammar book: “schaum’s outline of english grammar”.

• 5. Best for Simple Yet In-depth Explanations: “The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation” 
• 6. Best Supplementary Material for Intermediate and Advanced ESL Students: “ESL Grammar: Intermediate & Advanced” 

7. Best for Structured Grammar Practice: “Focus on Grammar”

• 8. Best for Real-life Grammar: “Practical English Usage” 
• 9. Best for Spoken Grammar: “Cambridge Grammar of English” 
• 10. Best Grammar Dictionary: “The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar” 
• 11. Best for Learning Punctuation: “The Best Punctuation Book, Period” 

12. Most Fun Grammar Book: “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing”

13. best for aspiring writers: “the elements of style”, 14. best for advanced learners: “the linguistic structure of modern english”, how to study with english grammar books, and one more thing....

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Summary: All of the “Grammar in Use” books are able to balance being a reference material and workbook rolled into one.

Search online for the best English grammar book, and there’s a good chance you’ll find someone recommending an entry from the “Grammar in Use” series by Raymond Murphy.

Every book from the series (including the ones for intermediate and advanced students) covers 100 units. Each unit focuses on a specific grammar topic and comes with exercises. Once you’re done with the exercises, you can check them against the answer keys at the back of the book. This makes it easy to use as a self-study guide and as a supplement to your classroom studies.

If you’re at the A1-B1 level and you want more material to work with, you can also purchase Murphy’s “Essential Grammar” books here and here .

The “Grammar in Use” books aren’t the most comprehensive English grammar books (that would be our next entry). But if you’re looking for materials that you can study on your own, use as a supplement to your classroom studies and/or build a strong foundation in the English language, there aren’t a lot of books that can beat Murphy’s works.

• Thousands of learner friendly videos (especially beginners)
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Summary: If you want to really get into the nitty-gritty of the English language, you’ll benefit the most from this comprehensive (though not necessarily ESL-friendly) book.

At a hefty 1,800+ pages, “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language” is a comprehensive grammar reference book that you should always keep within your reach. It covers all the key grammar topics in detail, and is great for understanding the patterns and structures of the English language.

However, this book doesn’t have any exercises, so it works best as a reference material. For instance, if you get stuck on another grammar resource or need a better explanation, you can look up the topic in this book.

Note that it’s not specifically targeted at students learning English as a second language. As such, you may want to keep a dictionary on hand as you comb through this book.

Summary: “A Student’s Introduction to English Grammar” is a more condensed version of “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language” aimed at undergraduate-level students.

If “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language” feels a bit too advanced for you at the moment, but you still want something that’s just as comprehensive yet more accessible, you can get the cheaper and thinner “A Student’s Introduction to English Grammar.”

• Interactive subtitles: click any word to see detailed examples and explanations
• Slow down or loop the tricky parts
• Show or hide subtitles
• Review words with our powerful learning engine

While it’s not for complete beginners to English, it does provide a solid foundation for grammar. You may find it especially useful if you’re a college or university student who’s not majoring in English, but are still interested in the technical aspects of the language.

Unlike “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language,” this one has plenty of exercises, as well as links to online resources you can check out to supplement your studies.

Summary: “Schaum’s Outline of English Grammar” contains bare-bones (simple and straightforward) discussions of the most essential English grammar concepts, accompanied by several examples and exercises.  

If you like to memorize rules and terminology, “Schaum’s Outline of English Grammar” is for you. The material is presented in a straightforward way with definitions, explanations and practice exercises.

There are no illustrations or out-of-the-box activities to help you learn the grammar concepts, however. So, if you’re looking for a textbook with a less traditional approach to teaching concepts, this might not be for you.

With that said, “Schaum’s Outline of English Grammar” can take any dedicated student from intermediate to advanced, provided you stick to the book’s structured learning program. It even works well for aspiring writers!

5. Best for Simple Yet In-depth Explanations: “The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation”  

Summary: “The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation” is a concise grammar book that goes into a bit more detail than similar reference materials. 

• Learn words in the context of sentences
• Swipe left or right to see more examples from other videos
• Go beyond just a superficial understanding

“The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation” breaks down the rules of English grammar with short explanations. It’s like a slightly more in-depth version of “Schaum’s Outline of English Grammar.”

The book has plenty of real-world examples, emphasizing common questions like the difference between “your” and “you’re.” There are quizzes for every chapter at the end of the book. Aside from grammar, it also covers punctuation and capitalization rules, which can seem pretty confusing in English.

You can check out their website to get a feel for the book’s style, or try their free grammar quizzes .

6. Best Supplementary Material for Intermediate and Advanced ESL Students: “ESL Grammar: Intermediate & Advanced”  

Summary: This book, which is aimed at ESL learners, explains intermediate and advanced English concepts in a simple and straightforward way, complete with exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned.

Tired of learning English from books that don’t understand the unique challenges ESL learners face? Then this book might be for you. It’s written by a bilingual author who knows what it’s like to learn a second language and explains the content in a way that’s perfect for ESL students.

The book is filled with test-taking strategies to help students prepare for the TOEFL exam . It also covers the basics of topics like articles, prepositions and verb structures.

The book even comes with its own glossary (a simplified dictionary that only contains words/phrases and their meanings). This way, you don’t have to worry about not having a dictionary every time you use this book to study.

• FluentU builds you up, so you can build sentences on your own
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Since it’s aimed at ESL students, however, some of the topics may not be as thoroughly explained as you might like. In that case, you may want to refer to other resources instead.

“Focus on Grammar” is a series of grammar books broken up into the following proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced:

The “Focus on Grammar” workbooks are designed for those who benefit from structure and organization. If you’re someone who prefers explanations over context and wants to know the ins and outs of each grammatical rule covered, this is the perfect book is for you.

The books are designed for classroom use as well as self-study, so you can benefit from this versatile workbook that covers definitions, forms and practical grammar knowledge.

Also, there’s a good chance your ESL teacher is using a “Focus on Grammar” book. If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to ask them for tips on how to use this one when you’re studying!

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8. Best for Real-life Grammar: “Practical English Usage”  

Summary: True to its name, “Practical English Usage” emphasizes the use of English grammar in practical, authentic contexts.

“Practical English Usage” is a well-known grammar book that’s already on its fourth edition. Geared toward intermediate and advanced learners, it covers more than 600 grammar points that are often tricky, such as the difference between “bring” and “take” and how to use different articles.

Most notably, it tackles the problem of usage. For example, you might know how to form the present perfect tense , but when exactly do you use it? 

Beyond this, the second part of the book talks about common issues with vocabulary. You’ll also find extra information on topics like polite or offensive language and how to write business emails in English . 

9. Best for Spoken Grammar: “Cambridge Grammar of English”  

Summary: Aside from covering English grammar points in detail, the “Cambridge Grammar of English” also has a CD packed with audio recordings of the lessons.

At almost 1,000 pages, “Cambridge Grammar of English” is one of the thickest grammar books on this list. Even though it dives deep into major English grammar topics, it’s pretty user-friendly. It’s written in clear language, and each grammar concept comes with lots of example sentences that you’ll actually hear in everyday life.

It also comes with a CD-ROM, which makes it much easier and faster to find what you’re looking for in the book. You can also listen to every example being read aloud, too!

10. Best Grammar Dictionary: “The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar”  

Summary: If you’re simply looking for definitions of English grammar terms and nothing else, there are few better resources than “The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar.”

Have you ever wondered what terms like “appositive” or “gerund” meant? Chances are, you’ll find the answer within the pages of “The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar.” It’s a grammar reference book that focuses on defining grammar terms instead of explaining grammar rules.

This dictionary has more than 1,600 entries from A to Z. Some entries have examples you’ll regularly encounter in real-world English, making this a bit more practical than your usual garden-variety (ordinary) dictionary.

11. Best for Learning Punctuation: “The Best Punctuation Book, Period”  

Summary: If punctuation is your Achilles’ heel (weakest point), keep this aptly-named book handy.

Grammar isn’t just about the words—you also need to account for punctuation! While some books might only have a small chapter (or section) on punctuation, “The Best Punctuation Book, Period” is a helpful reference that discusses each type of punctuation in the English language , including Oxford commas and apostrophes.

Although it’s not a full grammar reference book, it’s an excellent resource for learning punctuation rules. You’ll learn exactly how to use each punctuation mark in different situations.  

If you’re looking for a funnier (albeit less beginner-friendly) alternative, there’s also “Eats, Shoots & Leaves” by Lynne Truss. This one is peppered with authentic examples, complete with commentaries from the author that will make you laugh out loud.

Summary: “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” is perfect for you if you find most grammar books too dry and boring to get through.

Looking for a grammar book that’s fun and witty rather than overly academic? “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” might not have as much information as other reference books, but it’s written in a friendlier and more conversational style.

The author is also the owner of the award-winning “Grammar Girl” podcast , which teaches English grammar to help you improve your writing skills. It was so popular that it’s been downloaded over 20 million times to date, and is a five-time winner of the Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards.

Summary: “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White is a classic book that mostly focuses on how to write better in American English, but also has some great grammar pointers.

Are you dreaming of becoming a writer in the English language? Then you should definitely have this book on your to-read list. In fact, many native English writers have it!

While it’s more geared toward writers than learners of English grammar, there are some valuable grammar tips at the beginning of the book. As you progress, you’ll also come across pointers that can help improve your writing in general, such as “Avoid fancy words” and “Use orthodox (standard) spelling.”

Because of its intended readership, however, “The Elements of Style” is best suited for those who are already in the advanced stages of learning English.

Summary: “The Linguistic Structure of Modern English” is one of the best (if not the best) resources for advanced learners interested in the technicalities of the English language.

Speaking of advanced learners, you can’t get any more high-level than this one. If you thought “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language” was detailed, wait until you open the pages of “The Linguistic Structure of Modern English.”

The book is aimed at linguists, or people who study languages. As such, you should expect a lot of terminology and in-depth analysis of specific grammatical concepts like syntax, phonology, etc.

I definitely wouldn’t recommend this one to beginners or even intermediate learners. But if you have a considerable amount of intellectual curiosity and are relatively comfortable with your command of the English language, reading this book might prove to be a treat.

Regardless of which English grammar book you pick, here’s how you can make the most of them.

• Find an engaging English grammar book that suits your learning style . Just because mastering grammar takes work doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Some students prefer books filled with creative ways to approach grammar, while others enjoy reading grammar rules and then solving problems.
• Check if the book you’re buying is the latest edition. Places like Amazon will typically display the newest editions below the description of the product you’re currently looking at, so keep an eye out for those!

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• If you’re not sure about a grammar rule, look it up. Sometimes, you might feel unsure about how to write something, like where to put an apostrophe or whether to capitalize a certain word. This is where grammar books can come in handy! Seeing the written rule and then applying it can help you remember it better.
• Use the index. Most grammar books have an index. An index is the part at the end of a book which alphabetically lists every major topic mentioned in the book, as well as which page to find it on. If you’re wondering about the Oxford comma, for example, you can turn to the back of the book and look for “comma” or “Oxford comma.” The numbers in the index show you which pages have the information you need.
• Read the theory first. Don’t even try to do any exercises unless you’re sure you have the grammar rule down pat. That way, when you finally get around to the exercises, you’re less likely to be stuck.
• Try to form sentences using the examples given in the book. Most examples in these books use common English vocabulary and phrases. So, try to memorize their formats and apply them to everyday conversations . For example, if you’re studying how to ask for (or give) directions in English , and the example sentence is “Can you tell me where the toilet is?,” you can replace “toilet” with “bank,” “school,” etc.

Remember that learning English is a process that takes time and dedication. These are just a few of the resources that will help you incorporate grammar into your studies and increase your overall fluency.

Use these books well, and you’ll be on your way to becoming an English grammar wizard!

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Best 15 Grammar Books To Make You A Stronger Writer

Are you an aspiring writer? Then, check out our round-up of the best grammar books to help you on your next writing project.

If you want to become a better writer , a good grammar book can help. But unfortunately, although many grammar books are on the market, not all are created equal. So, how can you spend your money wisely and find the right book for grammar to meet your needs?

First, consider what you’re looking for. For example, do you want a practice book or a style guide you can occasionally reference? Or are you looking for a fun, witty overview of grammar? Again, you can find books for all needs if you know where to look.

At A Glance: Our Top 3 Picks For Grammar Checker

• Best Grammar Checker: Grammarly
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• Affordable Alternative: Quillbot

To simplify your search, here’s a run-down of the top 15 books about grammar. You’ll find something that fits your writing goals, from academic to lighthearted and fun if you don’t have time to read a book, grammar software may be the better option for you.

1. The Elements of Style by Strunk And White

2. eats shoots and leaves by lynne truss, 3. woe is i by patricia t. o’conner, 4. several short sentences about writing by verlyn klinkenborg, 5. the sense of style by steven pinker, 6. write right by jan venolia, 7. practical english usage by michael swan, 8. an a-z of english grammar & usage by leech, cruickshank, and ivanic, 9. grammar girl’s quick and dirty tips for better writing by mignon fogarty, 10. the blue book of grammar and punctuation by lester kaufman and jane straus, 11. the english grammar workbook for adults: a self-study guide to improve functional writing by michael digiacomo, 12. basic english grammar for dummies – us by geraldine woods, 13. longman grammar of spoken and written english by prof douglas biber, edward finegan, stig johansson, dr. susan conrad, and geoffrey leech, 14. english grammar: 100 tragically common mistakes (and how to correct them) by sean williams, 15. the english tenses practical grammar guide by phil williams, build your english grammar library, what is the best book to improve your grammar, how many english grammar books should i read, what’s the best advanced english grammar book, further reading, best grammar books to make you a better writer.

Often called the “Holy Grail” of grammar by college professors, The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White is an English writing style guide. This book on grammar takes the English language and breaks it down into rules of use, principles of composition, and matters of form.

Available on Amazon, it’s required reading for many college grammar classes or a needed reference for academic papers. This book benefits new writers and experts who want to master basic grammar rules .

It also explores commonly misused expressions and misspelled words in American English. In 2011, Time called this book one of the 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923, so it is one of the best grammar books.

“The mind travels faster than the pen; consequently, writing becomes a question of learning to make occasional wing shots, bringing down the bird of thought as it flashes by. A writer is a gunner, sometimes waiting in the blind for something to come in, sometimes roaming the countryside hoping to scare something up.” Strunk And White

There’s no denying that grammar books and grammar guides can be a bit dry. Even the most giant grammar nerd may struggle to get through one from cover to cover in a single sitting, but not so with this one.

Written by a former editor who understands grammar, Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss talks about all things punctuation. This English grammar book is quite witty and uses funny examples to explore what makes the humble comma, apostrophe, and semicolon crucial to good writing.

It looks at everything from signs in neighborhoods to historical mistakes in literature to discuss the importance of punctuation. It also has some fascinating history woven into the instruction. This grammar guide will tell you if you’ve ever wondered when the question mark or semicolon entered the scene.

“The rule is: the word ‘it’s’ (with apostrophe) stands for ‘it is’ or ‘it has’. If the word does not stand for ‘it is’ or ‘it has’ then what you require is ‘its’. This is extremely easy to grasp. Getting your itses mixed up is the greatest solecism in the world of punctuation. No matter that you have a PhD and have read all of Henry James twice. If you still persist in writing, ‘Good food at it’s best’, you deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an unmarked grave.” Lynne Truss

Another former editor, Patricia T. O’Conner, gives us Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English , a national bestseller book. This one explores the grammar problems that plague even great writers. Since it’s written by an editor, who has seen these errors made time and time again, this book gives insight into the tools writers need to polish their craft. Woe Is I doesn’t just list grammar rules. Instead, it does so in a welcoming tone without judgment, then follows the rules with fun examples.

It strives to write in plain English, so anyone can comprehend what they need to become a better writer. This book also explains commonly confused words in the English language, like compliment and complement , and when they should and shouldn’t enter your writing.

