This useful little book explains everything from when to use can instead of may to the difference between lie and lay to when run-on and sentence fragments are okay. It's all written in a down to earth, clear, concise, and easy-to-remember manner. I read it through in a few hours and now I keep it at hand as a constant desk reference. I recommend it to everyone from students to English-as-second-language learners.

"The Elements of Style" which I have been using for years (and still use). Like "Elements" the GRAMMAR CRAMMER is only about 100 pages, but I find answers I don't get in "Elements", and the index is much better. The type size is larger also. For the price, it is well worth it.

Directed primarily at students in high school or college who don't know how to get started in writing a paper, report, thesis or similar project, my college son read it and passed it on. I found it helped enormously with my writing of corporate reports, clear and precise office memos, etc. It's in a chatty, easy to read style but I still found lots of ideas that will continue to be useful in clarifying and focusing what I'm trying to say and getting it down on paper quickly, sharply and without rambling.

Excellent advice on how to read a nonfiction book and what notes to make about it, how to take them down fast and why not to use a tape recorder. Written in chatty style, it's not much of a chore to read. I recommend it enthusiastically since it's jam-packed with helpful ideas.

Tells how to take notes and physically organize research material. Gives excellent suggestions for source materials and methods for utilizing them. Explains the art of deciding exactly what needs to be researched. Gives instructions for interviewing, using surveys and developing rough and first drafts. Useful for anyone doing research.

The first book that laid out the reasons behind the inconsistencies in spelling so that I could remember how to spell formerly tricky words. The exercises and self-checking quizzes at the end of each short chapter were fun and rewarding. The index of commonly misspelled words continues to be useful. I recommend it for anyone who never really learned how to spell well in schoo.

A fine guide to developing good study habits, applicable from junior high school right on through lifelong learning programs. Suggestions are divided between learning tips and memory techniques. Learning tips include acquiring a course loutline, mastering a subject's jargon, teaching oneself to read efficiently (shown in detail), recognizing lecturer's clues and taking organized notes. Tips for improving your memory include how to set up mnemonic devices that work.

This book is so full of great ideas, and so easy to use, it helped (1) one son win a scholarship to MIT, (2) another son win scholarships to the University of Wisconsin and (3) a daughter-in-law become one of California's "10 best scholars of 1999" and become Phi Beta Kappa.

The book has almost a hundred word games and puzzles that keep repeating 600 or so words that I've seen around often but never had more than a fuzzy idea about the meaning. If you like word puzzles it's a lot of fun and a painless way to increase the vocabulary.