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The Grammar Bible
• 1st Place Winner (Reference Category), PMA's Benjamin Franklin Awards 2000
• Each of the 16 chapters closes with a short quiz
• Each of the 16 chapters closes with a short quiz
Hardcover
First published July 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 24, 2023
When I created a Goodreads account, I was worried that my current reading project (mostly classic novels and style guides) would inflate my average rating to the neighborhood of 5.0, causing me to look like an idiot. Thanks to The Grammar Bible, this does not appear as if it's going to be a problem, at least for now.
I appreciated certain aspects of the book, and I'm cognizant of the fact that writing a full grammar explainer, with examples, in fewer than 500 pages, is a difficult thing to do. After reading it, I do feel more comfortable with grammatical terms and certain areas of usage—one should use "between" when poker chips are split between two winners, and "among" when poker chips are split among more than two winners—so I'm giving it three stars (would be three-and-a-half if I had the option).
Two problems with the book knocked off a star each. The first has to do with the order in which Strumpf taught grammatical components. The book goes from small to large, with nouns, plurals, etc. at the beginning, and prepositional phrases, relative clauses, etc. coming later. However, certain terms which are taught only in the second half of the book, come up often in the first half ("predicate," to name one I noticed repeatedly). I found this to be needlessly confusing. Furthermore, certain second-half concepts, like nominal clauses, feel so commonplace after one reads first-half examples which include but don't explicitly name them, that it becomes difficult to identify these second-half concepts later, as they no longer feel pointed.
The book loses a second star for two pieces of truly horrible creative writing advice. In fairness, creative writing was not Strumpf's focus, but the advice is so bad that it's unforgivable regardless. First, when discussing comma splices, he takes an example from someone's short story that uses one in the following sentence: "The safe is empty, the butler is missing." This is on page 275, which I know because I was so annoyed that I wrote it down. The splice in the aforementioned sentence is clearly effective, obviously better than Strumpf's ideas (semicolon, separate sentences, adding a conjunction), and works well to establish the kind of pace and drama that any theft/burglary story would want. "The safe is empty, the butler is missing." It speeds along in a very pleasurable way. Splices like the example above are so clearly productive, that even the strict guidelines of The Elements of Style *encourage* them in situations where both main clauses are short and parallel in form.
Later in the book (page 394), Strumpf gives advice to creative writers who want up their dialogue with speech tags other than "said," a word he thinks is "so dull." Of course, any creative writing teacher will tell you that the dullness of "said" is exactly the point; readers skimming over the word is precisely what makes it so effective. A story is much worse off when readers have to pay attention to dumb, flamboyant speech tags such as "recapitulated," "trumpeted," and "jested" (alternatives he actually, truly offers), and can't focus on the tone and rhythm of the dialogue itself, which should internally indicate the way it's being spoken.
Anyway, I'm happy to know which kinds of subordinate clauses require commas.
I appreciated certain aspects of the book, and I'm cognizant of the fact that writing a full grammar explainer, with examples, in fewer than 500 pages, is a difficult thing to do. After reading it, I do feel more comfortable with grammatical terms and certain areas of usage—one should use "between" when poker chips are split between two winners, and "among" when poker chips are split among more than two winners—so I'm giving it three stars (would be three-and-a-half if I had the option).
Two problems with the book knocked off a star each. The first has to do with the order in which Strumpf taught grammatical components. The book goes from small to large, with nouns, plurals, etc. at the beginning, and prepositional phrases, relative clauses, etc. coming later. However, certain terms which are taught only in the second half of the book, come up often in the first half ("predicate," to name one I noticed repeatedly). I found this to be needlessly confusing. Furthermore, certain second-half concepts, like nominal clauses, feel so commonplace after one reads first-half examples which include but don't explicitly name them, that it becomes difficult to identify these second-half concepts later, as they no longer feel pointed.