“With grammar, it’s always something.” Patricia T. O’Conner

Several Short Sentences About Writing is an exciting look at the benefits of communicating by writing solid sentences. This grammar guide focuses on helping people write more creatively, starting with the sentence. Klinkenborg’s philosophy is that if a writer can write a full and complete sentence, then the writer can write strong paragraphs, chapters, and books.

Some readers find this book a little off-putting at first because it focuses on sentence construction entirely. However, the writer weaves these pieces together; the writing becomes stronger and more accurate. That’s the focus of this book. By teaching writers how to write strong, meaningful, and delightful sentences, Klinkenborg teaches them how to write well.

“Writing isn’t a conveyer belt bearing the reader to “the point” at the end of the piece, where the meaning will be revealed. Good writing is significant everywhere, Delightful everywhere.” Verlyn Klinkenborg

Can bad writing be fatal? Steven Pinker believes it can, and that’s a subject of discussion in his book The Sense of Style . According to Pinker, the wording of standard warning notices can cause fatal mistakes. By not warning directly about lethal dangers, household appliances can turn ordinary, everyday activities into deadly ones.

After making that point, Pinker discusses how manipulating the English language can trick readers. By teaching his readers about style and the structure of sentences, he tries to teach them how to avoid scams due to tricky writing. He also strives to help writers write more clearly and ethically using proper grammar and style. The book also explores the changes to modern writing due to texting and social media platforms.

“We can remind ourselves of the reasons to strive for good style: to enhance the spread of ideas, to exemplify attention to detail, and to add to the beauty of the world.” Steven Pinker

Write Right! by Jan Venolia explores why good grammar is essential. It’s through understanding why grammar is important that others can understand what we’re saying. This is the driving focus of this grammar guide.

This guide is less an entertaining read and more a well-organized guide for writing. It uses clear explanations and illustrations to help people understand the importance of the language rules it teaches. However, Venolia does throw some humor into the mix when possible.

As reference books go, what makes this book great is that Venolia updates it regularly. The rise of the Internet has caused rules to change quickly, and writers will appreciate that they can pick up the latest edition of this book to keep up with the changes.

“If you decide that semicolons are a pleasure rather than pretentious, here’s how to use them.” Jan Venolia

Practical English Usage by Michael Swan addresses both English speaking and English written grammar. This book’s simple language makes it easy for even new writers to comprehend well.

One of the main focuses of this book is vocabulary. Unfortunately, vocabulary can be confusing since written and spoken vocabularies often don’t match. However, with the help of Swan and his guide, writers can get things straight.

In addition, this book covers idioms and common styles. It also addresses spelling issues and common mistakes that can plague the best writers. Practical English Usage is also heavy on examples. Examples help the reader comprehend what the author is teaching practically.

“Grammatical correctness, after all, has a powerful symbolic value: getting your language right implies that you can obey rules and respect authority.” Michael Swan

Written with teachers and students in mind, An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage is a reference guide to grammar. It uses a dictionary-like format to make it easy for the reader to find what they want. It’s known for being more accessible for English as a second language readers and writers to help guide their writing.

When students have a question, they can use this book to look it up. First, they look up the word or topic alphabetically to find the answer. His guide focuses on the words and phrases of the English language, not its rules. However, grammar rules are worked into its pages. In addition, it has many practical chapters on standard grammar and writing issues.

“Regard to, regards to: Several versions of this phrase are in common use, for example, with regard(s) to, in regard(s) of, in regard(s) with. The general consensus is that with regard to is the more accurate, but when possible, you should preferably use a simpler word such as concerning, about, regarding or in relation to.” Leech, Cruickshank, And Ivanic

Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty isn’t just for the ladies. This New York Times bestseller takes a lighthearted approach to the serious topic of grammar. In addition, the author often speaks on significant talk shows, dishing out grammar advice.

Grammar Girl Fogarty turned a weekly grammar podcast into an easy-to-read book. It is witty and fun but also informational. It also has fun ways to help readers remember tricky grammar guidelines. Grammar Girl may be fun, but it is also helpful. The style and tips will improve your writing and help you learn when it’s OK to break standard grammar rules.

“…passive voice is better than writing out a humongous number and taking the risk that your readers’ brains will be numb by the time they get to the verb.” Mignon Fogarty

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punction is one of the best books worldwide for teaching grammar and punctuation to learners. This bestseller is all you will ever need to level up your writing skills and equip yourself with the tools for writing success.

This guide to grammar is easy to understand and used to assist writing beginners, ESL students, homeschoolers, high school students, college students, and more. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation includes quizzes, pre and post-tests, and up-to-date English grammar rules.

“This nook is logical, self-paced, and fun to use, with scores of interesting and challenging quizzes that you may photocopy to your heart’s content. Best of all, you can look forward to instant gratification because the answers to the quiz are included” Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus

The English Grammar Workbook can help you master the English language with ease. This workbook provides clear guidance for adults looking to learn the basics of English grammar. In addition, the workbook includes clear and concise language suitable for ESL and EFL students looking to upgrade their English writing skills.

One of the key selling points of this workbook is its ease of use; with a focus on fun tests and activities, you can find answers easily to pick up new skills quickly. No matter your English grammar level, this workbook will help you learn about essential elements, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, tenses, and more.

“A noun is a word that represents a person, place, or thing. Proper nouns, always capitalized, name a specific person or thing, like Maria or Paris Common nouns represent things in general, like, girl or city” Michael DiGiacomo

• DiGiacomo, Michael (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 208 Pages - 06/02/2020 (Publication Date) - Callisto (Publisher)

If you’re looking for a reliable and straightforward guide to grammar, Basic English Grammar For Dummies is the perfect textbook for you. This book is designed for easy learning, suitable for all levels of English learners. The concept of this book is to teach you real-world applications for English grammar at a basic level anyone can understand. Inside, you’ll find quizzes, self-tests and answer sheets, and guidance on composing letters, emails, texts, and phone calls.

“Find out how to use grammar correctly in any situation, whether you’re writing in electronic media, making bulleted lists for presentation slides, or complete letters, reports, or school assignments.” Geraldine Woods

With over 350 tables and graphs, this comprehensive guide to English grammar provides solutions to the written and conversational English language for all situations. This book also draws comparisons between British and American English to learn all variations for multiple circumstances. In addition, this textbook covers basic grammar, simple and complex sentence structure, and lists conversation and fiction used for academic purposes.

“Standard English is not a single, uniform variety, and it is not always obvious whether a form should be considered standard or not.” Prof Douglas Biber, Edward Finegan, Stig Johansson, Dr. Susan Conrad, and Geoffrey Leech

English grammar can be tricky, and we often mix up words or make mistakes. This English grammar guide will discuss the most common mistakes and how to correct them, including incomplete sentences, possessive pronouns with gerunds, and dangling modifiers. You can conquer even the most tricky sentences by following this friendly guide to English grammar.

“Get – present tense – seems fairly straightforward: I get paid, I get restless, and I get there on time.” Sean Williams

Written by Phil Williams – writer and English teacher, this practical guide to English grammar covers all the rules and usage patterns of all 12 aspects of the English language. This book can be used as an accompaniment to core texts or as a standalone study guide for learners. Topics covered include simple, continuous, perfect continuous forms in the past, present, and future, as well as bare infinitives, participles, and time clauses.

“These twelve tenses can be used for many different purposes. Because of these different uses, they are often called aspects rather than tenses. For the sake of simplicity, this guide will discuss these different grammatical forms (aspects) as tenses” Phil Williams

How I Chose the Best Grammar Books

My journey started on Goodreads, where I delved into top-rated grammar books and sifted through reader feedback. From I looked at bestseller lists to pinpoint which grammar guides were favorites among students, educators, and writers. I reached out to English writers and editors and linguistic enthusiasts for their personal recommendations. I was particularly interested in books that offered a diverse approach to grammar, catering to different learning styles.

I focused on books that had a lasting impact on learners, providing tools that were timeless and relevant. While the content and teaching methods were my primary focus, I couldn’t overlook sales figures; they provided a hint about grammar books that readers learned the most from. Armed with this information, I’ve crafted a list that represents the best in grammar resources.

Whether you’re looking for a reference guide or need an advanced English grammar guide, stocking your bookshelf with some of the best books on grammar will help you master the written language.

Remember, even the best writers need an occasional grammar check. With these guides (or the correct grammar checker ), you can hone your craft and become an influential, persuasive writer.

If you need help with learning English grammar clauses, using a grammar checker like Grammarly is a good idea. It provides context behind errors mentioned in these grammar books! If you’d like to do that, claim our Grammarly coupon .

FAQs About the Best Grammar Books

If you’re new to learning grammar, start with The Elements of Style by Strunk & White. Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss is another good choice.

We recommend reading at least 3 English grammar books to level up your grammar skills before beginning your next writing project. Take part in the included study material, English grammar workbooks, quizzes and answer keys, and self-study references to make the most of the content. This is the best way to learn the English language fundamentals, learn about the different tenses of modern English, and be able to write with perfect English grammar.

These grammar guides all hold merit if you want to understand English in grammar use. In some way, they can all earn the title of the best books in grammar .

However, if you’re looking for an English grammar self-study guide for the advanced writer, you may want to add another to the list. Advanced English Grammar with Answers by Hewings is a single-volume book with grammar lessons and practice exercises to teach an advanced look at grammar.

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20 Best English Grammar Books (2022 Review)

September 7, 2020 by James Wilson

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

English is a universal language. The benefits of learning English are many. It gives you a boost no matter what your profession might be. The language can be a little tricky to learn for some, but not to worry. The sentence structure and the use of the grammar rules might take you a little while to learn but as always books are always there to help you.

Grammar can be difficult to learn even for those that are native speakers of the language, so you do not need to worry. The process can seem daunting, but it is one you can easily undertake. It will require a lot of dedication and challenging work on your part, but success will be at your feet soon and you will become a master of the language. Before you know it, you will be able to speak English, write English, listen to English songs and read English books.

What are the Best English Grammar Books to read?

We have compiled for you a list of the best books on grammar of the English Language. These cater to British and American language both. They can cater to the learners of any learning level.

Best English Grammar Books: Our Top 20 Picks

Here are some of the best english grammar books that you can consider to expand your knowledge on the subject:

1. English Grammar in Use: A Self-Study Reference and Practice Book for Intermediate Students of English- with Answers, 4th Edition

English Grammar in Use: A Self-Study Reference and Practice Book for Intermediate Students of English- with Answers  is written by Raymond Murphy. This reference textbook is for students of Intermediate B1 and B2. If you are looking for an excellent teaching guide for learners, this book is perfect for you. It includes the grammar skills required to excel for the students of this level.

Can be considered amazing for self-study and group study. The incorporation of practice exercises with explanations and review questions makes this an excellent read. Millions have used Raymond Murphy’s guide worldwide to learn the basics of the English language. It can also be used as an added book by teachers on an academic level as well.

• Authors : Raymond Murphy (Author)
• Publisher : Cambridge University Press; 4th Edition (April 23, 2012)
• Pages : 390 pages

2. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes, 11th Edition

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes  is an eleventh edition by Tom Stern, Jane Straus and Lester Kaufman. It is an extremely helpful workbook for beginners who want to learn the English Language.

Can guide you all the basics of grammar by teaching how to learn the rules and how to apply them. You will find lots of examples, worksheets and quizzes that can be easily reproduced, tests etc. to aid your learning. This work by Tom Stern will provide you an updated version of grammar with easy to follow guidelines. It is suitable for children and adults alike in their academic and professional life.

• Authors : Jane Straus (Author), Lester Kaufman (Author), Tom Stern (Author)
• Publisher : Wiley; 11th Edition (February 10, 2014)
• Pages : 224 pages

3. The Only Grammar Book You Will Ever Need: A One-Stop Source for Every Writing Assignment

The Only Grammar Book You Will Ever Need: A One-Stop Source for Every Writing  Assignment has been put to writing by Susan Thurman. It is perfect for every person who wants to write well in English language but struggles with it. It will cater to all your writing needs whether that is technical writing, persuasive writing or academic writing.

The author lends her ability as an English teacher to guide you to improve your grammar. The package comes with guidelines for improving your vocabulary to punctuation, etc. The author gives you the tricks of the trade to translate your thoughts into words on a paper.

• Authors : Susan Thurman (Author), Larry Shea (Author)
• Publisher : Adams Media; First Edition (May 1, 2003)
• Pages : 192 pages

4. Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking

Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking  is the penmanship of Grant Barrett. If you think you need to brush up your language skills, this will be perfect for you. Once you read this manual on how to polish your language skills, your communication will be 100 times better through exceptional writing and speaking skills.

Perfect English Grammar makes it extremely easy for you to improve your English through effortless steps. This language guide can be your navigation guide to better grasp over the language. If you read this book, you will never be wrong again, you will never make foolish mistakes in your communication.

• Authors : Grant Barrett (Author)
• Publisher : Zephyros Press; 1st Edition (March 29, 2016)
• Pages : 238 pages

5. Grammar for English Language Teachers, 2nd Edition

Grammar for English Language Teachers  is the second edition of the book by Martin Parrott. It is a practical guide and offers a realistic approach for the teachers who will be teaching students the language of English. It is also a reference book and is extremely helpful for all language coaches of English. The content gives ideas for lesson plans, along with justification for every idea and also includes easy to follow exercises that enable the teachers to understand the key concepts so masterfully so that they can efficiently pass on that knowledge to their students. It further exemplifies common mistakes new students make and teaches teachers how to tackle them effectively.

• Authors : Martin Parrott (Author)
• Publisher : Cambridge University Press; 2nd Edition (January 29, 2010)
• Pages : 479 pages

6. The Perfect English Grammar Workbook: Simple Rules and Quizzes to Master Today’s English

Lisa McLendon is the author of  The Perfect English Grammar Workbook: Simple Rules and Quizzes to Master Today’s English . This publication is a key guide to mastering the grammar of the English language. The text refers to the standard American English. This is an adequate learning source for ESL learners and people who want to improve their language skills for personal or professional reasons.

This self help guide covers all the basics like punctuation, sentence structure, adverbs, adjectives, etc. The structure is very straightforward in its layout. The chapters explain every concept in a comprehensive manner first and then allow you to review your learning to get an evaluation of your skills as well.

• Authors : Lisa McLendon (Author)
• Publisher : Zephyros Press; Workbook Edition (January 10, 2017)
• Pages : 214 pages

7. English for Everyone: English Grammar Guide: A Comprehensive Visual Reference

English for Everyone: English Grammar Guide: A Comprehensive Visual Reference  is a book by DK. The text is for self-study and for group study as well. The exceptional thing about the book is its innovative and unique visual teaching methods. It supplies an understanding of even the most complex concept.

The manual can be helpful to the language learners of any level. It uses an illustrative approach to explain its points and to make sure the reader keeps the information. It breaks down grammar so that anyone could understand it. This is suitable for any purpose, leisure, casual learning, exams or travel, etc.

• Authors : DK (Author)
• Publisher : DK; Reprint Edition (December 13, 2016)
• Pages : 360 pages

8. The English Grammar Workbook for Grades 6, 7 and 8: 125+ Simple Exercises to Improve Grammar, Punctuation and Word Usage

The English Grammar Workbook for Grades 6, 7 and 8: 125+ Simple Exercises to Improve Grammar, Punctuation and Word Usage  is a book by Lauralee Moss. This book will be your gateway to better report cards, targeted for younger students of lower classes.

Through this guide, students will have a strong and sturdy understanding of the basics of grammar. They will be able to write, speak and read well. It has lessons that move in an organic manner from simple to complex, review exercises that make the content engaging and quizzes with answer keys to further clarify your concepts.

