Helen Plum Library

The original edition of the most trusted writer's guide to American English, this is the book that generations of writers have relied upon for timeless advice on grammar, diction, syntax, sentence construction, and other writing essentials. In brief and concise terms, author William Strunk, Jr., identifies the principal requirements of proper American English style and concentrates on the most often violated rules of composition. Originally published...

"Periods are busy. They don't mess around. They have very important jobs! Periods say, "STOP". They tell us when a sentence ends, and they help us shorten words. Follow along and learn all about hardworking periods."--Page [4] of cover

A page-turning, existential romp through the life and times of the world's most polarizing punctuation mark. The semicolon. Stephen King, Hemingway, Vonnegut, and Orwell detest it. Herman Melville, Henry James, and Rebecca Solnit love it. But why? When is it effective? Have we been misusing it? Should we even care? In [this book, the author] charts the rise and fall of this infamous punctuation mark, which for years was the trendiest one in the world...

Unsure about proper punctuation? When in doubt, look it up! The practical, accessible guide to correct punctuation Whether you're writing a business report or a book report, creating an article for a newsletter, writing a note to your child's teacher, a personal letter, or a cover letter, using proper punctuation helps you make your points clearly and make a good impression. This user-friendly reference helps you quickly find the commonly accepted...

"Commas love taking breaks. In fact, they want everyone to take breaks! Commas have many jobs, but they always tell readers when to take a breath. Follow along and learn all about commas"--Page [4] of cover

"Crushing national Debt? Climate Change? No: the greatest danger to our way of life is the decline of grammar. Thus preaches the inimitable Mr Gwynne as he shows us the way out of this sorry state. "Grammar is the science of using words rightly, leading to thinking rightly, leading to deciding rightly, without which-as both common sense and experience show-happiness is impossible. Therefore, happiness depends at least partly on good grammar." So writes...

"Snails & Monkey Tails is a show-stopping guide to the punctuation marks and symbols used in the English language. Perfect for bibliophiles, writers, grammarians, graphic designers, typography freaks, logophiles, and anyone with a passion for the written word, this rollicking linguistic ride by award-winning graphic designer Michael Arndt is a beautifully designed volume-with more than 75 uniquely designed eye-catching red, white, and black spreads-that...

You can't believe everything you hear! Did you know that a single word can have many different meanings? Sometimes two words that sound alike can be spelled completely differently! Ptolemy the Pterodactyl is back to show us all how absurd and fun language can be when homophones, homonyms, and tricky punctuation are at play

¿Qué valor tiene no usar mayúsculas o minúsculas cuando corresponde hacerlo? El uso de mayúsculas y de minúsculas constituye un tema arduo que carece de fácil solución, sobre todo cuando, al escribir, prima la subjetividad a causa de la premura, el gusto, la intención literaria o la rebelde ignorancia. También cada país de lengua española las emplea de acuerdo con sus normas locales, y no siempre hay coincidencias con la norma panhispánica. Mayúsculas...

Verbs and tenses are one of the most difficult parts of the English language for learners. There seem to be so many different tenses and structures that are not simple. I have compiled this book to help make verbs easier to understand. The book is in five parts: Chapter 1 The basics Here we look at the main terms used to describe different kinds of verb, eg transitive and intransitive. Chapter 2 Tenses In this section, we explain the wide range of...