The Bugaboo Review: A Lighthearted Guide to Exterminating Confusion about Words, Spelling, and Grammar

by Sue Sommer

For years, high school English teacher Sue Sommer has self-published a photocopied edition of The Bugaboo Review for her students. Filled with common pitfalls of the English language, the confusing words and grammar issues that people continually stumble over, The Bugaboo Review is legendary among her students at California’s Novato High School. Parents and their friends request copies, and former students relate how they consistently turn to this valued reference after they graduate.

With the help of cartoon characters Bug and Boo, Sommer presents ideas and hints in this convenient reference. Offering special sections on issues she considers the worst offenders and sidebars on the most commonly misspelled or misused words, Sommer gives students and the grammar-curious the tools they need, without confusing jargon. Colorful examples and artful mnemonics encourage readers to learn, for example, that possessive nouns have apostrophes but possessive pronouns do not. They’ll master how to remember pronoun agreement, how to pronounce commonly mispronounced words, and the differences between similar words. The Bugaboo Review will become a cherished reference for those new to English, those who love grammar, and those who simply “know that they don’t know.”

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2011

Reviews

[Daphyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource for junior high, high school students, English language learners, and anyone interested in a humorous brush up on the words that stymie us all.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

When writing, there’s always that moment when you come across a bugaboo situation. When you find yourself asking is it accept or except. It’s always nice to have a handy reference nearby that can answer your question.

The Bugaboo Review is a good resource to have on your bookshelf. Entries are organized in alphabetical order for easy reference. It includes words commonly mixed up, used in the wrong context, and spelled incorrectly.

Perhaps the most unique part of this book is that there are entries for words that we commonly say incorrectly. Words where we tend to add extra sounds and extra words added that really aren’t necessary. Quite useful.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really just perused this book, but it was very informational and humorous.

[Jacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admit it: you wish you had a more reliable way to double check commonly misspelled words than a Google search. Do you know the difference between affect and effect? Have you ever wondered whether a hunter lies in wait or lays in wait?

If you answered yes to these questions -- or answered yes for your offspring -- Sue Sommer has written the guide you need. During her first week as a high school English teacher, Sommer began compiling a list of tricky spelling and grammar issues for her students. Over the next 13 years, her list first grew into a guide and then into a legend as students, parents, and even their friends requested the original incarnation, made by photocopier. Word of mouth reached a publisher at a school function, and Sommer’s fantastic teaching tool is now available to the world.

Straightforward and accessible, The Bugaboo Review offers a list of common grammar and spelling errors without the condescension many of us associate with learning the nuances of writing. The guide divides into three main sections. The first portion collects the most common errors from the rest of the book and makes them easy to find in a pinch. The main body is an extensive alphabetical list of confusing spellings and grammar errors, including those homophones the spell check on your word processing software isn’t catching. Rounded out with an –ei and –ie spelling reference list, the so-called Bug-Rev is both a great classroom tool and home reference guide.


***This review refers to an ARC. This review was originally written for http://shelf-awareness.com but never got to run.***

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think the hints were useful. In most of the hint examples, I felt it would be more difficult to remember the hints than just memorizing the word.