• Authors : Lauralee Moss (Author)
• Publisher : Zephyros Press; Workbook Edition (September 18, 2018)
• Pages : 268 pages

9. Complete English Grammar Rules: Examples, Exceptions, Exercises, and Everything You Need to Master Proper Grammar (The Farlex Grammar Book 1)

Complete English Grammar Rules: Examples, Exceptions, Exercises, and Everything You Need to Master Proper Grammar is a book by Farlex International. This exceptional handbook brings you a comprehensive knowledge of English Grammar in one place. It brings you content that is guaranteed for its authenticity by sources like Farlex International and TheFreeDictionary.com.

The sourcebook includes all the rules of grammar in easy to follow text. It has examples to make it easier for you to grab the subject. You will give get a fluency that will make others jealous of your ability.

• Authors : Farlex International (Author)
• Publisher : Farlex International (July 14, 2016)
• Pages : 518 pages

10. Oxford Modern English Grammar, 1st Edition

Oxford Modern English Grammar  is the first edition of the book by Bas Aarts. Oxfords renowned language guide is an essential handbook for all your grammar problems. The text features the American as well as the British language. The publication features diagrams, tables, charts, examples which can be easily understood by everyone even those with the most beginner level knowledge of the English language.

The text is divided into three parts. It tackles even the most complex and confusing intricacies of the language deftly. This little handbook is invaluable to all students who want to improve their language skills.

• Authors : Bas Aarts (Author)
• Publisher : Oxford University Press; Illustrated Edition (May 22, 2011)
• Pages : 448 pages

11. Understanding and Using English Grammar with Essential Online Resources, 5th Edition

Understanding and Using English Grammar with Essential Online  Resources is the fifth edition of the book by Betty S Azar and Stacy A Hagen. It is an extremely well trusted source of learning. The text is written with extremely helpful features; every chapter starts with an overview of what you already know, the incorporation of charts helps to explain how words are used and how writing the language is different from speaking it.

Basic concepts such as articles are explained well. You will also find interesting and engaging readings that keep your interest.

• Authors : Betty S Azar (Author), Stacy A. Hagen (Author)
• Publisher : Pearson Education ESL; 5th Edition (December 22, 2016)
• Pages : 512 pages

12. English Grammar: 100 Tragically Common Mistakes (and How to Correct Them)

English Grammar: 100 Tragically Common Mistakes (and How to Correct Them ), written by Sean Williams, takes a pragmatic approach on how to learn about grammar and writing. With the help of this book, you will never feel embarrassed about your poor grammar, but you will have a grasp over the language that others will envy.

After reading this thoroughly, you will feel confident in your abilities as a writer and will be clear about grammar rules of the English language. The volume talks into detail about the most common mistakes that every newbie to the language makes. It clears the confusions and cobwebs of the language. Furthermore, it gives you tips and tricks to make your writing better.

• Authors : Sean Williams (Author)
• Publisher : Zephyros Press (July 2, 2019)
• Pages : 182 pages

13. Understanding and Using English Grammar, Student Book with Essential Online Resources – International Edition, 5th Edition

Understanding and Using English Grammar, Student Book with Essential Online  Resources is the fifth edition of the book by Betty S. Azar and Stacy A. Hagen. Online resources include self-assessments, Student Book audio, an answer key, coaching videos, etc.

This reference book is a complete guide to the English language that will help you polish your listening, speaking and writing skills. If you are a middle level to advanced learner of the language, this will be suitable for you, but anyone can receive help from this.

14. English Grammar for Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyle)), 3rd Edition

English Grammar for Dummies  is a publication by Geraldine Woods. The English language is an intricate language that can make it difficult to learn as a secondary language. However, the process does not need to be as difficult as it may be.  English Grammar for Dummies , as the title suggests would work even for dummies. This textbook will revv up your language skills to make you fluent in the language in no time.

A good solid foundation of grammar rules and practice will lay the groundwork for your success as a speaker and a writer. The content covers everything from the most basic concept such as a noun to complex sentence articulation. It offers you easy to follow steps and exercises to improve your speaking skills.

• Authors : Geraldine Woods (Author)
• Publisher : For Dummies; 3rd Edition (May 1, 2017)
• Pages : 416 pages

15. Fundamentals of English Grammar with Essential Online Resources, 4th Edition

Fundamentals of English Grammar with Essential Online Resources  is the fourth edition of the volume by Betty S Azar and Stacy A. Hagen. It is a widely trusted source of learning for the fundamentals of the English language. The audience targeted is the lower intermediate and intermediate language learners.

The guide is a blend of grammar rules, exercises, guidelines and methods and includes clear charts and explanations. The method is direct and gives an in-depth understanding of grammar. The text is engaging and interactive and this is the reason for its success as a grammar rulebook. Will surely improve your writing and speaking skills, as it gives you examples, exercises, quizzes and exams to allow you to evaluate your skills as well.

• Publisher : Pearson Education ESL; 4th Edition (February 2, 2017)

16. Basic English Grammar for Dummies –Us (For Dummies (Language & Literature)) (For Dummies (Language & Literature)), US Edition

Basic English Grammar for Dummies  is the US version of the book by Geraldine Woods. A few people are extremely good with their language skills and do not have to question their skills ever. Most people, however, have a little trouble with figuring out what to say or how to say it or how to write it. An impeccable knowledge of language skills is a necessary skillset to help you flourish in any professional field. Examples and exercises are provided that will make it easy for you to understand the inner workings of the English language.

• Publisher : For Dummies; US Edition (September 15, 2015)
• Pages : 384 pages

17. Keys to Teaching Grammar to English Language Learners, A Practical Handbook, 2nd Edition

Keys to Teaching Grammar to English Language Learners, A Practical  Handbook is the second edition of the book by Keith S. Folse. It has a direct approach and is most suitable for teachers who are teaching English to other people in a classroom. Grammar points are explained in detail with relevance to teaching techniques.

Has four key aims for teachers which include giving a sturdy base for the teachers so that they can answer any queries the student might have and to develop better lessons for teaching. The text also includes vocabulary related to each topic.

• Authors : Keith S. Folse (Author)
• Publisher : University of Michigan Press ELT; Second Edition (October 3, 2016)
• Pages : 488 pages

18. Basic English Grammar with Essential Online Resources, 4th Edition

Basic English Grammar with Essential Online Resources  is the fourth edition of the book by Betty S Azar and Stacy A. Hagen. It is the most trusted learning source of grammar by the most trusted teachers of grammar, Betty S Azar and Stacy A. Hagen. This learning aid will lay out a solid foundation of grammar for you that will help you throughout your life. Once you perfect your grammar, other modes of learning the language such as speaking, listening, reading and writing will not be a problem for you. It offers you clear, user-friendly charts and extremely easy practice questions that will keep you engaged with the lessons.

• Publisher : Pearson Education ESL; 4th Edition (January 29, 2017)
• Pages : 528 pages

19. McGraw-Hill Education Handbook of English Grammar & Usage, 3rd Edition

McGraw-Hill Education Handbook of English Grammar &  Usage is the third edition of the book by Mark Lester. Has perfect guide for anyone looking to improve their grammar and language skills. Everyone needs to have a proper know how of English in a professional life. Fluency in speech and proper grammar can set you apart from the rest.

This is an effective way to master the English language. It is written by an expert of grammar who uses his ability to provide you tips, definitions and knowledge that will help you on your journey to becoming an expert on the English language.

• Authors : Mark Lester (Author)
• Publisher : McGraw-Hill Education; 3rd Edition (November 19, 2018)

20. Analyzing English Grammar (7th Edition)

Analyzing English Grammar  is the seventh edition of the book by Thomas P. Klammer, Muriel R. Schulz and Angela Della Volpe. The publication is an advanced book of grammar which is meant to target those that have expert level understanding and grasp of the language. It is a deeply thought-provoking text which urges its readers to be overly critical about grammar. It also talks about a multitude of theories of linguistics. This sourcebook would be a very apt find for a teacher of the English language.

• Authors : Thomas P. Klammer (Author), Muriel R. Schulz (Author), Angela Della Volpe (Author)
• Publisher : Pearson; 7th Edition (August 11, 2012)
• Pages : 432 pages

Choosing the Best English Grammar Books

English is a beautiful language to learn. It has many intricacies but once mastered, they will be of no trouble to you surely. And you will receive help from learning the language the entire world works on. It will enable you to access unlimited information about the world we live in. It will open many new doors for you. It will help you communicate to anyone living in any part of the world. It will broaden your mind and your world view. It will give you immense knowledge. Grammar can be tricky to learn but you will be a grammar wizard in no time if you work hard. Hopefully, you will find a suitable book in our list to help you for your purpose of learning English.

FREE Great Book Recommendations

Best Books on English Grammar

Master the nuances of english grammar with this definitive list of books. compiled from top linguistic resources, these titles are celebrated for making grammar accessible, engaging, and practical to learners of all levels..

15 Best English Grammar Books for Beginners and Beyond

This article may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For full information, please see the disclaimer  here .

Are you done with confusing English grammar rules and long internet searches for the right book to help you master them? Worry no more. In this post, I’ll introduce you to the most comprehensive and well-thought-out English grammar books available online.

Each of these titles will help you take your writing and speaking skills to the next level. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, I’ve got you covered with a variety of options that suit your learning style and level.

Best English grammar books for beginners

1. basic english grammar student book by betty azar and stacy hagen.

• Azar, Betty (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 544 Pages – 08/17/2021 (Publication Date) – Pearson Education ESL (Publisher)

This English grammar textbook is filled with straightforward explanations and countless examples and makes even the trickiest grammar concepts simple to grasp.

Whether you’re a beginner or a lower-intermediate learner, you’ll find everything you need to build a strong foundation in English grammar. 

In addition to that, Basic English Grammar Student Book features a wide variety of exercises to help you practice what you’ve learned and improve your skills. 

This book is available on BetterWorldBooks.

What I like about this book:

• The straight-to-the-point explanations of basic English grammar concepts
• It offers plenty of opportunities to practice and reinforce new language skills
• It includes helpful charts, tables, and illustrations to aid in understanding

2. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus

• Kaufman, Lester (Author)
• 272 Pages – 05/04/2021 (Publication Date) – Jossey-Bass (Publisher)

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation is a must-have for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills and master the rules of the English language. 

It’s clear and concise, with tons of examples to help you learn. What’s more, it’s packed with tips and tricks to help you avoid recurring errors and make your writing shine.

• It provides a comprehensive guide to English grammar and punctuation
• The abundance of examples and exercises to reinforce learning
• The tips and strategies to help students improve their writing skills

3. Basic English Grammar For Dummies by Geraldine Woods

• Woods, Geraldine (Author)
• 384 Pages – 09/15/2015 (Publication Date) – Wiley (Publisher)

If you’re new to English or just need a refresher, Basic English Grammar For Dummies is the right book for you. 

It’s written in a friendly, conversational style that makes learning grammar exciting and easy. This book breaks down complex grammar concepts into uncomplicated explanations, with countless examples to help you apply what you’ve learned. 

• It’s written in a no-nonsense format with plenty of examples and practice exercises
• It covers all the essential grammar topics and includes tips for avoiding common mistakes
• Its strategies for improving writing skills and communicating effectively in English

4. Grammar in Context Basic by Sandra N. Elbaum

• Elbaum, Sandra N. (Author)
• 319 Pages – 01/02/2020 (Publication Date) – Heinle ELT (Publisher)

Are you tired of dry grammar textbooks that leave you feeling bored and uninspired? Then Grammar in Context Basic is the book for you. 

This book is a game-changer when it comes to learning grammar. It’s full of engaging exercises and real-world examples that will help you understand how grammar works in context. 

You’ll learn to recognize and use grammar structures naturally and intuitively, which will make your English more fluent and natural-sounding.

• It uses contextualized grammar instruction to improve communication skills
• The interactive exercises, listening tasks, and review sections for each grammar point
• Lots of authentic examples of grammar in use, enhancing understanding and application

5. Basic Vocabulary in Use by Michael McCarthy and Felicity O’Dell

• Michael McCarthy (Author)
• 176 Pages – 07/02/2024 (Publication Date) – Cambridge University Press (Publisher)

When you’re seeking to expand your vocabulary and communicate more effectively in English, Basic Vocabulary in Use is a fabulous option. It is packed with practical, daily vocabulary that you can start using right away. 

Each unit focuses on a different topic, from food and travel to health and education, and includes plenty of exercises to help you practice and remember the words. Plus, the simple explanations make it easy to understand the meanings and usage of every word.

• It covers essential vocabulary for everyday situations
• Clear and concise explanations
• Practical exercises and activities will help you memorize new vocabulary

Best English grammar books for intermediate learners

6. english grammar in use book with answers by raymond murphy.

• Murphy, Raymond (Author)
• 390 Pages – 01/24/2019 (Publication Date) – Cambridge University Press (Publisher)

Want to master English grammar like a pro? Consider getting English Grammar in Use Book with Answers . This book is a classic for a reason, as it provides in-depth yet straight-to-the-point explanations of even the most intricate grammar concepts. 

With lots of exercises and practical examples, you’ll have the chance to apply what you’ve learned to real-life situations. On top of that, the book includes an answer key so you can check your progress as you go.

• Its thorough explanations and examples make complex grammar concepts almost ridiculous to understand
• It goes over a wide range of grammar topics, from basic to advanced
• It includes practice exercises with answers for you to track your progress with

7. Intermediate English Grammar for ESL Learners by Robin Torres-Gouzerh

• Torres-Gouzerh, Robin (Author)
• 256 Pages – 04/23/2019 (Publication Date) – McGraw Hill (Publisher)

Are you ready to take your English grammar skills to new heights? Intermediate English Grammar for ESL Learners is a wonderful book for intermediate students who need to refine their grammar knowledge. 

The book is packed with useful tips and practical exercises that will help you become more confident in your use of English grammar. 

From complex sentence structures to nuanced grammar rules, this book covers it all in an easy-to-understand way.

• Its detailed coverage of intermediate grammar topics
• The precise explanations with tons of examples and practice exercises
• Suitable for self-study or classroom use, with additional online resources available

8. ESL Grammar : Intermediate & Advanced by Mary Ellen Munoz Page

• Munoz Page, Mary Ellen (Author)
• 432 Pages – 12/09/2021 (Publication Date) – Research & Education Association (Publisher)

ESL Grammar : Intermediate & Advanced is a comprehensive guide to intermediate and advanced-level English grammar that will help you refine your skills and take your language abilities to the next level, or assist your ESL kid throughout that process .

Filled with interactive exercises, this book covers everything from complex sentence structures to intricate grammar rules and ensures that you’ll have a complete understanding of the English language. 

• It provides thorough coverage of intermediate and advanced grammar topics
• The practical exercises and real-life examples
• It features a no-nonsense and concise writing style

9. Oxford English Grammar Course Intermediate by Michael Swan and Catherine Walker

• This product will be an excellent pick for you.
• brand: OUP Oxford
• manufacturer: OUP Oxford
• unknown (Author)

Oxford English Grammar Course Intermediate is a well-structured course that will have you bridge the gap between intermediate and advanced English.

It goes over both the basics and more advanced concepts, which turns it into an ideal choice for intermediate learners looking to improve their language abilities. 

With a focus on usage and practical examples, you’ll learn to apply English grammar rules in a natural and intuitive way.

• It offers a comprehensive study of English grammar at the intermediate level
• The engaging activities and exercises to help learners apply their knowledge
• Its explanations and examples make complex grammar concepts simple to understand

10. English Grammar & Punctuation by Steven Raine

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Raine, Steven (Author)
• 12/17/2022 (Publication Date)

English Grammar & Punctuation is a complete guide to mastering grammar and punctuation in the English language. 

It is excellent for students, writers, and professionals who want to improve their written communication skills. The author uses straightforward language to explain intricate concepts and makes it easy to understand and apply the rules of grammar and punctuation correctly. 

The book covers a wide range of topics, including verb tenses, clauses, sentence structure, punctuation marks, and much more. It also features exercises and quizzes to help readers test their understanding of the material.

