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As you know, I was very, very lucky to receive a signed copy of June Casagrande’s Mortal Syntax: 101 Language Choices That Will Get You Clobbered by the Grammar Snobs — Even If You’re Right.

Pretty long title right there, whew!

But the incredibly long title aside, I have to say the book is quite unlike the usual grammar guides we find in stores. Stuffy really isn’t a word you can use to describe Mortal Syntax, given Casagrande’s highly eclectic and quirky writing style.

The subject matter is far from easy, too, by the way.

Grammar really isn’t for the faint of heart, especially with so-called experts judging us writers at every turn. Blogs, forums — almost every opportunity to write has become an arena for bitchy “grammar experts” to criticize and poke fun.

What Casagrande points out in her book, however, is that these grammar snobs aren’t always right. Though they may like to think of themselves as perfect, this really isn’t the case. A lot of times, these grammar snobs may unwittingly be making fun of people who aren’t even wrong.

Gasp!

But Casagrande is right. Grammar is so dynamic that it would be near impossible to keep up with it. Of course some rules will always stay (like subject-verb agreement, for example), but the rest is pretty much open season.

It’s a fun and informative read, though Casagrande has the tendency to ramble at times. Some chapter leads are completely irrelevant to the actual grammatical issue in question, but it’s all good. Reading Casagrande is a bit like reading your favorite blogger: casual, light yet informative and useful.

Check out June Casagrande’s Mortal Syntax and arm yourself. The next time some grammar snob pokes fun at your sentences, you’ll be armed and ready.

XOXO,