Customer Reviews:
Little, but essential.......2007-10-01
I have assigned an earlier edition of this book for an upper-division historical geography course that featured lots of writing. The Essential Handbook is compact, easy-to-use, and inclusive of the essential information needed by college-level writers. While there are larger, more detailed works that the continuing writer will want, this little book provides a fine initiation into the world of careful and correct writing.
Expensive.......2004-09-06
The book was expensive at my school's bookstore and I regret not buying it from here. It may be called the little BROWN book but mine is purple and I have an older version which is gray...go figure!!!
useful writers handbook.......2004-01-09
My school requires all students to buy copies of this book before entering high school and I do not think they could have chosen a better book to use as a basis for grammar excercises and teaching proper citing protocol. While I have only used sections of this book, it seems to be easy to use and contrary to what an earlier reviewer said, both section names and page numbers are listed in the table of contents. The book is tiny, perfect for carrying in my backback and holds a ton of information. The only problem I have with this handbook is that there is an updated MLA pamphlet that is included with the book and it is harder to understand. Also, the book really should be brown just so the books shows some sense of humor (just kidding). I would highly recommend this book to high school students as a quick reference guide for writing research papers and projects.
Hard to Navigate.......2002-04-24
The layout of this book is very strange, rendering it hard to use. Only a summary Table of Contents appears at the beginning of the book. Worse, it is split over two facing pages--that is, the Table of Contents is presented as one page with the book binding splitting the page in the middle. And, though the book is organized by numbered sections, the section numbers (incredibly) do not appear in the summary Table of Contents. There is a detailed Table of Contents, but it doesn't appear until the literal end of the book. It spans the last page and the inside back cover and is mostly hidden by a fold-in book flap (now that's handy). Of course, this also means that the index is not actually at the end of the book, as you foolishly might have expected; it preceeds that detailed Table of Contents.
It is a lot of work to use this book. The content may be good, but if you're looking for guidance on something specific, you're going to have to dig to find it. A guide should be easy to use, not a chore, in and of itself.
Handy Guide.......2000-04-03
The Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers is a useful guide for grammar, style, punctuation, and other writers' needs. The plastic binding makes the book easy to manage when referencing and editing your work.
It isn't always as detailed as a writer might like on usage, but if you have a strong handle on usage, then this shouldn't be a problem.
The book is small and compact, so it doesn't take up a lot of shelf space, but it is full of useful information. It's also great as a writer's traveling companion. Information is quick and easy to find. I recommend keeping this one nearby when proofreading and editing one's work.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific book for writers and teachers of writing.......2007-08-03
This book should be in the library of every writer. I've been writing for 20 years and still found lessons that I needed to learn.
Writing Tools-50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer.......2007-06-08
This book is as informative as advertised. An easy read, that encourages aspiring writers to 'get on with it' and keeps writer on the right track.
A clear, accessible guide to writing techniques .......2007-06-05
This book is a clear and accessible guide to the techniques of journalistic and creative non-fiction writing. Novices and experienced writers alike will find it useful for learning new techniques to strengthen their writing. Later, it will also serve as a handy reference for getting unstuck creatively or adding impact to a piece.
Youe Not Writing For the Ages. .......2007-04-21
Clark passes Richard Feynman's test for competence: If you cant express what you know in a paragraph or so, you dont know what youre talking about.
Clark competently assembles many helpful hints for writing clear and compelling prose. The book is liberally seasoned with excellent examples that illustrate his points.
The book wont help you write for "The Ages." But that's not a skill anyone can teach.
Excellent Resource.......2007-02-16
This will go on my shelf right next to Strunk & White's Elements of Style and Zinsser's On Writing Well. A super resource, great reading, and easy to use - you'll refer to it again and again. As an added bonus, the end of each chapter offers you the opportunity to practice the writing tool addressed in that chapter with several suggestions, such as finding a piece of writing in an article from a newspaper or magazine and analyzing it to see how a professional writer has used (or failed to use) the tool being discussed. Another suggestion offered includes taking a piece of your own writing and applying the strategy to it. It is on the writing professors' required list at our local college, and is a "tool" that's well worth the investment.
Amazon.com
For those who value correct grammar, Anne Stilman has written the definitive guide. She holds you to her high grammatical standards, and clearly explains how to follow the rules. There are chapters on "Spelling," "Punctuation," "Grammar," and "Style," and Stilman patiently elucidates the rules of colons, brackets, and plural formations, while gracefully tackling the common misuses of "lie" versus "lay." Her illustrative examples bring the stickiest lessons home. Quoting from Woody Allen, Vikram Seth, Mark Twain, and other likable authors, issues of pronoun choice, parallelism, and ellipses come clear. Although Stilman cuts no slack on errors, she concedes that grammar evolves. While she suggests that you avoid splitting infinitives, she also believes you shouldn't introduce excessive awkwardness merely to conform to a rule that was dogmatically decreed years ago for no particular reasons of clarity or merit.
