Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite

Finally, a grammar book for the rest of us. Although I am an editor, I am more of a grammar geek, as June would say. Due to my profession, I fall prey to grammar snobbery all the time. Part of being an editor (the part that I pride myself on) is honoring that there are many ways to write something. So-called "experts" and style guides constantly contradict each other. Editing is the art and skill of maneuvering through all of the opinions, while taking the author's style and tone into consideration, and choosing the most appropriate and effective way to communicate what the author is trying to say. It's not just all about the "rules."In Grammar Snobs, June Casagrande makes reading about grammar rules less painful--in fact, it is downright hilarious! My personal favorite chapter is about the "steamy predicate nominative." Who knew predicate nominatives could be so sexy? (Or that reading about them could be as sensual an experience as watching Brad Pitt laze around the house in nothing but a towel?)Casagrande made me laugh out loud several times while I read this book. Her skill in connecting with the reader from the very beginning of the book is the hook. She also pokes fun at her colleagues--such as Lynn Truss--from the very beginning, which is pretty funny to read, especially for those who have read (or faked reading) Truss' book on punctuation, Eats, Shoots & Leaves.I would most definitely recommend this grammar guide to anyone. Period. From high school English students to experienced editors to grant writers to published authors, this book is guaranteed to answer questions that plague English speakers and writers...while making them giggle in the process.

For all I knew and cared about grammar, style, punctuation and syntax, Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style" was all I needed to write well enough. Journalism school introduced me to the "AP Stylebook," which complemented S&W and so I figured my usage library was complete...enough.But for too long I'd written grammatically acceptable sentences more out of feeling than out of confidence. I could use "whom" and "who" correctly with my only explanation for using either would be, "It just sounded better." Ask me to explain arcane grammar jargon like what is a "past participle," "conjugated verb" or "subject and object nouns," I'd be at a loss.I'd have dismissed Cassagrande's book as another irritating and patronizing grammar guide if not for the humorous title. On a whim I rented the audiobook, listened during my commute and immediately found her writing style approachable and engaging without getting the feeling like I was in a junior high remedial language class. She's occasionally self-deprecating yet also confident in her knowledge and even shares tips on verbal judo with arrogant, needling grammarians.Though I still fumble to explain to a copy editor why in some sentences a hyphen was omitted or why I become hostile at the suggestion that using "once again" or "whether or not" might improve a story, I feel gratified that Cassagrande--a columnist and recovering editor--feels the same as I and would sooner reach for a usage book to prove a point than to argue.

I got this book as a recommendation from my writing and rhetoric professor. This book is hilarious. There are those out there that have pet peeves of others speaking improperly. They are annoyed and distracted with dangling modifiers like they are dangling boogers, it's just hard to ignore them. Whoever or whomever is one of those them or they, I am equally peeved by your peeve. I often hear corrections made that are indeed themselves false. In reality who cares (whomever cares)... This book is fun because you can learn the real usage then if you're ever corrected you can spend the next extended waste of time arguing, but be careful arguing with a stupid person, they will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. (grammatical errors inserted purposefully)In an ironic twist of my dog ate my homework, this book did not come as pictured it really was my pup trying to learn with me.

I listen to quite a bit of audio books when I am behind the wheel and sometimes the books can be a bit boring. Not this audio book! Fun listen.Besides having a laugh while listening to the authors stories you're also brushing up on your grammar skills. Learning that the rules are forever changing and that most of the time chances are you the writer or speaker are right.One of the reasons I enjoyed it is because in my head I was able to stick it to those annoying people I've referred to as the "grammar police" or what the author called the "grammar snobs" who feel the need to correct or "one up" on others. I am related to a few of those and if I were inclined I would send them this book but I am sure the significance of it would go over their heads.Anyway, it is a good book where it will either reinforce what you already know/knew or teach you something you did not know in a fun way.Highly recommend!

I confess to being confused by most of the negative reviews and can't help believing that folks just couldn't see past their own agendas and prejudices. Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies is:- hilarious- unpretentious- clear- plenty respectful to existing grammars (but it doesn't idolize any, which I think is the main problem for some folks)- full of useful citations- an excellent reference- a great tool for combating grammar snobs- packed with informative backstory (e.g., stuff that explains the rules and even the pointless snobbery)- fun to read- better in multiple ways than Eats, Shoots & Leaves, for instance

This book' is a joy to read. She takes on the critics and gives lots of encouragement for neophytes to carry on with learning grammar and Punctuation.

Considering how much she complains about other people being grammar meanies, her writing in this book is sometimes rather mean too. The book contains a few useful tips but her next book, "It was the best of sentences, it was the worst of sentences", is far better and more useful. If you've already bought that, you don't need this one.

It's a good book.

Well, if your looking for easy to understand explanations for grammar rules and permission to make mistakes, you may find that here. That is if you can untangle it from the web from which each point gets presented. I could not.