• It provides in-depth explanations of grammar rules and punctuation usage
• The practical examples to help you understand and apply concepts
• It’s jam-packed with exercises and quizzes

Best English grammar books for advanced students

11. advanced grammar in use by martin hewings.

• Cambridge University Press
• Hewings, Martin (Author)
• 303 Pages – 04/29/2013 (Publication Date) – Cambridge University Press (Publisher)

This top-rated grammar book discusses complex grammar structures and usage and is just perfect for advanced learners seeking to refine their language skills. 

Advanced Grammar in Use provides a thorough overview of grammar points with clear explanations and extensive examples, which makes it an ideal resource for either self-study or classroom use. 

It includes challenging exercises too, which will help readers improve their writing and speaking skills, as well as a helpful index for quick reference.

• It covers advanced grammar topics in detail with detailed explanations and examples
• The variety of exercises to strengthen your skills
• Best for advanced learners looking to improve their grammar game

12. Advanced English Grammar : A Linguistic Approach by Ilse Depraetere and Chad Langford

• Depraetere, Ilse (Author)
• 657 Pages – 09/05/2019 (Publication Date) – Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)

This book is a comprehensive guide that focuses on the complexities of the English language. It goes beyond basic grammar rules and delves into the linguistic theory behind the language. 

Covering a wide range of topics, from sentence structure and verb tense to discourse and pragmatics, Advanced English Grammar : A Linguistic Approach also includes numerous examples and exercises to help learners master the material. 

The writing style is clear and compelling, which makes it an enjoyable read for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of English grammar.

• It goes over advanced topics in English grammar with a linguistic perspective
• In-depth explanations, examples, and exercises to aid understanding
• The insight it provides into the structure and function of the English language

13. English Idioms in Use by Felicity O’Dell and Michael McCarthy

• CAMBRIDGE UNIV ELT
• O’Dell, Felicity (Author)
• 182 Pages – 08/04/2017 (Publication Date) – Cambridge University Press (Publisher)

English Idioms in Use is a fun and engaging book for folks looking to improve their English skills. Written by Felicity O’Dell and Michael McCarthy, it teaches you about the most common idiomatic expressions used in English and helps you to speak (almost) like a native speaker. 

Each unit covers a different topic and includes a range of practice exercises and examples to help you memorize the idioms. 

The book is fantastic for intermediate to advanced learners who want to take their language skills to the next level.

• The comprehensive collection of idioms used in everyday English
• It’s organized by topic and presented in a user-friendly format
• It offers practical exercises and activities to help you become a pro at the usage of idioms

14. Advanced English Grammar Tests by Annabelle Jenkins

• Jenkins, Annabelle (Author)
• 68 Pages – 06/09/2020 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)

Through its wide range of exercises, this English grammar textbook covers everything from intricate sentence structures to advanced punctuation rules. The tests are hard, but they’ll help you identify any weaknesses in your grammar and improve your language skills.

The explanations are clear and concise, so you’ll be able to understand your mistakes and learn from them. If you’re serious about improving your English language abilities, Advanced English Grammar Tests is a great choice.

• Its challenging exercises for advanced learners to improve their grammar skills
• The explanations of complex grammar concepts help students understand how to use them correctly
• It features a wide range of grammar topics, including verb tenses, conditionals, reported speech, and more

15. The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide by Phil Williams

• Williams PH D, Phil (Author)
• 142 Pages – 08/17/2014 (Publication Date) – Rumian Publishing (Publisher)

This practical guide is recommended for those who feel like learning about the different tenses in English and how to use them correctly. 

The author’s writing style is engrossing and easy to understand, which makes this an amazing option for people who want to brush up on their grammar skills.

The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide covers from simple present tense to complex future perfect continuous, which means it’s fitting for learners of all levels.

• A comprehensive guide to understanding and using English tenses effectively
• It covers different tenses in detail with precise explanations and examples
• It provides practice exercises to build confidence in using tenses correctly

Final thoughts

All of the English grammar books I’ve just listed will help you learn English grammar, minimize your errors, and boost your confidence in using the language of Shakespeare.

It doesn’t take much beyond practice and commitment to achieve fluency in English . Yet the right resources, including English learning books and English learning apps , have the ability to speed up that process and lead you all the way to autonomous communication in no time. And for a quick reference, this list of English grammar tips might come handy!

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The 20 Best English Grammar Books For English Learners

Studying grammar is a way to improve it. And to study grammar, you can use English grammar books. 

But which book should you use? There are so many out there!

Here are the 20 best English grammar books.

1. The Elements Of Style By William Strunk Jr. And E.B. White

Every English writer knows “The Elements of Style” . 

This is a helpful book that teaches you how to write better in English and gives you guidelines and tips on how to make your writing clearer, more concise, and easier to understand. 

It’s not really classifiable as a “grammar book” but you’ll notice that the authors talk a lot about grammar.

You need good grammar to write in good English, after all, right? 

“The Elements of Style” is 95 pages long and was published over 100 years ago, but the advice, examples, and tips you’ll find in it are still relevant to modern English.

This is a must-read if you want to improve your grammar in order to write more interesting and effective texts.

2. English Grammar In Use by Raymond Murphy

A book I’ve been recommending to all my learners since I started teaching. 

“English Grammar in Use” is organised into short grammar units that present grammatical structures in context.

And the meaning of these structures is explained using simple terms, images, and lots of examples.

Each unit has exercises you can do to practise the grammar you study too.

Everything is so clear and easy to follow. No wonder this is probably the most popular self-study grammar book for learners of English. 

There are different levels: Elementary (red cover), Intermediate / Upper-Intermediate (blue), and Advanced (green).

Choose the one that’s most suitable for you and make sure you buy the one with the answer keys, so you can self-check what you got right and wrong in the exercises.

3. Practical English Usage By Michael Swan

There isn’t a grammar topic that hasn’t been covered in “Practical English Usage” , a grammar reference book written a grammarian from the UK. 

Everything is organised alphabetically. How to use tenses, prepositions , verbs, structures, spelling rules – it’s all there.

This is why both teachers and learners have been using this book for decades. 

You’ll find explanations for both basic and advanced grammar concepts, common English mistakes , and lots and lots of examples. 

I used to regularly use this book myself when I needed to find answers to grammar questions my learners asked or when I wasn't sure about a particular grammar point.

A valuable resource to have on your bookshelf that’s worth every penny.

4. A Comprehensive Grammar Of The English Language By Randolph Quirk, Sidney Greenbaum, Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik

Nearly 2000 pages! Isn’t this enough to tell you how detailed this book is? 

It took 4 people to write what’s probably the most comprehensive and heavy-to-carry-in-your- backpack grammar reference book ever written.

It’s a great one but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re a beginner or intermediate student.

It’s more suitable for grammarians, linguists, teachers, and advanced learners of English who are real grammar nerds.

You’ll find detailed explanations of rules and principles governing sentence and word formation, and the relationships between different parts of speech. 

It’s definitely not the book you would read on the beach. But if you’re an English grammar nerd who wants a highly detailed and technical resource that offers a deeper understanding of the complexities and intricacies of the language, well, then this is the book you want to buy.

5. The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need By Susan Thurman

The back cover of this book reads: “‘ The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need ’ is the ideal resource for everyone who wants to produce writing that is clear, concise, and grammatically excellent.”

This is indeed a practical and user-friendly book that will not only help you improve your grammar but also your writing skills.

It covers a wide range of grammar topics and presents grammar concepts in a simple and straightforward way. You’ll find common writing mistakes and tips and strategies for avoiding them. 

It’s not a book designed especially for learners of English, but you’ll find it useful even as an intermediate student.

6. English Grammar For Dummies By Geraldine Woods

Ever heard of the “For Dummies” book series? 

This is a series of manuals to help people develop various kinds of practical skills. 

Want to learn how to create a website? The “For Dummies” series gets you covered with “Web Development for Dummies”.

Need to learn how to fix your car? No worries, they have “Auto Repair for Dummies.”

Want to learn how English grammar works? Here’s “English Grammar for Dummies”.

In English “dummy” is a noun that means “a stupid person”. But don’t get offended.

It’s called like that not because the editors of the book think you’re stupid, but because the fundamental concepts are explained in such a non-intimidating and simple way that even a dummy would be able to understand them. 

This is indeed one of the strengths of “English Grammar for Dummies”. The author uses humour and a conversational and light-hearted writing style to help you understand even the most difficult topics.

And if you want to practise, you can get the accompanying workbook: “English Grammar Workbook For Dummies with Online Practice”

7. Longman Grammar Of Spoken And Written English By Douglas Biber, Susan Conrad and Geoffrey Leech

The grammar of written English is different from the grammar of spoken English. Did you know that?

This book explores both . 

And it does so through extensive research and analysis of large language corpora, which are vast collections of spoken and written texts taken from the real world (newspapers, TV programs , magazines, movies, etc.).

So you’ll find a detailed analysis of the grammar patterns and structures found in different contexts of language use.

This isn’t just another grammar reference book. It’s a book that really describes grammar and how people use it in real life to communicate.

The illustrations you’ll find in it are also quite cool. 

8. Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide To Better English In Plain English By Patricia T. O'Conner

The title of the book says a lot about the writing style of its author.

This is a fun, enjoyable, and light-hearted grammar book that you can read for pleasure after a long day of work, on the beach, or at the park.

It uses a conversational tone to cover a wide range of grammar topics that even native speakers of English find confusing.

Whom or who? Lay or lie? Who or that? If I was or if I were?

You’ll also find straightforward explanations that debunk confusing or misleading grammar rules.

A humorous and accessible book that will help you improve your understanding and usage of English grammar in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

9. English For Everyone By DK Publishing

Do you like grammar explanations that are supported by colourful illustrations, charts, and diagrams? If so, this is the best book for you . 

It’s packed with visuals to help you make sense of the most intricate grammar concepts. 

The series is divided into different levels – from beginner to advanced – and each level offers grammar guides, workbooks, and practice exercises.

The “English for Everyone” series doesn’t just cover grammar but also vocabulary , speaking, listening, reading, and writing and it adopts a step-by-step approach to help you assimilate structures gradually.

Colorful, self-study friendly, and easy to follow. It makes me want to buy the whole series!

10. The English Grammar Workbook For Adults By Michael DiGiacomo 

The English Grammar Workbook for Adults is written by Michael DiGiacomo, a native New Yorker who has been helping language students from all over the world speak English better since the early 1990’s.

The book features clear and concise explanations and expert tips on how grammar applies to real-world scenarios.

It’s easy to use, practical, and has amazing reviews on Amazon too.

This is a helpful book for you if you want to improve your writing fluency and accuracy. 

11. Everything Your GRAMMAR BOOK Didn't Teach You By Michael DiGiacomo

Don’t you love the unconventional title already? This is another grammar book by DiGiacomo.

He wrote it for non-native speakers of English and English as a second or foreign language learners. In other words, he wrote it especially for you.

The book doesn’t cover every single aspect of English grammar but only grammar points that are easily and often confused.

DiGiacomo selected these after many years of experience helping people learn English and analyzing the most common errors that his learners made. 

It’s 141 pages long and is suitable for intermediate to advanced English learners.

12. Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide To Excellent Writing And Speaking By Grant Barrett 

Grant Barrett is an expert linguist, lexicographer, and dictionary editor from the USA.

In “Perfect English Grammar” , suitable for English language learners of all levels, he gives you all the tools you need to improve your everyday written and spoken communication.

You’ll find catchy examples to help you remember grammar rules, composition guidelines, and answers to tricky grammar questions.

Grant promises that “Perfect English Grammar helps you clearly say what you want to say—and the best way to say it.”

He has extensive experience as a linguist, so there’s no reason not to believe him!

13. The Infographic Guide To Grammar: A Visual Reference For Everything You Need To Know By Jara Kern

“The Infographic Guide to Grammar” is not a book but a fully illustrated guide that covers the most important rules in grammar and punctuation.  

It gives you everything you need to know to write and use punctuation correctly.

And it’s filled with colourful visuals that makes even the most confusing rules easy to understand.

No.1 Amazon best seller in the Grammar Reference category. 

Enough said 🙂

14. The Big Book Of English Grammar For ESL And English Learners By Thomas Celentano

Thomas Celentano has taught English as a second language for more than 20 years and has published seven books about English grammar for English students worldwide. 

Among these, we find this 810-page book for intermediate through advanced English learners.

The book focuses on 6 main language areas:

• Prepositions
• Phrasal verbs
• Idioms and expressions, 
• Irregular verbs , 
• Gerunds and infinitives

You’ll find real-life examples of these and many practice exercises.

This book is also a quick reference resource for you if you’re studying for English language exams such as TOEFL, TOEIC, and Cambridge exams.

The new version features an audio and video component.

15. The Best Grammar Workbook Ever: Grammar, Punctuation, and Word Usage for Ages 10 Through 110 By Arlene Miller.

What a catchy title! 

I’m not sure you’ll still be interested in studying grammar when you get to 110 years old but, just in case, “The Best Grammar Workbook Ever” will help you make sense of grammar rules even at that age.

This a comprehensive workbook that covers grammar basics, common grammar problems, punctuation, capitalization, and word usage. 

It’s written in a friendly tone and the author uses humour to help make learning grammar more enjoyable.

It’s not a book specifically written for language learners though. So it’s probably a useful book for you if you’re already an upper-intermediate or advanced user of English.

You’ll also find more than 100 practice exercises and tests at the end of each chapter, helpful hints, and a complete list of answers. 

Curious fact: “The Best Grammar Workbook Ever” book is the 2016 award winner from the New York Book Festival.  

16. Macmillan English Grammar In Context

This is a grammar book that can be used in both the classroom with your teacher and for self-study. 

There are three levels: Elementary , Intermediate , and Advanced .

All three present practice activities and clear grammar explanations using texts about literature, science, geography, history and social science.

You’ll also find a searchable glossary and review sections for extra practice to consolidate your understanding of key grammatical structures.

You can download samples from this three-level series here .

17. Oxford Learner's Pocket Grammar By John Eastwood

Who wouldn’t want to have all the English grammar rules, explanations and examples in their pocket?

You can have all those thanks to “Oxford Learner's Pocket Grammar” , a pocket-sized book that includes 180 grammar topics and a tip for each of them to help you sound more natural and fluent.

You can take this little book with you on the bus, on the train, or in the toilet (I mean, why not?!) for a quick review or use it to polish your grammar if you’re preparing for Cambridge exams such as B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency.

A great little book for whenever you have a few spare minutes to revise grammar.

18. Oxford English Grammar Course By Catherine Walter And Michael Swan

This is another three-level book series ( Basic , Intermediate , Advanced ).

Each section of the book opens with a cool presentation page that introduces a grammar point.

You’ll then find short, clear and easy to remember grammar explanations as well as practice activities.

These include internet and do-it-yourself exercises as well as personalization activities that will allow you to use the grammar to talk about yourself. 

Want more? No problem. You have a ‘More practice' section and a revision test at the end of each section. 

You’ll never run out of grammar to study by studying with “Oxford English Grammar Course”.

19. The Perfect English Grammar Workbook: Simple Rules And Quizzes To Master Today's English By Lisa McLendon 

In “The Perfect English Grammar Workbook” you’ll find a complete explanation of standard American English to help you get rid of your mistakes both in speaking and writing.

It includes:

• Modern rules for modern writers
• Focused lessons spread over 17 chapters. Each chapter is divided into individual sections to help you focus on one idea at a time.
• Exercises and quizzes to help you test what you’ve learned.

This is a workbook suitable for learners of English like you.

20. English Grammar: 100 Tragically Common Mistakes (And How To Correct Them) By Sean Williams 

On the back cover of her book, Sean Williams says, “Next time you have a nagging grammar question, pick up this practical guide and write with clarity and confidence.”