The book loses a second star for two pieces of truly horrible creative writing advice. In fairness, creative writing was not Strumpf's focus, but the advice is so bad that it's unforgivable regardless. First, when discussing comma splices, he takes an example from someone's short story that uses one in the following sentence: "The safe is empty, the butler is missing." This is on page 275, which I know because I was so annoyed that I wrote it down. The splice in the aforementioned sentence is clearly effective, obviously better than Strumpf's ideas (semicolon, separate sentences, adding a conjunction), and works well to establish the kind of pace and drama that any theft/burglary story would want. "The safe is empty, the butler is missing." It speeds along in a very pleasurable way. Splices like the example above are so clearly productive, that even the strict guidelines of The Elements of Style *encourage* them in situations where both main clauses are short and parallel in form.
Later in the book (page 394), Strumpf gives advice to creative writers who want up their dialogue with speech tags other than "said," a word he thinks is "so dull." Of course, any creative writing teacher will tell you that the dullness of "said" is exactly the point; readers skimming over the word is precisely what makes it so effective. A story is much worse off when readers have to pay attention to dumb, flamboyant speech tags such as "recapitulated," "trumpeted," and "jested" (alternatives he actually, truly offers), and can't focus on the tone and rhythm of the dialogue itself, which should internally indicate the way it's being spoken.
Anyway, I'm happy to know which kinds of subordinate clauses require commas.
January 30, 2019
This is a useful book for anyone who wants to brush up on their grammar skills. I wasn't interested in the terminology and found myself skimming a lot of it. I favored the sections that listed examples of usage as well as those sections that addressed questions that had been called in to the Hot Line. I was pleased to learn that I already knew a lot about grammar previously; having said that, I also took a few pages of notes. This book satisfied all of my questions and I now feel more confident in my ability to write (although it will take a while and plenty of practice to truly absorb all of the information). Two thumbs up.
September 24, 2013
This will feed your inner word nerd--lots of digressions and discussions of sub-sections of grammar. For usability in practice and application, it's not as accessible as "The McGraw-Hill Handbook of English Grammar and Usage."
July 21, 2021
I read this book when I was trying to work as a freelance content writer online and I had to perfect my grammar. I wanted to understand grammar rules that I seemed to know automatically. I actually really enjoyed this time in my life, when I read books about grammar.
October 18, 2025
The Grammar Bible is a perfect book for those looking to learn English grammar quickly. The author wrote the book in a way that was entertaining while still being extremely informative. I used this to study for an exam. I wasn't previously taught grammar at my school (Surprising) and I managed to learn it all in one month and pass the exam with flying colors. Take that anecdote as you will.
August 7, 2020
I read this book against my will. However, I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. It was about grammar, which is probably the most boring topic possible, but the author was actually pretty funny, which made it bearable.
June 29, 2024
very good and easy to read
August 31, 2018
This took me a long time to read as I would often try and cram in a few chapters once I had finished a different work of fiction – it is a book on grammar after all… Things don’t come much drier. That said it may have been the best thing I have done for my writing endeavors. And if you can grin and bear it I think everyone should read a book of this ilk. All aspects of grammar were well represented and at times fun (a term used loosely).
April 23, 2013
I do not make a move without this book. It was a great read and sometimes the writers are actually pretty hilarious-hard to do when it comes to writing about the rules of grammar. I make all my students read it and having it here has solved grammar differences many a times. Get yourself a copy!
March 1, 2015
A must have reference point for any aspiring writer. Useful for those moments when you are at a loss for what to do. Not exactly a book to read cover to cover...but you totally could if you wanted to. It's almost set up like a For Dummies book, with more personality.
July 25, 2008
I mean, if you can make the passive voice seem useful, you've got yourself a winner.
Currently Reading
March 15, 2013It's wonderful to see a logical dissection of English infused with humor and goodwill.
August 4, 2010
This is an excellent reference book that will be added to my library.
March 22, 2011
Taking myself back to school. This was just right for me. I really needed a refresher and I really liked his conversational tone and the examples.
June 10, 2013
i own this book now...
November 16, 2013
An easy book to reference for any grammar issues, but definately not a book one should read cover to cover.
Want to Read
March 4, 2016goodgood
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews