One Day In the Life of the English Language (ebook)

Argumento de One Day In the Life of the English Language (ebook)

Generations of student writers have been subjected to usage handbooks that proclaim, "This is the correct form. Learn it"—books that lay out a grammar, but don't inspire students to use it. By contrast, this antihandbook handbook, presenting some three hundred sentences drawn from the printed works of a single, typical day in the life of the language—December 29, 2008—tries to persuade readers that good grammar and usage matter.

Using real-world sentences rather than invented ones, One Day in the Life of the English Language gives students the motivation to apply grammatical principles correctly and efficiently. Frank Cioffi argues that proper form undergirds effective communication and ultimately even makes society work more smoothly, while nonstandard English often marginalizes or stigmatizes a writer. He emphasizes the evolving nature of English usage and debunks some cherished but flawed grammar precepts. Is it acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition? It is. Can you start a sentence with a conjunction? You can. OK to split an infinitive? No problem.

A grammar and usage handbook like no other, One Day in the Life of the English Language features accessible chapters divided into "Fundamentals," "Fine Tuning," and "Deep Focus," allowing readers to select a level most suited to their needs. It also includes a glossary, a teachers' guide, and a section refuting some myths about digital-age English.

"One Day in the Life of the English Language is a welcome departure from the vast majority of grammar handbooks. Cioffi suggests that instead of memorizing tons of rules about sentence structure, students should internalize how sentences work--and with the motivation he gives, students have the incentive to want to write well. I truly love this book."--Elizabethada A. Wright, University of Minnesota

"One Day in the Life of the English Language is a book for all writers and teachers of writing--without getting mired in minutia. Cioffi examines the English language as it actually is written today, in the real world rather than how it ‘should’ be written--a simple but powerful concept that easily lends itself to any classroom. Cioffi knows his subject inside out."--Rebecca Chace, author of Leaving Rock Harbor

"Students will find Cioffi's approach intriguing and refreshing, since he is not merely telling them what they should do, but describing options currently in print. They will also enjoy his humorous and casual tone."--Lydia McDermott, Whitman College

"Cioffi has created a different kind of grammar handbook, one that not only lays out the ‘rules’ of Standard English but also makes readers more sensitive to language and so better able to communicate ideas. . . . He used the material in this book in a freshman composition course, to good effect, and readers will find that this clever book sharpens their awareness."--Choice

"This little volume has several things going for it: it’s compact, bound in the style of an industrial manual, so it can take a lot of punishment."--Mary Norris, Times Literary Supplement

"The work is accessible, fun to read, and packed with helpful information on almost every page. It will appeal to a wide audience--not only those who love grammar but also those who do not."--Library Journal

"For readers at any level who are seeking to improve their written English, One Day in the Life of the English Language helps to make grammar relatable and rewarding. . . . A creative alternative for students of all ages."--Sarah Powell, Reference Reviews0Preface xi
Navigation Tips xix
Introduction
The Starting Idea: You and Your Audience 1
Preview of the Following Pages 7
December 29, 2008, as History 10
Two Disclaimers 20
On Using Sentences from the Real World 23
Formal Usage—Its Rules and Value 31
"If you don't have grammar, you don't have sense" 40
1Actants, Actions, Ongoing States: Nouns, Verbs, and the Sentences They Form
Why Learn the Parts of Speech? 45
Fundamentals 49
Fine Tuning 56
Deep Focus 71
2Words That Modify and Orient: Adjectives, Adverbs, Conjunctions, Prepositions, Articles, Interjections
The Power of Small Words Well Deployed 88
Adjectives 89
Adverbs 99
Conjunctions 114
Prepositions 123
Articles 128
Interjections 133
3Who Is He/She? Pronouns
A Whole Chapter on Pronouns? 134
Fundamentals 135
Fine Tuning 150
Deep Focus 160
4Punctuation, Part I—The Comma: Promiscuous Uses
Introduction: Punctuation Substitutes for Oral Emphases, Facial Expressions, and Body Language 167
Fundamentals 169
Fine Tuning 193
Deep Focus 200
5Punctuation, Part II—The Colon, Semicolon, and More Mysteries of Punctuation The Colon and Semicolon 207
The Apostrophe 217
The Dash 228
The Quotation Mark 232
End Punctuation and Combining Sentences 241
6Diction: Sentences as Clockwork
On the Interconnectedness of Words 254
Fundamentals 258
A Microconclusion 286
Appendix I: Fifteen Myths of Digital-Age English 293
Appendix II: Using This Book to Teach College Writing: A Microguide 301
Fifty Key Terms: A Microglossary 317
Works Cited
General Sources 329
December 29, 2008, Examples 335
Index 351