“English Grammar” is indeed a book filled with language explanations of  the most common mistakes even native speakers make.

It covers differences between commonly misused words, typical grammar mistakes, and writing tips and suggestions to help you write more accurately. 

The author also says, “Everyone makes mistakes—but with this English grammar guide you’ll make a lot fewer of them. Period.”

The book has great ratings on Amazon, so you can trust her!

The Best English Grammar Books

At the beginning of this post I told you that one way to improve your grammar is to use grammar books. True! Doing grammar exercises and reading grammar explanations is useful. 

But let me also remind you that it would be hard to achieve a high level of grammatical accuracy by only doing exercises and studying rules. Don't listen to the grammar villain !

So remember to use grammar. You can do this productively by speaking and writing, or receptively by reading and listening. 

Reading stories is the core of the StoryLearning method . That’s why I've written short stories in English books for learners of English like you.

Sure, you’ll see a lot of grammar in the 20 books I talked about in this post, but can you imagine how much grammar in context you’ll see in a story?

Whatever book you decide to use, happy grammar studying!

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The Best Grammar Books for Adults of 2024

• Post by: Professor Conquer
• Last updated on: May 22, 2024

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Grammar is such an important part of the English language that you can’t consider yourself proficient unless you’ve learned more than the basics of English grammar. However, although there are many grammar books in the market, not all offer the exact value you need to perfect your English grammar skills.

So, how do you choose the right option among the numerous options you’ll find in the market? We know how difficult the process is, so we’ve reviewed the best grammar books for adults. You can read about the different books on our list and choose based on each book’s unique features. Let’s go!

If you want to just get back to studying, get our top choice for grammar books for adults here.

Our Favorites for Best Grammar Books for Adults

The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Often referred to as the “ Holy Grail ” of grammar by college professors, this book by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White offers more than advanced grammar lessons. It is recommended for learning the basics of creative writing.

The book focuses mainly on breaking English grammar down into rules of use, matters of form, and principles of composition. Thanks to its encompassing contents, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition , has become a required text for many college grammar classes.

It is also popular for its focus on exploring commonly misspelt words and misused expressions in American English. It also emphasizes clarity and precision as the most important components for maintaining top-level grammar in creative writing.

What Makes it Unique:

• The authors of this book lock away gold nuggets of information valuable for creative and technical writing in a concise but easily understandable manner.
• The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, features hilarious and relatable examples suitable for different learners.
• The book has five parts, each focusing on unique topics relevant to modern-day written grammar.

Why Choose This Best Grammar Book for Adults:

• It is simple to read and doesn’t beat around the bush with unnecessary information.
• The author’s writing style is sharp and witty, so you can expect to stay focused and engaged throughout the book.
• Although the small book can be finished quickly, it has loads of nuggets and literal wisdom that will keep you coming back for more.

• Strunk Jr., William (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

Last update: 2024-07-01

Practical English Usage, Third Edition by Michael Swan

Here’s one option often recommended for people who want a practical and reliable guide that can help them improve their English grammar skills.

Firstly, it’s a comprehensive reference book that covers problem points in grammar, writing style, vocabulary, spelling, idioms, and pronunciation. Many English processors prefer this reference book because of the clarity of its explanations and examples designed to help people master the nuances of the English language.

It also covers issues on usage (e.g., When is the present perfect tense used, not how to form it), making it an excellent option for any adult learning English as a second language.

• Practical English Usage, Third Edition addresses different problem points encountered by teachers and learners of the English language.
• This unique reference guide is a full coverage of grammar and explanations of many common vocabulary problems.
• Most information and advice in this book are clear, practical, easy to find, and reliable.
• The author uses simple explanations and clear examples to answer general questions that often pop up in English language classes.
• Most of this book focuses on dealing with the language as it’s actually being used and not as it should be used.
• Although this book is quite large, it features an index and other search options to allow readers to search for words and information easily.

• Michael Swan (Author)
• 07/02/2024 (Publication Date)

English for Everyone: English Vocabulary Builder by DK

Here’s a series of guides and practice books written to support all levels of English learners. English for Everyone: English Vocabulary Builder by DK combines relatable illustrations, practice questions, and audio to help readers master the over 3,000 essential English words and phrases that always come up in day-to-day conversations.

It explores basic vocabulary related to popular topics like travel, food, animals, work, etc. In addition to helping you build your English vocabulary, English for Everyone is an ideal tool for preparing for an English test. It also serves as a reference guide for strong learners who want to transition to more advanced sentence structures in practical English usage.

• English for Everyone : English Vocabulary Builder by DK features several sample sentences, practice questions, and supporting audio to help adult learners progress their English usage from beginner to advanced level.
• It features a visual breakdown of essential grammar, showing learners how to recreate complex English sentences.

Why Choose This Grammar Book for Adults:

• It’s compact and easy to use, with tons of examples to guide you on how to use each word and phrase.
• The authors have attached an audio guide to help non-English speakers easily catch up on pronunciation and usage.

• DK (Author)
• 360 Pages - 01/02/2018 (Publication Date) - DK (Publisher)

Runner Ups for Best Grammar Books for Adults

Fundamentals of English Grammar, 2nd Edition by Betty Azar

As its name signifies, Fundamentals of English Grammar, 2nd Edition by Betty Azar , offers a comprehensive review of the basic rules of English grammar. This edition provides a well-organized core of materials that teachers and instructors can build their course syllabi and classroom activities around.

It presents interesting, realistic content that matches current needs both in and outside classrooms. The most important feature of this book is how well it uses the developmental skills approach to explain concepts. This way, it is able to effectively explain a broad syllabus of English structures needed for speaking, writing, listening, and reading the English language. It also includes key English topics like verb forms, comparisons, and idea connections using subordinating and coordinating conjunctions.

• The variety of written and oral exercises this book contains makes it perfect for adequate practice and preparation for English exams.
• It contains crystal clear illustrations and explanations that’ll make for an easier understanding of grammatical concepts.
• Focuses on developing written and oral grammar.
• Fundamentals of English Grammar, contains several self-explanatory concepts that make it easy for users to learn by themselves.
• The inclusion of answers to its workbook exercises and detailed teaching instructions makes this book an excellent book for English teachers to form the basis of their lessons.

• Betty Schrampfer Azar (Author)
• Prentice Hall (Publisher)

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, and Tom Stern

Here’s an excellent handbook for learners who already have a basic understanding of English but need further clarification on trickier areas like punctuation and sentence structuring. The first feature that attracts many readers to this book is its concise look.

However, as you pick it up, you’ll find out that it’s an entertaining and user-friendly resource. It works you through simple explanations of punctuation, grammar, and usage of advanced English words. Although it’s generally considered ideal for students of any age, we recommend it for students from seventh grade through adulthood.

If you want to understand English grammar’s subtle guidelines and unspoken rules, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, and Tom Stern  is an excellent option.

• The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, and Tom Stern is clear, easy to follow, and concise, offering only facts and simple explanations of punctuation usage.
• It covers real-world use while clarifying current grammar rules that may confuse old learners.
• This book uses clear explanations, good examples, and loads of short practices to clarify abstract grammar concepts.
• Although this book is straightforward and clear, it still offers more than enough to help you get the hang of modern punctuation rules.
• It is an excellent resource for helping you prepare for any English language test.

• The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An EasytoUse Guide with Clear Rules, RealWorld Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes

Complete English Grammar Rules by Farlex International

Complete English Grammar Rules by Farlex International  was written to suit the ever-evolving rules of English grammar. It offers enough content to help beginners and experts learn something new whenever they open the book.

As a simple go-to guide for grammar, this book fills all the gaps that other incomplete grammar textbooks may leave or in areas where they may contradict themselves. With over 500 pages of easy-to-understand instructions, this grammar text lets you say goodbye to embarrassing grammar errors.

Users can always use the hundreds of quizzes and many real-world examples in the book to understand and retain information.

• Complete English Grammar Rules by Farlex International is a complete guide that covers the most relevant topics in English grammar while remaining comprehensive and enjoyable.
• The book divides grammar rules and topics into basic units that are easy to understand.
• The book’s thousands of grammar quizzes and real-world examples make for easier and more effective self-study routines.
• It’s enjoyable to read, offering detailed explanations and exciting examples to keep you in the book for a long time.
• Despite covering so many topics, it’s still concise and direct to the point.

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• International, Farlex (Author)

Value Picks for Best Grammar Books for Adults

A Practical English Grammar, 4th Edition by Audrey Thomson and Agnes Martinet

This classic English grammar book by Thomson and Martinet is foreign learners’ most popular intermediate grammar book. One of the most obvious reasons for this popularity is the clarity of its explanations. However, beyond that, it also deals thoroughly with some of the most difficult grammar topics. It may not be as expensive as some of the options in this list, but its beautiful organization and easy-to-read nature make it suitable for utilization in all writing circumstances.

This book starts with a comprehensive survey of common grammatical structures. It gradually forms before diving into clear explanations and examples of concepts in a pretty organized manner for easier comparison of related topics.

In this fourth edition, the authors do more to make the book a reference book that intermediate and advanced students can use to gain clarity on difficult topics.

• A Practical English Grammar is known for clearly explaining difficult topics.
• It offers easy-to-follow exercises and examples to help students grasp grammar rules and their use.
• Its unique organization makes for easier comparison of related topics while easily transitioning into complex topics.
• The author’s unique writing style makes for easier understanding during personal study times.
• Since the book grades exercise into categories based on difficulty levels, readers can now easily focus on the most difficult grammar areas.
• It features a unique content list and index that allows for easier navigation through pages and topics.

• Hardcover Book
• Audrey Thomson (Author)

The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English by Roy Peter Clark

When most people buy this book, their first impression is that it is usually just a book about grammar. But while reviewing it, we found that there’s more to it. It is indeed a guide to the magic and mystery of practical English. One of the most striking things about this grammar book is that unlike most traditional grammar books, the author reserves its scolding for teachers of writing who harbor unduly restrictive views.

The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English by Roy Peter Clark  endorses breaking grammar commandments that make little or no sense as long as they do not take anything away from your writing. The beauty of this book lies in the fact that there’s so much more to gain from it beyond simple grammar corrections.

Firstly, it is an amazing read with an extremely well-written narrative and terrific examples in each section. Secondly, the book’s directness to the point, with only relevant information about each topic, makes it a beautiful read for anybody.

• The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English by Roy Peter Clark features short pages and chapters, with each sentence enlightening enough to convey adequate information to readers.
• It contains a tremendous range of examples, with various exact quotations to make for more effective study routines.
• It offers a slight peek into how glamorous English grammar can be when you choose to only go by the rules without letting them limit your creativity.
• Most readers find each chapter enlightening enough to stand on its own.
• Clerk’s fun and clever writing style makes for a smoother and more understandable read by expert and intermediate learners.

• Clark, Roy Peter (Author)

Last update: 2024-06-30

How to Choose the Best Grammar Books for Adults?

As adult learners, there’s no question that finding the right books and study materials is important, especially when you don’t have enough basic knowledge. But with thousands of grammar books published yearly, how should a grammar learner (especially one who’s not a native English speaker) decide the best books for grammar practice? We often get this question, so we’ve prepared a detailed guide to help you find the perfect grammar book for your need. Here are questions that can guide you.

Are You a Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced Learner?

If you can squish a few words together in English, you’re a beginner. You’re intermediate if you understand the language enough to produce something agile and high-quality. However, you’re advanced if you understand the solid foundations alongside the underlying processes. Whatever the case, there are grammar books for every level. So, the first step to finding the best books for grammar practice is to note your proficiency level before finding something that suits it.

What is Your Learning Style and Goal?

Some popular learning styles include auditory, kinesthetic, and visual. Each of these learning styles has its pros and cons, and a person may not always prefer a particular learning style for all situations. Whatever the situation, find the learning style that suits you most and get a book that excels in that style for effective learning.

Does It Provide Examples and Exercises?

Examples and exercises are so important in learning that we can hardly learn without them. However, some books focus more on working readers through detailed examples and exercises than others. If you’re buying a book for self-study purposes, we recommend choosing a book with tons of relatable examples and exercises. Fortunately, most of the books we’ve reviewed above excel in this area. So, you just need to choose one or more from the list during personal study times.

Does It Cover a Wide Range of Grammar Topics?

Coverage is one of the most important aspects to consider when choosing a grammar book. Always choose books with extensive coverage of topics like parts of speech, punctuation, verb tenses, and sentence structures. Such books can provide you with a holistic approach to English grammar while enabling you to communicate fluently in different contexts.

What is Your Budget for a Grammar Book?

Although often overlooked, budget is an important aspect of any purchase. Grammar books vary in price. So you want to choose one that doesn’t excessively strain you financially. Fortunately, you’ll find books that cover different grammar needs in different price ranges. It’s up to you to search well and pick one that meets your needs at a price point you can afford. Our value pick, A Practical English Grammar, 4th Edition  by Audrey Thomson and Agnes Martinet ,  covers advanced grammar learning needs without breaking the bank. You can search for other books in the same price range by typing affordable grammar books for adults. Whatever the case, ensure you’re not sacrificing quality for price.

Wrapping Things Up: The Best Grammar Books for Adults

Mastering the art of connecting words together to form a logical statement in English can be challenging for anybody, especially if you’re just starting to learn the language. However, it is especially more challenging for adults who need to learn English as a second language. Grammar is such an important aspect of learning any language. But you want to learn grammar in combination with everything else and that’s why you want the right books that will guide you through the rules. So far, we’ve reviewed some of the best English grammar books for adults. Depending on your learning goals and personal preference, we expect you to choose a book that offers you everything you need for your level.

If you can’t go through the reviews in detail, choose our favorite pick, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition  by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White . This book focuses on breaking English grammar rules into understandable chunks for intermediate and advanced learners. Our runners-up, Fundamentals of English Grammar, 2nd Edition  by Betty Azar , offers a fundamental view of the basic rules of English. Other options touch on different aspects.

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Nonfiction Books » Language » English Grammar & Usage

Browse book recommendations:

• Books of Quotations
• Evolution of Language
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• Writing Books

Last updated: February 22, 2023

In the age of the internet and smartphones, we are all writers. Grammar books can help and there are also fascinating debates about what comprises 'correct' English and how it should be judged. If you're new to the topic and want practical tips on how to improve, we recommend our interview on the best books on grammar and punctuation by California-based writer and self-confessed 'grammar geek' Mark Nichol. Among his choices is Garner’s Modern English Usage by Bryan A. Garner, our most recommended book on the topic (it's also recommended by Lane Greene , who writes the Economist's Johnson language column).

If proper English is not your goal, we also have book recommendations on slang , defined as “counter-language” by lexicographer Jonathon Green, and swearing by journalist Melissa Mohr. Both recommend The F Word by Jesse Sheidlower. “Everybody should look at this and see how lexicography should be done...it’s an amazing piece of scholarship,” says Green.

On the subject of lexicography, we also have an interview about the Oxford English Dictionary , which started more than a century ago and tries to track the origin of all words in the English language.

(NB If you've already mastered the basics and just want to write more beautifully, we also have book lists/interviews on writing )

Garner's Modern English Usage (5th edition)

By bryan a. garner.

Bryan Garner, the American equivalent of the Académie française, has updated his Garner's Modern English Usage. It's the 5th edition (the first was published in 1998), and it opens with an exchange at a car rental counter over the use of 'may' versus 'can.' He writes, "Experiences like that one give me hope: they show that some people still care about our language, however misplaced their concerns might occasionally be."

If you don't follow debates about language and grammar closely, the bottom line is this: language changes all the time, which makes it hard to say what's right or wrong. However, we do need some guidance. Garner's Modern English Usage is an attempt to grapple with this contradiction in a very practical way. And it is important: your ability to use language correctly shows in every text, every email, every job application or interview. So yes, you can use 'disinterested' to indicate a lack of interest, but its misuse will be noticed by some listeners, so why not avoid it? Garner goes through every usage you've ever wondered about (internet or Internet?) and many you didn't (dilemma—a choice between two unpleasant or difficult alternatives—should not be used by slipshod extension for plight or predicament), word by word.

