The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to-Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes - Softcover

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, Eleventh Edition

English Usage Rules Explained in Plain English

It doesn't take a lifetime to master English grammar and punctuation. All it takes is The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. With over 200,000 copies sold, this is one of the most highly trusted English language resources available. Inside, you'll find short, easy-to-understand explanations of even the most confusing grammar points.

From the very basics―parts of speech and subject-verb agreement―to more advanced topics like the subjunctive mood, The Blue Book covers it all. You’ll also learn to differentiate between the most commonly confused words like infer and imply, its and it's, affect and effect...and hundreds more. Filled with clear examples and self-assessment quizzes, the book allows you to test your knowledge and practice what you learn.

"A sensible approach and a useful guide."
―Mignon Fogarty, author of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

"This is a valuable tool for my journalism students. By the end of the semester, most copies of The Blue Book are dog-eared and marked-up. I highly recommend this book to every student who wants to become a proficient writer and communicator."
―Cindy Frye, adjunct instructor, Long Beach City College, Long Beach, California

JANE STRAUS (1954 - 2011) was an educator and best-selling author with extensive experience teaching English to adult learners. She created The Blue Book because she found no resources that explained English rules "in plain English." Straus also created the popular website GrammarBook.com.

LESTER KAUFMAN is publisher of GrammarBook.com. He married Jane Straus in 1987, eventually retiring from his career in government to help with her website.

TOM STERN is a veteran reporter and columnist. In 2012, his bimonthly newspaper column on English grammar and usage won a first-place award in the California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspapers Contest.