An engaging and fresh take on the rules and politics of English grammar, written in lively prose. It goes a step further than most books on grammar by providing an overview of the field, with a discussion of historical and current debates about grammar, and how we define, discuss, and approach it.



Presents a novel, inquiry-based approach to understanding speakers' unconscious knowledge of English grammar
Makes lucid connections, when relevant, with current linguistic theory
Integrates language change and variation into the study of grammar
Examines historical sources of socially evaluative perceptions of grammar, as 'good' or 'bad', and notions of language authority
Provides syntactic explanations for many modern punctuation rules
Explores some of the current controversies about grammar teaching in school and the role of Standard English in testing and assessment