Read expert recommendations

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

By jane straus.

“This book is good for beginners, but I also find it helpful for people who might consider themselves experts. It’s very clean, and it’s in a workbook format with many exercises in it. You read a short, simple lesson about adjectives and adverbs, or about when you use ‘that’ or ‘which’ in a sentence, and then you can practise with the exercises.” Read more...

The Best Grammar and Punctuation Books

Mark Nichol , Linguist

The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications

By amy einsohn.

“If you’re going to have just one book on a desert island and you are a writer, I would say this is the book to have…every single person who writes in English, or at least American English, should be required to own this book and read it, and demonstrate that they’ve read it. It should be like getting a driver’s license. Before you can post a blog, before you can write an email, you need to have a writer’s license! And this is the test. This book is the test.” Read more...

The Sense of Style

By steven pinker.

“Pinker is a dyed-in-the-wool descriptivist, a scientist of language and the mind whose early books debunked dud rules and gently mocked their proponents. But in this book he puts his stickler hat on (he was once the head of the AHD usage panel) and takes the only sensible position: yes, language does have legitimate rules, and here’s how to know which ones are legit. A great read.” Read more...

Grammar Books That Prove What They Preach

Lane Greene , Journalist

Talk on the Wild Side: The Untameable Nature of Language

By lane greene.

“I love language and languages but have always been quite confused by grammar. Why are some things allowed in English and others not? This book finally helped it all fall into place. You’ll also find out lots of interesting facts about words. Did you know that buxom used to mean obedient? Or that it’s OK to say ‘Can I?’ rather than ‘May I?'” Read more...

Editors’ Picks: Favourite Nonfiction of 2018

Sophie Roell , Journalist

Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style

By arthur plotnik.

“This book…is a rebuttal to Strunk & White… Strunk & White is widely respected as a very handy little resource for basic rules about writing clearly: be concise, don’t overload your sentences with adjectives and these kinds of prescriptions. Dictionaries are descriptive, but things like Garner’s Modern American Usage and Strunk & White are prescriptive: they say, ‘This is what you should do.’ I recognise the value of Strunk & White , but as I alluded to earlier, I’m all about being open to breaking rules. I really admire the author of Spunk & Bite for basically turning Strunk & White upside down and saying: yes, but no. If you want to load your sentences with adjectives, lots of great writers do that. OK, Hemingway doesn’t, but somebody else does. So if you want to sound like Hemingway, then no adjectives are allowed. If you want to sound like somebody else, then dump the wheelbarrow full of adjectives into every sentence, and go for it. I just appreciate that sense of ‘Know the rules, but then break them, if it works for you.'” Read more...

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

“Yes, it’s a dictionary too, but also a grammar guide: disputed usages like whether ‘like’ can be a conjunction (‘Tastes good like a cigarette should’) are included. AHD takes a unique approach: a ‘Usage Panel’ with a hundred members, well-known editors, writers and language people (and, full disclosure, not so well-known me) vote on whether a usage is acceptable. This is a kind of conservative but also radically descriptive approach: ‘73% of our hand-picked experts say that this is OK; that’s up from 64% in our last edition.’ The names of the Usage Panel are printed in the frontmatter, so you know exactly whose advice you’re following.” Read more...

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage

By merriam-webster.

“This is the ultimate guide for the perplexed. You’ve heard different rulings on the split infinitive. Who(m!) to believe? MWDEU traces the history of every rule it describes, telling you which classic grammarians uphold the rule and which oppose it. It also goes to the written evidence itself, and then makes its own ruling with eminent good sense. Is this usage rare and widely condemned? Don’t do it. Is that so-called ‘rule’ a recent invention that has never been truly followed? It’ll tell you that too, in entertaining (even surprisingly cheeky) mini-essays on every controversy you can think of.” Read more...

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

“In the United States it is considered, among publishing companies, to be the dictionary of record. What I mean by that is that if you go into the offices of a publishing company, you are not going to see various dictionaries on people’s bookshelves as you take a tour. Everybody is just going to have Merriam-Webster’s. I chose it because I felt there needs to be a dictionary on this list of five books because dictionaries are fundamental. A lot of people criticise Merriam-Webster’s because it is not necessarily clear – just because a word is in the dictionary, it doesn’t mean you should use it. For example, Merriam-Webster’s includes the word ‘irregardless.’ You might come back to me and say: ‘Irregardless is not a word. It is a duplicative of regardless. It is a ridiculous word.’ But I will respond, ‘Yes, it is a word. I just used it.’ It doesn’t mean that it is a good word, but it exists. There are a lot of things in this world that we wish didn’t exist but they do, and ‘irregardless’ is one of them.” Read more...

Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

By oxford university press.

“OK, not for the budget-conscious. But this magnificent dictionary tells the history of every word it defines (including obsolete meanings), and cites classic written sources for those definitions. If you’re in a dispute and someone tells you ‘singular ‘they” is a modern, politically correct abomination, look it up. You’ll find citations going back to 1375 from one great author after another, and the point is yours. Figurative ‘literally’? Look it up. ‘Whose’ can’t be used with an inanimate object? This is a dictionary whose authority and evidence will prove otherwise.” Read more...

by Jesse Sheidlower

“This is a great one for showcasing the variety of swearing and all the circumstances you can use this one word. It starts with “absofuckinglutely” and ends with “zipless fuck,” and in the middle has “dumbfuck,” “frig,” “unfuckable”—so many great words. He’s done this excellent research, so you can see the dates when they were all first used, with quotes.” Read more...

The best books on Swearing

Melissa Mohr , Linguist

The Scholar's Daughter

By beatrice harraden.

“It’s just Mills and Boon really…but there are a couple of scenes in the book which are an evocation of the room where all the lexicography was being done.” Read more...

The best books on The Oxford English Dictionary

Peter Gilliver , Literary Scholar

The Study of Language in England, 1780-1860

By hans aarsleff.

“This is a really good introduction to the intellectual climate, what people thought about language.” Read more...

The Surgeon of Crowthorne: A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary

By simon winchester.

“W.C. Minor was a member of the public, but he just happened to be a murderer who was banged up in Broadmoor.” Read more...

The Collected Papers of Henry Bradley

By robert bridges.

“It tells the story of his life and it’s by the poet laureate Robert Bridges, who was a great friend.” Read more...

Caught in the Web of Words: James Murray and the Oxford English Dictionary

By k. m. elisabeth murray.

“It’s been called one of the best biographies of the 20th century, and I think that’s fair enough.” Read more...

A History of Cant and Slang Dictionaries

By julie coleman.

“I’ve put Julie Coleman in because she does stand out in the relatively small circle of slang experts. I will be the first to acknowledge that they are not easy books. There is a great deal of statistical material but she has covered pretty much everything. I would be very surprised if there is something she hasn’t covered. It is very useful. The important thing about her is that she gives an unrivalled coverage of the dictionaries in the field of slang from the very first in 1531 through to the most recent. And it’s not just mainstream dictionaries. She offers information on enormous amounts of supporting slang – truckers’ slang, college slang and all that kind of thing. It’s a superb collection. If you want to see what has been done in the way of writing of slang lexicography for 500 years, then this is the place to go.” Read more...

The best books on Slang

Jonathon Green , Literary Scholar

by David Simon and Edward Burns

This book shows how the drug trade recruits children. All the natural abilities of these kids is plugged into the drug trade

Slang To-day and Yesterday

By eric partridge.

Partridge was the leading English-language slang lexicographer of the 20th century. He was absolutely fascinated by cockney Englishmen

A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant and Vulgar Words

By john camden hotten.

No-one had ever written about slang in the way that Hotten did. His definition of slang is one of the best there is

Grammar Books That Prove What They Preach , recommended by Lane Greene

Shorter oxford english dictionary by oxford university press, merriam-webster's dictionary of english usage by merriam-webster, garner's modern english usage (5th edition) by bryan a. garner, the sense of style by steven pinker.

Most grammar books say 'do this, and that's that.' But who says? How do they know? Real rules are grounded in the facts of actual standard usage. Here are five grammar books that show their work, telling you not only what to do but why, and how they know. Accept nothing less.

Most grammar books say ‘do this, and that’s that.’ But who says? How do they know? Real rules are grounded in the facts of actual standard usage. Here are five grammar books that show their work, telling you not only what to do but why, and how they know. Accept nothing less.

The best books on The Oxford English Dictionary , recommended by Peter Gilliver

Caught in the web of words: james murray and the oxford english dictionary by k. m. elisabeth murray, the collected papers of henry bradley by robert bridges, the surgeon of crowthorne: a tale of murder, madness and the oxford english dictionary by simon winchester, the study of language in england, 1780-1860 by hans aarsleff, the scholar's daughter by beatrice harraden.

It's a dictionary that seeks to document any word that exists—or ever existed—in the English language and track its evolution over time. Lexicographer Peter Gilliver chooses books to help understand the enormous undertaking that is the Oxford English Dictionary.

The Best Grammar and Punctuation Books , recommended by Mark Nichol

Merriam-webster's collegiate dictionary by merriam-webster, spunk & bite: a writer's guide to bold, contemporary style by arthur plotnik, the blue book of grammar and punctuation by jane straus, the copyeditor's handbook: a guide for book publishing and corporate communications by amy einsohn.

In the age of the internet, we are all writers. Correct grammar and punctuation are key to making a good impression. Grammar geek Mark Nichol , a writer at Daily Writing Tips , picks five of the best grammar and punctuation books, and tells us why bad grammar leads to anarchy.

In the age of the internet, we are all writers. Correct grammar and punctuation are key to making a good impression. Grammar geek Mark Nichol, a writer at Daily Writing Tips , picks five of the best grammar and punctuation books, and tells us why bad grammar leads to anarchy.

The best books on Slang , recommended by Jonathon Green

A dictionary of modern slang, cant and vulgar words by john camden hotten, slang to-day and yesterday by eric partridge, a history of cant and slang dictionaries by julie coleman, the corner by david simon and edward burns, the f-word by jesse sheidlower.

It’s dirty, grubby and doubting. And us at our most real. The lexicographer takes us inside the world of “rough, truthful language” from rhyming slang and cant to the streets of Baltimore and an etymology of the f-word

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

Five Books participates in the Amazon Associate program and earns money from qualifying purchases.

© Five Books 2024

10 Best English Grammar Books of All Time

Our goal : Find the best English Grammar books according to the internet (not just one random person's opinion).

• Type "best english grammar books" into our search engine and study the top 5+ pages.
• Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
• Rank the results neatly for you here! 😊 (It was a lot of work. But hey! That's why we're here, right?)

(Updated 2024)

As an Amazon Associate, we earn money from purchases made through links in this page.

Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

• Best English Grammar Books

English Grammar in Use

A self-study reference and practice book for intermediate learners of english.

Raymond Murphy

Understanding and Using English Grammar

Betty S Azar

The Sense of Style

The thinking person's guide to writing in the 21st century.

Steven Pinker

Several Short Sentences About Writing

Verlyn Klinkenborg

Eats, Shoots & Leaves

The zero tolerance approach to punctuation.

Lynne Truss

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

An easy-to-use guide with clear rules, real-world examples, and reproducible quizzes.

Lester Kaufman

The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English

Patricia T. O'Conner

Practical English Usage

Michael Swan

Write Right!

A desktop digest of punctuation, grammar, and style.

Jan Venolia

An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage

Geoffrey N. Leech

• The 19 Best English Grammar Books: Textbooks, Workbooks and Downloadable Material | FluentU English www.fluentu.com
• 10 Best English Grammar Books [2022] www.addall.com
• 14 Books for Grammar Nerds | Penguin Random House www.penguinrandomhouse.com
• 15 Best Grammar Books To Make You A Stronger Writer (2023) becomeawritertoday.com
• Best Books For English Grammar www.stordar.com

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Grammar Phile Blog

10 best grammar books to become a better writer, teacher, or speaker.

Posted by Sara Richmond   Nov 10, 2022 10:00:00 AM

Feel free to check out the product pages we’ve linked to as well as the reader reviews, but don’t hesitate to buy these from another source, especially a secondhand store.

Our Top-10 Grammar Books

1. Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer

Commentary: I’ll be honest. This is the only grammar book I’ve ever read that was a page-turner. I kept thinking “How is he doing this? How did he make this so delightful to read?” Even if I somehow knew everything in the book beforehand (and I sure as heck didn’t), it would still have been worth reading. Look—I didn’t even try to hide my bias; I put this one at the top of the list. No regrets.

2. A Writer’s Reference by Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers

Commentary: Is the title dry? Yes. However, one Amazon reviewer calls this book “invaluable” and “remarkably comprehensive and user-friendly.” If you’re in academia or being called upon to write a ton of academic papers for persnickety professors, have a gander.

3. The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, Fourth Edition by Amy Eisohn and Marilyn Schwartz

Commentary: This book has proven indispensable for several of our Proofread NOW .com proofreaders, so we heartily recommend it to anyone else with a passion for (or profession in) perfect grammar.

4. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Commentary: This is a mainstay that likely needs no introduction to the grammar-initiated. But I have to admit one matter of irrelevance: I first thought William’s last name was “Stunk.” Consider pairing this winner with the response title Adios, Strunk and White: A Handbook for the New Academic Essay, Sixth Edition by Gary and Glynis Hoffman. Who can resist grammar and snark?

5. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17 th Edition

Commentary: I have a confession. The delicious thoroughness, ideal font, sheer heft (over 1,100 pages), and bright-orange binding (I’m a dust-jacket rebel) wooed me. Beware the seductive power and smarts of this chunky beauty. Worth its weight in commas, I wager.

6. The Little Seagull Handbook, Fourth Edition by Richard Bullock, Michal Brody, and Francine Weinberg

Commentary: If you’re a new university student, you’re the target audience for this handy-dandy resource. In case you need more evidence, one “helpful” review mentioned that the “book is in good condition. It shipped to my house fast.” However, I’m sorry to report that you won’t learn a darn thing about seagulls from this handbook.

7. Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty

Commentary: I view this as a pocket or field guide for people who are less enthused about grammar and/or incredibly busy but in want of a worthwhile laymen’s education on the topic.

8. Have You Eaten Grandma?: Or, the Life-Saving Importance of Correct Punctuation, Grammar, and Good English by Gyles Brandreth

Commentary: Who could resist that title or an author named “Gyles Brandreth”? Not me. Probably not you either. This self-proclaimed “brilliantly funny and accessible guide to proper punctuation and so much more” has rave Amazon reviews, some claiming it’s “a wonderful tonic” and “my favorite book.” (I don’t think they’re being sarcastic.)

9. The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need: A One-Stop Source for Every Writing Assignment by Susan Thurman and Larry Shea

Commentary: I’ll be frank. This is a pretty high claim, maybe even arrogant (or just slick marketing). It’s described as a resource to help readers produce writing that is “clear, concise, and grammatically excellent.” While one review simply reads “Ok,” another claims “This is the first grammar book that I actually read all the way through.” As far as living up to the title, another reviewer concedes: “This isn’t the only grammar book you’ll ever need, but it’s a very good one to keep in your collection.” Fair enough.

10. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to-Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes, 12th Edition by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus

Commentary: If the lengthy title wasn’t enough to reel you in (we all want clarity and relevant knowledge, right?), this review might goad you into hitting the “buy” button: “It is definitely comprehensive. If only I could make heads or tails of most of what is being said.” I cackled. That said, I recommend this as a resource for writers and speakers who are already familiar with the basics but who want to hone their skills to a fine point.

What are your favorite grammar-related books? Share the goodies. Let us know in the comments.

