Grammar and Good Taste: Reforming the American Language

by Dennis Baron

Recounts attempts to reform American spelling and grammar, explains why these reforms have not been accepted, and discusses how correct usage is determined

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 1982

About the author

Dennis Baron is professor of English and linguistics at the University of Illinois and has written books on the technologies of communication; language policy and reform; language legislation and minority language rights; gender issues in language; and the history and present state of the English language. He's the author of the blog "the Web of Language". He's regularly quoted in the news and appears frequently on radio and t.v. discussing the English language and the digital revolution.

Reviews

[Monica Willyard Moen]

This can be a very useful book for students of history and language who want to understand how British English and American English diverge and why. It isn’t a fascinating book, but it is useful and helpful for research purposes. I appreciate the effort the author went to With showing how different perspectives of grammar were in force during different time periods in American and British histories.