Overview

The world's greatest authority on language explains the secrets and subtleties of the grammar of English. David Crystal explores its history and varieties, explains its rules and irregularities and shows how to navigate its snares and pitfalls. He gives practical guidance on how grammar is used in different ways for different purposes and in different social settings. In a series of revealing illustrations he also considers what learned and prominent people have said about English grammar over the centuries. Like its three companion volumes Making Sense will appeal to everyone interested in the English language and how to use it.

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9781781256022

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Refreshing and briskly written ... Crystal shows that grammar is not nearly as tedious as it can seem. Sunday Times Previous praise for David Crystal: 'Crystal's book is full of distractions and delights. Daily Express If the history of language is a sort of labyrinth, David Crystal is an excellent guide The Age, Australia Delicious revelations ... Crystal does an excellent job, not just of tracing the etymology of a word, but of relating it to social history, painting a picture of our times through words Independent on Sunday

Refreshing and briskly written ... Crystal shows that grammar is not nearly as tedious as it can seem. * Sunday Times * Previous praise for David Crystal: 'Crystal's book is full of distractions and delights. * Daily Express * If the history of language is a sort of labyrinth, David Crystal is an excellent guide * The Age, Australia * Delicious revelations ... Crystal does an excellent job, not just of tracing the etymology of a word, but of relating it to social history, painting a picture of our times through words * Independent on Sunday *

Refreshing and briskly written ... Crystal shows that grammar is not nearly as tedious as it can seem. * Sunday Times * Previous praise for David Crystal: 'Crystal's book is full of distractions and delights. * Daily Express * If the history of language is a sort of labyrinth, David Crystal is an excellent guide * The Age, Australia * Delicious revelations ... Crystal does an excellent job, not just of tracing the etymology of a word, but of relating it to social history, painting a picture of our times through words * Independent on Sunday *

Author Information

David Crystal is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor. His many books range from clinical linguistics to the liturgy and Shakespeare. He is the author of The Story of English in 100 Words, Spell It Out: The Singular History of English Spelling, and Making a Point: The Pernickety History of English Punctuation, all published by Profile. His Stories of English is a Penguin Classic.

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