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The Best English Grammar Books In 2023

When learning English, we face a lot of troubles and misunderstandings. But the most difficult one is grammar, it is impossible to speak English correctly without it. English grammar is very important. As a result, learners have to memorize a lot of structures, verbs, and tenses. And what if you don't just learn grammar, but understand it? To learn English grammar better, it is necessary to choose a textbook responsibly. After all, this choice can play a decisive role in the success of learning a language or improving it. To date, there is a huge selection of grammar books, authors, and publishers.

The importance of grammar

Grammar is one of the key elements of learning any language. Unfortunately, it is often also one of the most difficult elements to master.

Knowledge of grammar will help you speak English easily and confidently. If you know grammar rules well and know how to apply them, you will be able to avoid those mistakes that make your speech strange and difficult for native speakers to understand.

In certain situations, grammar is not just important, but extremely necessary. For example, if you are going to an interview in an English-speaking company or plan to look for a job in an English-speaking country. In both cases, it will probably be important for a potential employer to understand how well you speak the language. Good knowledge of grammar will not only allow you to demonstrate a high level of English but also show that you are attentive to details.

Grammar is very important if you plan to study abroad. Most foreign colleges and universities request confirmation of how well you speak English.

If you like to meet foreigners while traveling in different countries, you will simply need to speak the language at a more or less decent level. Good grammar will help you not only impress foreigners with your knowledge of the language but also avoid awkward situations arising from misunderstandings.

Consider this when buying an English grammar book

What should you pay attention to first when buying a textbook?! Of course, this is the purpose of the purchase, why do you need a textbook and what would you like to improve in English grammar. The answer to this question will solve several problems at once: you will save time and not spend extra money on unnecessary benefits.

If you want to understand the theory and rules of English grammar better, various reference books will be the best solution. The rules are perfectly explained here, and many examples are given. There are no exercises in the reference books, or there are very few of them.

There are also collections of exercises. Their structure differs from the previous format. There are a lot of practical tasks, and the theory is presented in the form of tables, diagrams, or brief notes.

Whichever books on English grammar you choose, it is important that it meets all the requirements for a successful grammar study. The books on grammar must correspond to the student's level (beginner, intermediate or high). The information should be clear and presented in an accessible language without complicated vocabulary. Tasks should also follow from simple exercises to complex ones. And of course, do not forget about the price-quality ratio of the printed edition.

How to improve your grammar?

To improve the grammar of English means to repeat the basic rules of a foreign language. By filling in the gaps in knowledge and getting acquainted with new trends in this important aspect, you will activate them for further use.

There is no need to memorize the rules in the form in which they are presented in the book, the main thing is to understand and remember how to use this or that construction. At the same time, practice is important, preferably daily. Work out the acquired knowledge to the maximum. Do exercises; try to use a variety of grammatical constructions more often in oral speech.

Many people are afraid to make mistakes in speech, so they try to make elementary sentences and avoid complex constructions. This is fundamentally wrong. Only in the process of communication will you be able to understand what you have learned well and what you need to work on.

Also, to improve the grammar of the English language, use high-quality manuals. The best book for learning English grammar should contain clear explanations and exercises for practice.

If you are not learning English from scratch, then what should you start first? Firstly, take a grammar test and check the answers. Note to yourself which questions caused difficulties concerning a specific grammatical topic. Thus, you will get a complete list of topics that need to be studied.

Read the texts in English, and do it out loud. This is a good way to see the practical use of English grammar. In addition, visual memory works when reading, and you will remember correctly constructed phrases.

The best books to read to improve English grammar

Essential grammar in use.

The best book to learn English grammar and the most popular is “ Essential Grammar in Use ”, the author is Raymond Murphy. Many students and teachers consider it the best grammar book for students and adults.

This series of best books on English grammar presents two books: “red” (Essential Grammar in Use) and “blue" (English Grammar in Use). The books got their names because of the color of the cover. The red book is designed for Elementary and Pre-Intermediate levels, and the blue one is designed for the Intermediate level.

The books contain about 110 lessons, where various grammatical topics are presented. Moreover, the tasks go from the simplest to the more complex. The rules are shown using pictures, which is very convenient and understandable for language learners.

Oxford Practice Grammar 

The next popular best grammar book is Oxford Practice Grammar . The authors are Norman Coe, Mark Harrison & Ken Paterson. The book is also divided into corresponding levels. Each of them presents about 110 lessons aimed at different aspects of English grammar. The book includes tests and answers to exercises. Therefore, it will not be difficult to check assignments myself.

In the end, take the final test, which covers the entire grammar set out in the manual. The answers are also attached to this test. This way, you will be able to understand which sections you should refer to again.

The textbook has its peculiarities. Firstly, the material is presented quite simply and clearly. Secondly, exercises are selected for each topic. Thirdly, the book contains a lot of beautiful and colorful illustrations.

Another best English grammar book is Grammarway . The book is selected according to the levels: Beginner – Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate. The authors of the book are Virginia Evans and Jenny Dooley. Grammarway is a four-level series of illustrated English grammar manuals designed for schoolchildren and adults. You can get the book here!

The book is intended for everyone who starts learning English, as well as for those who want to remember the basic rules of English grammar. Each book of the course is designed for students of a certain age and level of knowledge. The rules are much easier to learn if the tasks are interesting. Round up has several stages of training from elementary to advanced. If you want to study the whole English grammar, choose this textbook. It contains a sufficient number of exercises to work out the material.

Advanced Grammar in Use

The best book for learning English grammar is Advanced Grammar in Use , authored by Martin Hewings. This is one of the most popular and best-selling textbooks in the world. The grammar edition contains 100 sections where there is theory and practice. The textbook is ideal for students who are preparing for the IELTS, Cambridge Advanced, and Proficiency exams.

The grammar textbook is intended for advanced students, which can be used both for self-study and for learning in a group or with a teacher.

Language Practice for Advanced

Textbook is Language Practice for Advanced , its author is Vince Michael. The grammar book is for adults and is ideal for students who are preparing for the CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) exam. The student-level must be Advanced. The textbook provides a theory supported by exercises. The textbook can be used independently or with a teacher.

Practical English Usage

A grammar book for adults is Practical English Usage , Michael Swan. This manual is a reference book of the English language, which focuses on the typical mistakes in grammar, spelling, and the use of words. There are no exercises inside, but at the beginning of each section, the author gives a list of suggestions and suggests finding errors there. To test you, there is a link to the rule section next to each example. Such a test will reveal gaps in the person's knowledge.

Cambridge Grammar for IELTS

Cambridge Grammar for IELTS , Author: Diana Hopkins, Pauline Cullen. The book is for those who need to prepare for the IELTS exam and not only. The textbook contains many exercises for grammar training. It includes assignments from both IELTS Academic and IELTS General. With this tutorial, you can practice your reading, writing, and listening skills. The authors have tried and supplemented the textbook with useful grammatical explanations.

Longman English Grammar Practice

Longman Publishing House prepares high-quality manuals that are used all over the world. Longman English Grammar Practice pays special attention to conversational constructions and practical exercises.

Macmillan English Grammar

The book to improve grammar is Macmillan English Grammar . A three-level textbook that allows not only to develop the skill of easy communication in a foreign language but also to work out grammar in detail. The topics help to learn the correct use of prepositions in written and oral speech. It helps to master the nuances of lexical word combinations.

The presentation of the material is based on thematic examples, which are immediately fixed in practice. Among them: are literature, science, history, and geography. The kit includes interactive exercises. The textbook is suitable for use alone or with a teacher. Whichever English textbook you choose, the main thing is to study it regularly.

Build Your English Grammar Library with Promova!

Today it is not necessary to go to a bookstore to buy the right book in paper form. All this can be done on a smartphone, iPhone, or laptop. A smartphone is always at hand, which means that at any time and anywhere you can access English grammar books with just a couple of clicks.

With the Promova language application, you can create your library of grammar textbooks. Promova is one of the most convenient assistants in learning English. The developers of this application use the latest techniques that allow you to successfully memorize words, understand grammar, and allow you to learn to understand the texts you have heard.

The more English words you know, the better you speak English. All is good if you have the skills and abilities to connect these words and get a logical statement. 

Grammar has a certain place in the study of English. It is not worth learning grammar separately at all, it needs to be practiced in combination with everything else. With the help of grammar, your speech will be fluent and confident. After all, with the help of rules, you can avoid mistakes in the pronunciation of words or the construction of sentences.

If you make an effort and approach the study of grammar with enthusiasm and interest, you will not notice how successfully you will master this difficult stage in learning a new language. And the Promova language learning app will help you with it! When working with language applications, you don't have to sit over boring and dusty school textbooks.

What is the best book to improve your grammar?

How many english grammar books should i read, are these books only for native speakers, what else can i do to improve my grammar.

Comentarios

10 Best English Grammar Books

How good are you at saying what you mean? The ability to effectively convey your thoughts is a skill to be honed and can only be achieved through mastery of grammar. It takes years and it takes practice. It pays off tremendously in the end, however, in terms of how well you can convey your thoughts and communicate with others.

Having access to the best English grammar book will certainly help you to perfect your grasp of the nuances of the language. To help you in your search for a really good English grammar book, we have compiled a list of the top 10 and included reviews of our top 3 pick.

Consider This When Buying an English Grammar Book

Whether it will be your constant companion or just act as a handy reference when the need arises, bear the following points in mind as you select the ideal English grammar book for you.

• Size Matters.  If you must take the book around with you often, then size matters, both in terms of dimensions and weight.
• Contents.  Before you head off to make a purchase, determine how detailed a book you will need. This can help you narrow your search to only concise editions or to ones with extensive coverage of the topic.
• Format.  A printed book may be sufficient for some people. Others may like the interactivity that a CD ROM provides or the opportunity to get online help.
• Would an E-Book Be Better?  An e-book, of course, means ease-of-carry and ease-of-use (adding notes and highlights, changing font size or linking text). E-books, however, do have disadvantages such as compatibility with the device you are using or eye-strain from reading off a computer screen.

Top 10 English Grammar Book Comparison Chart

English Grammar Book Shopping Tips

The vast majority of English grammar books on the market will cover roughly the same content. Consider the following points as you search for the one that best meets your needs.

• Layout of Information.  Some books present the content in a simple and straightforward manner while other books have introductions and summaries for the different sections or chapters. Likewise, while some English grammar books use basic fonts and formatting throughout, others will incorporate a variety of styles to separate and highlight parts of the content.
• Included Exercises.  Exercises to test your progress are always a good idea, especially if the book is to be used by students preparing for an exam. If, however, you are simply looking for a resource to check uncertainties against every now and then, the exercises will be of little relevance to you.
• Level.  Matching the book to your level is a vital factor in choosing the best English grammar book for you. If the book is well below your level, then there is little new information you can gain from it. If, on the other hand, it is too advanced then you may struggle with grasping the concepts.
• Outdated information.  Honestly, there may not be much difference between the fourth and fifth editions of a book. Having to choose between the first and eighth editions, however, needs more consideration. The newer version may incorporate revised syllabus content or the older version may include grammar rules that are no longer applicable.

Top 3 Best English Grammar Book Reviews

1. english grammar in use book.

It’s no surprise really that author Raymond Murphy wrote the first two books on this list of the best English grammar books . His work on the topic is extensive and spans quite a few years.

This paperback fourth edition of English Grammar in Use features several updates of material presented in the previous editions. The design and layout of the book have been refreshed and revised examples are included.

What remains the same, however, is the clarity with which the information is presented. Also unchanged is how easy it is to find topics and concepts throughout the book. English Grammar in Use also includes answers to exercises and an interactive eBook.

2. Basic Grammar in Use Student’s Book

Specifically geared toward the student learner of North American English, Raymond Murphy’s Basic Grammar in Use is a dependable companion. This paperback third edition covers the fundamentals of grammar and is laid out in a simple and easy to follow format. Its 116 units are close to exhaustive in the range of grammar concepts that students are exposed to.

Basic Grammar in Use is meant to be used both a self-study reference and as a practice book. Thoughtfully arranged, the book has simple explanations of the concepts on one page and on the page facing it are exercises to gauge understanding. Answers to exercises are included, as is a CD-ROM of tests, exercises and games.

3. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

This is the eleventh edition of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. Users who have been exposed to any of the earlier editions will really appreciate the way in which this edition has been revised and updated.

Written by the team of Jean Straus, Lester Kaufman and Tom Stern, the book is a concise grammar guide that also focuses on punctuation and usage. It does take a “no frills” approach in how the content is covered but does include a generous amount of worksheets, as well as, pre-test and post-tests.

Marketed as appropriate for all ages, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation may be ideally suited to students in the seventh grade and above.

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The Good Grammar Book

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The English language is widely used as a mode of communication across the globe. Proper grammar is the foundation of effective communication, essential for conveying a message clearly and meaningfully. 

It is always beneficial to have a strong grasp of English grammar rules, whether it is for professional or personal purposes. Fortunately, there are plenty of books available that can help improve your English grammar skills.

The Best Books for English Grammar are a must-read for anyone who wants to enhance their English language proficiency. These books cover many topics, including grammar rules, syntax, punctuation, and usage.

This article will discuss the 10 best English grammar books to help you become a better writer and communicator. Whether a student or a professional, these books will help you sharpen your language skills and take your communication abilities to the next level.

Grammar References Books with Rules:

Here is a list of some best Grammar reference books with rules. So let’s have a look.

1. Practical English Usage by Michael Swan

It has been recommended as the go-to book for English grammar for many years. It combines an extensive guide for English grammar and a constructive guide for English speaking. If you are keen to know the working of English, then it is the best option. The other books Michael Swan wrote are Grammar Scan and Oxford Grammar Course, which are discussed below.

Reasons for recommendation:

• The book has a simple language.
• The chapters about world English and spoken grammar have also been included.
• The main portion of the book is related to vocabulary that is usually confusing in various instances.

2. Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English

Only a few attempts have been made in the ELT world to connect written and spoken English. This is among the best books for learning the use of English daily. The vocabulary and grammar have been explained together in this book. This book has the perfect way to learn English, which is also becoming the learning approach in various courses.

• This book has a modern English learning approach.
• This book is based on the most commonly used 3000 words of English.
• The book contains very good chapters related to sentence structures and types of phrases.

3. A-Z of English Grammar and Usage

The feature that attracts us to this book is its practicality. If someone feels that grammar references are difficult and make them feel sleepy, then they must try this book. So many English teachers use this book to learn how to explain English in the simplest terms. So, this makes it a considerable help book for learning quickly.

• The book has more concentration on the usage of the language.
• This book has many good practical chapters, such as confusing vocabulary and letter writing.
• Unlike other books, the book has not been organized around the abstract grammar system but around words.

4. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

The book’s back cover says ‘English Usage Rules Explained in Plain English.’ It means that if anyone desires to understand the subtle guidelines and major rules of learning English, this book one should prefer over others. This book offers straightforward and comprehensive instructions for learning English grammar.

This book is very helpful for people dealing with the most prevailing issues of English grammar. The book has been designed for native speakers, so we recommend it for advanced learners. In this book, several vocabulary and grammar exercises have been included so that you can practice more to expand your knowledge of vocabulary patterns and authentic grammar expressions.

Grammar Books with Exercises – Elementary Level

Here is a list of Grammar Books with Exercises for Elementary levels that you should check. Let’s have a look.

1. Oxford Grammar Course: Basic

This book comes with a wide range of practical exercises by one of the outstanding British grammarians, Michael Swan. With the help of authentic examples, all the important structures can be learned from this book. This book comes in three levels basic, intermediate, and advanced. First, it means one text for all. This book is an enhanced version of the book How English works. Many people have used this book, and the most liked part of this book is the humor within texts that have been used for logical structure and exercises.

• The book’s structure is very clear, so using it for self-study is also possible.
• The book has real-life-based practical activities.
• Since it is an in-depth guide so it’s excellent for systematic studies.