Book Description
Now in a friendly, accessible format, Writer's Digest's bestselling grammar guide! With Grammatically Correct, readers will be able to solve their grammar dilemmas quickly. This revised edition is:
* Value priced in a handy format, letting readers get the best and most crucial grammar instruction easily and affordably
* Clearly organized, with added appendices and glossaries for quick reference, making it easy to navigate
* Packed with time-tested instruction for all types of writers, with the same appeal, authority, and sound advice as the original
Comprehensive in its coverage of punctuation, spelling, structure, style, usage, and grammar, Grammatically Correct provides the foundations of grammar in the ultimate easy-to-use format.
Customer Reviews:
hey cool lil english reference book.......2007-07-29
works well in tight spots.
wish it would give a sequential grammer -figures of speech
This book mostly delivers what it promises........2007-03-28
I bought this book because I was looking for a guide to grammar and some of its trickier aspects. This book is direct and fairly thorough. It addresses many of the problems that people have with spelling, pronoun-antecedent agreement, punctuation use, etc. The instruction is concise and nearly always contains both incorrect examples and corrected examples of the particular topics. Some topics even include exercises to test the reader's knowledge.
I would have liked to have seen more exercises, but the book would serve its intended purpose just as well if it had no exercises at all.
This is a great book for brushing up on some of the finer points of grammar.
Unbelievable essential reference. I had no idea how much i would use this........2007-03-10
Unbelievable essential reference. I had no idea how much i would use this.
Grammatically Correct.......2007-02-15
The book came in a timely fashion and was in good order. Thanks
Fantastic!.......2007-01-25
I work as an editor-in-chief for a website. When I was first hired, I bought this book as a reference for creating and defining editorial standards for the website.
The book is informative, and also incredibly interesting! I'm a huge lover of words and writing, and for me, the background of certain rules were a great added touch.
The book is thorough; detailed; well-thought out and presented. I use it weekly; sometimes daily.
Book Description
This logical, developmental presentation of the major aspects of English grammar includes all the necessary tools for speech and comprehension. Designed for adults with limited learning time who wish to acquire the basics of everyday English, this grammar features numerous shortcuts and timesavers. Ideal as an introduction, supplement, or refresher.
Customer Reviews:
Good resource.......2007-07-29
This book is a good resource for those who have forgotten (or never learned at all) parts of speech in English.
Brandon Simpson, Author of Learning Foreign Languages: Everything You Need To Know and If You Ain't Got No Grammer...
Awesome, Excellent, Incredible Book.......2007-06-12
I love this book. It gives so many examples. It's almost like sitting in a classroom with a "real" teacher. Most books leave you with questions because there isn't a teacher available to help you when you "get stuck". This book comes with the teacher!! It's excellent. I highly recommend it.
P.S. (I am an elementary teacher, and I am studying for the high school English certification exam. This book was all I needed to completely brush up my grammar skills. All I can say is that anyone can follow it, and it gives you a thorough grasp on English grammar.)
Good for TOEFL preparation.......2006-04-02
I bought it for a friend and she is finding is quite helpful.
great stuff, but a little dry.......2005-09-30
The book is logically organized and has many good examples. It is quite comprehensive and technical in nature, but reading it can be a little dry when compared with books such as the "painless grammar".
Great resource!.......2005-07-21
I recently needed to take my teacher certification test and was concerned about remembering all of the essentials related to English grammer. This book did put my mind at ease because it not only provides a basic definition for each grammer term but it also provides several sentence examples. I will definitely use this book as a reference when I begin teaching middle school.
Book Description
Social Services Providers
Public Assistance Case Managers
Substance Abuse, STD/AIDS, and Mental Health Counselors
Child Welfare Case Workers
Ready to use on the job, Essential Spanish for Social Services is indispensable for any social service provider who works with Spanish-speaking clients. This book-cassette program has everything you need to communicate immediately and effectively! No previous knowledge of Spanish is required. Essential Spanish for Social Services covers common situations, such as
filling out an assessment, providing counseling, explaining HIV and STD prevention and testing, establishing eligibility for government programs, dealing with addiction, and investigating cases of sexual abuse or domestic violence.
The 384-page phrasebook includes more than 2,500 essential Spanish words and phrases, organized by topic.
Phonetic transcriptions help you pronounce Spanish correctly.
Culture notes address sensitive issues.
Spanish-English/English-Spanish glossary and grammar summary are great for reference.
The two 90-minute cassettes can be used to improve your conversation and comprehension skills while you're in the car, exercising, or at home.
