Prescriptive Grammars

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elvam2167
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Prescriptive Grammars

Postby elvam2167 » 2017-04-30, 0:52

*As a disclaimer, I prefer prescriptive grammars, which, unlike modern descriptive texts, explain how language should be used, and don't merely describe usage of the general public, who may or may not be well-educated.*

This post is for those who are seeking general help with English grammar. Most of the books listed here contain rules, explanations of grammar terminology, and exercises to help strengthen your knowledge, and in some cases, to correct informal usage and similar mistakes. The levels range from beginner through advanced. These were not specifically written for English learners, but you should be able to use at least the elementary ones if you understand English on a conversational level. Note that some of these authors are British while others are American. Therefore, spelling and punctuation may vary. When confused, I personally use the British authors. If anyone knows of similar resources of truly good quality, please post them here.

An Elementary English Grammar and composition, for use in public schools
(author not listed)
1884
Canadian
https://archive.org/details/elementaryenglis00torouoft

This is one of the best introductory courses that I have found on the subject. It explains many important aspects of grammar in a language that is easy to understand, but that also requires you to learn proper grammatical terms. It contains exercises to reinforce the lessons.

School Grammar
William H. Maxwell
1907
American
https://archive.org/details/schoolgrammar00maxwgoog

This is another excellent beginner's course. It focuses on memorisation of facts. Furthermore, in Appendix C., the author explains alternate names of grammatical terms, which can be helpful if you are using more than one book, or have never heard a specific term but know the idea under a different name.

Primary English grammar
John Hart
1898
American
https://archive.org/details/primaryenglishgr00hart

While this book claims to offer nothing truly original in the methods of teaching or in explanations of terms, it can be used as a supplement to other materials.

Correct English, How To Use It; a complete grammar
Josephine Turc Baker
1907
American
https://archive.org/details/correctenglishh00bake

This is yet another great resource for beginners. However, this was not written as an actual schoolbook, and I know little about the author, except that she wrote a magazine called Correct English. Several of the points she makes seem to be exclusive to her book, so always check other sources. That said, it is laid out well and is easy to understand, with short exercises in each chapter.

Manual of English Grammar and Composition
J. C. Nesfield
1908
British
https://archive.org/details/manualofenglishg00nesf

This slightly advanced book not only teaches grammar, but composition as well. I often use it as a resource when my other books don't explain things clearly or at all, as some concepts are unique to this one. Having said that, Nesfield was extremely well-educated and is trustworthy. Be aware, though, that he does include some archaic words like thee and thou, probably for the sake of providing complete explanations.

The King’s English
H.W. Fowler
1908
British
http://www.bartleby.com/116/

This is a slightly lesser known work of Fowler than the one which follows, but it is more in line with the kinds of books listed here. Unlike the others, it does not include exercises, and is best used as a reference. Note also that Fowler was not a strict prescriptivist, so some of his advice can be a bit confusing.

A Dictionary of Modern English Usage
H.W. Fowler
1926
British

When people quote from Fowler, 99% of the time, this is the book they are using. Despite its title it is not truly a dictionary, but contains definitions of grammatical terms and quotes. Note that, as with the previous title, it does not include exercises. It can be very confusing at times, even more so than The King's English. This is also the only book not freely available. It can be purchased on Ebay, Abebooks, Amazon, and in used bookstores. Be very careful if you choose to buy it, that you are getting your money's worth. Several people have destroyed his work by omitting some of his text and adding their own! The only modern edition worth buying is the one with an introduction by David Crystal, as he has reprinted the original text. Otherwise, buy the 1926 version.

An Advanced English Grammar
George Lyman Kittredge and Frank Edgar Farley
1913
British
https://archive.org/details/englishgrammaran00davirich

This is an excellent resource for advanced students of grammar. Note that, unlike with most books, the exercises are in the back, rather than at the end of each lesson. The appendix contains information on verbs, conjugation, rules for capitals and punctuation, rules of syntax, and a discussion of the history of English.

Advanced English Grammar Through Composition
JOHN D ROSE
1917
https://archive.org/details/advancedenglishg00roseuoft

This is one of the most advanced titles that I possess, even more so than Fowler! But if you truly know your grammatical terms, it can be enjoyable. For the rest of us, however, it's best used with another book or three at hand. They recommend the book on elementary grammar, by the same author, but I have yet to find it.

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