2. English Grammar Azar

Betty Azar has used the more communicative and intuitive approach to learning English grammar is a gradual study of grammar that goes from one spontaneous exercise to another, making you feel you are on a journey. Many people have learned English grammar from the beginning by using this book. If your learning improves by doing, then this book can be tried.

• This book involves many reflexive and interactive exercises along with rules to remember to practice.
• All the English skills included listening and speaking.

Grammar Books with Exercises – Transitional or Middle Level

Here we have listed some best Grammar Books with Exercises transitional or middle level, and let’s dive into it.

1. Natural Grammar: The keywords of English and how they work by Scott Thornbury

This is among the best books that can be used with students. The book has a way of analyzing frequently used combinations and structures rather than making you learn the basic rules. This book has been written to teach the use of English along with telling you about English.

All the chapters in the book will help you know the top English words and their usage in everyday contexts with instances, phrasal verbs, set expressions, various examples, and idioms.

• The book is a well-directed effort to help you learn the top 200 English words.
• This book shows authentic English instead of abstract concepts.
• The book’s structure is clear and can be used without a teacher.

2. English Grammar in Use

This is among the popular books of Raymond Murphy. Like his other books, and this is also effortless to follow and systematic. There have been many cases where this book has been used as a core book for many English courses. This book gives you a well-structured insight into English and much practice. But it would be best if you remembered that knowing English grammar doesn’t mean that your English speaking becomes very good. This practice of listening and speaking is required with real-life materials.

• This is the main grammar best-seller across the globe.
• The structures are very clear, and the difficulty increases.
• The versions of this book have been translated into different languages.

Grammar Books with Exercises – Advanced Level

Here is a list of some best Grammar Books with Exercises at an Advanced Level, and let’s look.

1. Longman Advanced Learners’ Grammar

After learning English for a long time, you must advance with difficult structures such as conditionals, verb patterns, etc. Then this book will be of great help to you. Since it is not a long book, so within a short time, you can grab a very good knowledge of almost everything. This book is also recommended for those preparing for English exams such as IELTS and CAE. This book will help fill the gaps with the books specially created for these exams and help you build an apparent grammar system.

• Though compact, it contains everything required to be in English in advance.
• Before each chapter, you will find the main exercise and cool diagnostics tests.
• Note-making is unnecessary as easily accessible grammar tables have been provided in the book.

2. Grammar Scan (Upper-intermediate, Advanced, Expert)

This book is in-depth and handy for checking your grammar knowledge. This book is an assemblage of three-level diagnostic tests that will check all the grammar aspects like spelling, spoken grammar, and confusing vocabulary. If you make any mistakes, then for learning, you can take the help of the corresponding chapter of Practical English Usage to enhance your learning. This book is great for self-study and exams also.

• The book has wonderful authentic examples of English usage.
• As you control grammar, there is no need for a teacher or a long course.
• An online version of this book is also available.

Grammar Books For Exam Preparation:

• Cambridge English Common mistakes at IELTS intermediate
• Cambridge English Common mistakes at IELTS advanced
• Cambridge English Common mistakes at CAE
• Cambridge English Common mistakes in Proficiency

These books help people prepare for the Cambridge exams or IELTS. These books are very practical and brief. However, if your English is of a high level, then before the exam, these books are perfect for practicing tricky grammar points.

• Very good for self-study
• These are not very academic as they are written in easy language and focus only on the main points

1. English in Use CPE

This book can be a perfect way of preparing yourself for advanced English grammar practically and compactly. This is the book of all in one place, along with phrasal verbs, exercises, explanations, and idioms. This is a great book to fill in the gaps if something needs to be added.

• This book has a very dynamic course and contains only essential stuff.
• An effective and quick way of completing the gaps in intricate grammar.
• It comes with a list of things whose knowledge is minimum required, like phrasal verbs, idioms, etc.

2. Grammar and Vocabulary for CAE and CPE

Using an exam book quickly is a good idea to revise English grammar. Going with these books will be possible for the people preparing for the Cambridge exams. Their main attraction is the way of teaching grammar, writing skills, style, and vocabulary. Of course, these will never disappoint you.

• The choice of vocabulary used and taught in the exercises is very good.
• Many good articles are not found in regular books, like a gradual guide for idioms, expressions, and text linkers.
• The basis of these books is authentic texts.

Grammar Books for Business English:

Here we have listed some best Grammar Books for Business English, and let’s dive into it.

1. Business Grammar Builder

Suppose the motive of learning English is professional. In that case, this book is of great help because that uses business vocabulary and focuses not on everything but only on necessary things used in daily operations. This book will demonstrate grammar and functions as it is a great reference book for business conversation. The articles have been used for exercises in this book, and grammar practice will be in the form of dialogues, which is rare and great.

• The explanations are clear, short, and without much theory.
• The vocabulary and texts are business-oriented.
• The exercises also come recorded on CD to assist you in pronunciation.

How was this English Grammar book list created?

This list of top English Grammar books was created by extensively researching and analyzing various books. The compilation process involved evaluating the authors’ credibility, the content’s relevance and comprehensiveness, and the material’s suitability for different levels of learners. 

The list also considered the format and accessibility of the books, ensuring that they were user-friendly and easy to understand. Additionally, feedback and reviews from students and professionals in the field were considered to ensure that the recommended books were effective and practical. 

The final list features a diverse range of books written by experts in the field, providing learners with a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of English grammar.

Related Reads:

• Grammarly vs ProWritingAid
• Grammarly Premium Free Trial
• Best Apps to Learn English Online

Conclusion:

We all have separate learning ways, and we must select what fits our requirements perfectly and help us in achieving our goals. So, there can’t be one book for every need. We hope this post suits your purpose well.

Myself Victoria, author and Founder of Grammar.ltd, reaching 24, passionate about pursuing my degree in English literature; have been always sincerely sharing my most genuine views through my blogs.

Five Books for People Who Really Love Books

These five titles focus on the many connections we can form with what we read.

My dad likes to fish, and he likes to read books about fishing. My mom is a birder; she reads about birds. There are plenty of books on both subjects, I’ve found, when browsing in a gift-giving mood. These presents don’t just prove I’m familiar with their interests. They’re a way to acknowledge that we read about our pastimes to affirm our identity: Fly-fishers are contemplative sorts who reflect on reflections; birders must cultivate stillness and attention. What we choose to read can be a way of saying: I am this kind of soul.

For my part, I like reading more than I like almost anything else. And so, in the manner of my parents, I like to read books about books . Writers who write about writing, readers who write about reading—these are people I instantly recognize as my kind. We’re people who are always in the middle of a chapter, who start conversations by asking, “What are you reading right now?” For us, a meta-book is like coffee brewed with more coffee. It’s extra-strength literature.

If you really love books, or you want to love them more, I have five recommendations. None of these are traditional literary criticism; they’re not dry or academic. They take all kinds of forms (essay, novel, memoir) and focus on the many connections we can form with what we read. Those relationships might be passionate, obsessive, even borderline inappropriate—and this is what makes the books so lovable. Finishing them will make you want to pick up an old favorite or add several more titles to your to-read list.

U and I , by Nicholson Baker

I can now say that I’ve been reading Baker for more than 20 years, or more than half my life. But I didn’t know that would happen when I found U and I in a college friend’s car, borrowed it, and never returned it. The subject, not the author, appealed to me then—I loved John Updike. And so did Baker, though love is probably not the right word. This book-length essay is not quite, or not merely, an appreciation of Updike; it’s a hilarious confessional “true story” of Baker’s anxieties, ambitions, competitive jealousy, and feelings of inadequacy in the face of Updike’s abundant body of work. It’s rich too, with wonderful observations on reading and writing in general, as in a passage considering how much more affecting a memoir becomes once the author is deceased: “The living are ‘just’ writing about their own lives; the dead are writing about their irretrievable lives , wow wow wow.”

A poem by John Updike: 'Half Moon, Small Cloud'

Dayswork , by Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel

I almost prefer to keep certain books on my to-read list forever, where they remain full of magical possibility and cannot disappoint me. Moby-Dick is one of them. What if, God forbid, I chance to read it at the wrong time or in the wrong place and it doesn’t change my life? So I turn to Dayswork instead, which feels like cheating—you get some of the experience of reading Moby-Dick without any of the risk. This very novel novel, written collaboratively by a novelist and a poet who happen to be married, is sort of a sneaky biography of Herman Melville, framed by a meta-narrative about a woman writing a book during lockdown. This narrator delivers a parade of delightful facts and quotes and anecdotes, which she’s been collecting on sticky notes. You could think of it also as a biography of Melville’s most famous novel, which has had its own life after his death and touched so many other lives. Dayswork is fragmentary, digressive, and completely absorbing.

Read: The endless depths of Moby-Dick symbolism

Written Lives , by Javier Marías, translated by Margaret Jull Costa

Marías is one of my favorite novelists, but I only recently encountered this work, a collection of short, dubiously nonfictional biographies in a very specific style. In the prologue, Marías explains that he had edited an anthology of stories by writers so obscure, he was forced to compose their biographical notes using odd, scanty evidence that made it all sound “invented.” It occurred to him that he could do the same thing for authors much more famous (Henry James, Thomas Mann, Djuna Barnes), treating “well-known literary figures as if they were fictional characters, which may well be how all writers, whether famous or obscure, would secretly like to be treated,” he explains. The result is marvelously irreverent, packed with unforgettable details (Rilke, supposedly, loved the letter y and used any excuse to write it) and endearing patterns (Marías would have us believe that many writers loathe Dostoyevsky). Written Lives immediately earned a spot on my shelf of most treasured objects, and every friend I’ve recommended it to has been equally enchanted.

Read: An introverted writer’s lament

Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life , by Yiyun Li

This sad and incredibly beautiful memoir from a writer best known for her fiction takes its title from a line in a notebook by the New Zealand author Katherine Mansfield. For Li, correspondence, diaries and journals, and literature in general are forms of consolation and companionship that make life worth living even in times of overwhelming despair. The memoir is a record of the reading experiences that saved Li from a dangerous depression. It made me want to dig more deeply into the work of all her favorite writers—Thomas Hardy, Ivan Turgenev, Elizabeth Bowen, William Trevor—because she describes them so warmly and affectionately, as if they were friends. Here, as in her novels, Li is philosophical, with a gift for startling aphorisms: “Harder to endure than fresh pain is pain that has already been endured,” she writes. And “One always knows how best to sabotage one’s own life,” or “What does not make sense is what matters.” Li’s work is so moving and so very wise.

Madness, Rack, and Honey , by Mary Ruefle

The American poet Mary Ruefle is one of those writers people like to call a “national treasure,” which always has to do with something beyond brilliance or talent, an additional spectacular charm that makes you wish you knew them in “real life.” This collection of lectures on poetry and topics adjacent to poetry (sentimentality, theme, the moon) is the perfect introduction to Ruefle’s particular charisma. She’s unabashedly devoted to poets and poems, but you don’t have to love poetry to fall in love with her voice. She’s plainspoken yet mysterious, always asking curious questions, about death and fear and secrets, and then answering herself with surprising authority. Ruefle is inclined toward quirky asides, but all roads lead back to books: “I offer my dinner guest, after dinner, the choice between regular and decaf coffee, when in fact I don’t have any decaf in the house,” she writes. “I am so sincere in my effort to be a good host that I lie; I think this probably happens all the time in poetry.” Ruefle offers a beautiful example of how a life filled with reading opens and alters the mind.

​When you buy a book using a link on this page, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

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The Good Grammar Book

• ISBN-10 0194315207
• ISBN-13 978-0194315203
• Publisher Oxford University Press
• Publication date October 30, 2003
• Language English
• Dimensions 7.25 x 0.5 x 10 inches
• Print length 304 pages
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press (October 30, 2003)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0194315207
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0194315203
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 0.5 x 10 inches
• #14,110 in Foreign Language Instruction (Books)
• #15,179 in English as a Second Language Instruction
• #37,210 in Core

About the authors

Michael swan.

Michael Swan has written and co-authored a wide range of English language teaching and reference materials, informed by 20 years' TESOL experience in Britain and abroad. He has published a number of articles on the principles and methodology of second language teaching, and is a regular speaker at international conferences.

Catherine Walter

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6 New Books We Recommend This Week

Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

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Our recommended books this week lean toward the multinational: a historical novel set on a Swedish island, a World War II account of American military pilots navigating a treacherous route over the Himalayas, a novel about migrants flooding into a small Sicilian town and Joseph O’Neill’s new novel, “Godwin,” about a Pittsburgh man on the hunt for a rumored soccer superstar in West Africa. Also up, we recommend Carvell Wallace’s moving, joyful memoir and Kimberly King Parsons’s novel about grief and desire. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles

GODWIN Joseph O’Neill

This globe-trotting novel from the author of “Netherland” chronicles the quest of a man named Mark Wolfe to find a mysterious soccer prodigy in West Africa and the unraveling of his workplace back in Pittsburgh. Mark shares narratorial duties with his colleague Lakesha Williams, who speaks first in “Godwin” and also gets the last word.

“Uses sports as a window on global realities that might otherwise be too vast or too abstract to perceive. … The book bristles with offhand insights and deft portraits of peripheral characters. It is populous, lively and intellectually challenging.”

From A.O. Scott’s review

Pantheon | $28

THE SILENCE OF THE CHOIR Mohamed Mbougar Sarr

Seventy-two migrants settle in a small Sicilian town in this polyphonic novel, which won France’s most prestigious literary prize in 2021 and is here translated into English by Alison Anderson. Sarr not only follows the newcomers, but also considers the inner lives of the villagers, whose reactions vary considerably.

“Sarr points honestly and often brilliantly to the divisions between us and the world’s ragazzi, and in that empty space he offers a dozen different ways of seeing not only the other side, but ourselves as well.”

From Dinaw Mengestu’s review

Europa | Paperback, $18

SKIES OF THUNDER: The Deadly World War II Mission Over the Roof of the World Caroline Alexander

After the loss of a land route through Burma in 1942, Allied forces had to fly supplies over a treacherous stretch of the Himalayas to support the Nationalist Chinese government in its war against Japan. Alexander’s vivid retelling of this aerial feat is matched only by her exquisite rendering of the pilots’ fear.

“Riveting. … What unites this book with the author’s previous work is a fascination with human behavior in extremis.”

From Elizabeth D. Samet’s review

Viking | $32

WE WERE THE UNIVERSE Kimberly King Parsons

Reeling from the sudden death of her sister, a young Texas wife and mother lets her mind run freely to the siblings’ shared rebellious past — and her own present catalog of pansexual longings — in Parsons’s witty and profane debut novel, a tender, exuberant and often profoundly moving follow-up to her lauded 2019 story collection, “Black Light.”

“The ride could not be more rewarding; Parsons’s transgressive boldness allows us to feel the soul in places that moderation simply cannot reach.”

From Alissa Nutting’s review

Knopf | $28

ANOTHER WORD FOR LOVE: A Memoir Carvell Wallace

Wallace, a gifted journalist and essayist who came to writing in midlife, explores what it means to be a Black man, partner and parent in the world. While he is unstinting on the tribulations of his unstable childhood, — a troubled single mother, intermittent homelessness and mental health struggles — the reflections here are threaded through with rare, soulful vulnerability and a persistent sense of joy.

“Each anecdote continues to move the reader and implore us all to remember to connect. … This book is funny and heartbreaking, religiously vivid and lovingly open.”

From James Ijames’s review

MCDxFSG | $28

THE BLUE MAIDEN Anna Noyes

This haunting debut novel explores the sinister effects of a legacy of century-old witch hunts on a remote island in Sweden. At its center are a pair of sisters descended from one of the few women to be spared. Left to their own devices, Ulrika and Bea piece together their legacy and, over time, inflame their pastor father’s paranoia

“It isn’t until Bea marries and becomes a mother that her family’s secrets will be fully revealed. By then, of course, the damage has already been done.”

From Alida Becker’s historical fiction column

Grove | $26