The reference guide fits in your pocket and contains the most important words and expressions you'll need on the job.
Customer Reviews:
A must Have.........2000-08-13
This book is a great one for all those social workers in a hispanic enviorment. It has a ton of vocabulary useful to social workers. I would recommend it to anyone..
Book Description
Essential Grammar in Use is available with a promotional bonus extra CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains: * over 150 interactive grammar questions * instant scoring and feedback * electronic study guides for students to check their level * printable grammar reference pullout panels * introduction to the range of Cambridge Learner's Dictionaries
Customer Reviews:
Essential Grammar in Use.......2007-06-10
A very good explanation of various grammar points. The exercises that go with the explanations helps to reinforce the rules of grammar. An excellent homework resource, not just ESL students, but also for native speakers of English.
Excellent resource book to have.......2006-11-06
The book is great. Very useful for English learners and also teachers of English language. Its user friendly and I fully recommend it.
Very Good Book.......2006-07-03
I used this book in Brazil when I was learning english; now I bought the book to help a second language student! Thanks
disappointing.......2006-06-29
I was so disappointed by this book considering the reviews. Very little if any explanations, nearly all repetitive exercises of the most basic level and no progressive route. A student would struggle to see the point. A teacher would find it boring and simple to a level below elementary.As a teacher and student, I found it both.
Great resource, especially for beginning teachers.......2006-03-21
I used an earlier version of this book for several years while teaching English as a second language in Latvia and found it extremely helpful. It's well organized, so you can quickly find the construction you want to teach or understand better. The explanations are clear and concise, and the exercises are good and easy to use with students.
Book Description
This logical, developmental presentation of the major aspects of Portuguese grammar includes all the necessary tools for speech and comprehension. Designed for adults with limited learning time who wish to acquire the basics of everyday Portuguese, this grammar features numerous shortcuts and timesavers. Ideal as an introduction, supplement, or refresher.
Customer Reviews:
concise and intense.......2007-10-17
I bought this book years ago when I first studied Portuguese and used it intensely when I was in Brazil. Now that I have started to study again after many years away from the language, am finding it a great review. It's something I can just put in my purse and if I have a few moments, can look something up easily. For a beginner, I would recommend this along with another grammar book, but for a good thorough review, this is fantastic.
Simple, concise.......2007-07-03
5 reasons to get this book:
1) Easy to read
2) Well laid out
3) Helpful coupled with another language book or cd
4) Small, portable
5) Inexpensive!
This book has helped me in my quest to learn Portuguese. It outlines the basic structure of Portuguese from simple verbs, conjugations and tenses.
I highly recommend this book with Behind the Wheel Portuguese. Read my review under BtWP for more information!
good reference.......2007-05-04
this book can be a good reference source for those learning portuguese. it's a small, dense book composed purely of grammar rules. you'll definitely need other sources to supplement this one. i used this book while i was in brazil learning portuguese and it was very helpful in clarifying any grammar doubts i had.
each small grammar section includes some examples to help give some context.
this is a far from comprehensive resource for studying portuguese but can be a helpful part of the armament.
What the doctor ordered........2006-11-05
Bought this book in preparation for a trip to Brazil. Knowing Spanish already I was able to grasp Portuguese grammar quickly with the help of this book. It did not prepare me well, however, for the use of the pronoun "voce" (the Brazilian form of "you"). However, if you already know Spanish and are looking for a crash course, this is a good choice.
Excellent When Used With Behind the Wheel Portuguese.......2006-03-27
Alexander Da R. Prista's Essential Portuguese Grammar gives the reader a clear cut
tool for understanding the complexities of the Portuguese language.
One may use this guide only to study the written language, which is fine.
My personal goal is to speak Portuguese fluently.
To that end I have invested in and am using 'Behind the Wheel Portuguese' which is a marvellous and highly effective course, but contains no written material whatsoever.
For that reason I find Essential Portuguese Grammar to be so 'essential'.
I'm sure this guide would work well for anyone desiring to learn Portuguese at any level, but I can attest to its effectiveness when used with a good recorded CD course like Behind the Wheel Portuguese which uses no grammar at all and rather simply teaches you to 'speak' and 'understand' the language.
I wanted to go further into the grammatical understanding of the language and also wished to learn to write the language a bit.
I am very pleased with my results and am speaking the language quite fluently already.
Book Description
This concise, two-in-one book provides an accessible introduction to Arabic grammar and a comprehensive explanation of verbs in their various forms.
Customer Reviews:
Arabic Verbs & Essentials of Grammar.......2007-01-09
This book is a complementary work to Mastering Arabic by the same authors. It is called Arabic - Verbs & Essentials of Grammar. It appears to be a nice complement for beginners to studying Arabic.
This is an Arabic language book. It assumes the student might have the companion book, Mastering Arabic and begins with learning basic grammar and sentence structure. Obviously verbs are essentials to nearly all sentences with their tenses, cases and gender. My objectives are not to speak Arabic so much as to be able to read and write it.
It is really a little too early to tell how far this book and the other will take me since it will be several years before its benefits are fully known to me.
I am a typical Mid-west American with some interest in languages and I have studied Spanish, German, with some Hebrew and Russian exposure. I thought I would tackle Arabic because it is an entirely different language in structure and speech than any other language that I have studied. I also see more and more written Arabic in the news media; and much as I love the news media, I would like to be able to judge what is said for myself (i.e. to keep the news media honest). I am 68 also and this is an adventure.
Transliterations Not Good for Pronounciation.......2006-06-16
The review by "Cat Marie" is very similar to my initial review of "First 100 Words" by the same author. I wrote that review before receiving classroom instruction in Arabic from native speakers. As a result of that experience, I amended my review as follows:
There are basic sounds and sound patterns that simply cannot be represented by English phoneticisms, period. So for the purpose of learning the *sounds* represented by Arabic *script*, English phoneticisms are misleading in some cases, and flat out wrong in others.
For those already familiar with Arabic sounds, phoneticisms or transliterations are merely "codes" rather than representations. Unfortunately, this book gives the (often false) impression of *representing* the sounds. Readers who get a false sense of confidence in mispronunciations learned from this book (as I did) may be discouraged when they first encounter the difficulties of correct pronunciation.
For the English speaker, many Arabic sounds and ways of verbally connecting sounds are totally unfamiliar. To learn to properly pronounce Arabic on even the most basic level, inter-personal instruction is an absolute must. Recordings are good supplements for "ear training," but they cannot provide the correction essential for properly *verbalizing* Arabic sounds.
Good start, but you've got a little further to go.......2006-02-13
As a beginner to the Arabic language, I was grateful to find this book. In the past, I've been subjected to dry-as-toast Arabic grammars that made NO sense whatsoever (because they often used jargon that would only be familiar to Arabic scholars with PhDs, probably). Wightwick and Gaafar's book is a nice, slim reference for basic Arabic grammar. What is particularly nice for the elementary student is that while grammar is shown in Arabic script (in my opinion, this is necessary for any Arabic guide worth its salt), the words are also transliterated so that the reader can accurately learn the pronunciation of a word.
HOWEVER, it should be pointed out that the subtitle is a little misleading. This is NOT a practical guide for the "mastery" of Arabic. While a great desk reference, it is still a good introductury Arabic grammar. There are other books for advanced grammar. This isn't it.
Also, this book is not for the absolute beginner. You should have a foundation in the Arabic alphabet and some basic vocabulary. This book teaches none of those things, just how a sentence fits together and various verb tenses.
Looking back on this review, I have to amend a few things. I began studying Arabic with a tutor and would add that while the pronunciation used in the book is close, sometimes it's inaccurate. Really, you need to use this book in conjunction with an Arabic course, because you won't be able to teach yourself. You NEED to hear the language firsthand, and flat words on paper aren't going to give you that.
Honestly, I recommend this more: A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (Reference Grammars). This is a fuller, more complete picture of the Arabic language (so why waste your time on a very skinny intro grammar that occasionally makes transliteration mistakes?). Wightwick's book is a decent reference but really, for your time and money, you can do better.
I'd change the stars on my original review but unfortunately the edit option doesn't seem to allow me.
A Well-Rounded Reference Grammar.......2005-12-28
This book is very well-structured, divided into three parts: introduction, verbs, and grammar. The introduction is a glance at the root system of the Arabic language. The verb section is an excellent overview, beneficial to both the beginner and the advanced. For the beginner it acts as a primer; for the advanced, a review. It discusses topics such as tense, mood, verb forms, and irregular verbs. The grammar section is considerably more concise, and seems like an afterthought. It caters to the beginner, but is redundant to the advanced. The end of every chapter provides a brief summary, as well as a good number of examples. This book is essential for the beginner and a good reference for the advanced.
a good start, but that's it.......2004-06-22
First off, it looks like I might have an older edition of this book, so maybe it has been improved. The edition I have is concise, with some errors, and is okay as a reference for beginning students. It's quick and simple to use. But it's nowhere near in-depth enough for advanced students, and even intermediate learners will find it frustrating a fair amount of the time. Use it in conjunction with a variety of other resources.
Average customer rating:
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Business Communication Essentials with Grammar Assessment CD
Courtland L. Bovee ,
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Courtland L. Bovée
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Supplement: Exercise Workbook for the Little, Brown Essential Handbook - Little, Brown Essential Han
