Hi, I'm working as a content writer for a healthcare website. I'm very keen on refreshing my grammar skills however, I don't know which book should I consider reading? I also want that the book should have lots of exercises with answers. It shouldn't be too elementary though. Thanks in advance Cheenu
Here are some resources I often refer to. As a professional writer (not language learner!) you may find them useful: Cambridge Grammar of English The Economist: Style Guide The New York Times Style Manual Chicago Manual of Style Purdue OWL If you wish to brush up on basic grammar from your schooldays, try this: University College London - Internet Grammar of English Other books you may benefit from: On Writing Well Writing to Learn Clear and Simple as the Truth The Sense of Style
This is harder. I haven't done any grammar exercises since middle-school (which 'native speaker' has?), although I have taught English informally to non-native speakers - but then you are probably much further along than they. In any case, take a look at these and see if they are too elementary for you. I have used them fruitfully with students trying to improve their English, mostly Asian. The Blue Book of Grammar & Punctuation The Only Grammar Book You Will Ever Need & Workbook
You have stated your motive but not the reason for brushing up on Grammar skills. In my experience people confuse "Grammar" with "Good language" and they both are as different as chalk and churro. When you said "Grammar" did you mean writing flawless English that adheres to syntactical rules or did you mean "Good language" that appeals to the readers of your healthcare website? If you meant "Grammar" in scholastic sense to comply with linguistic creed of a purist then you already have links and references in above posts. But if you meant "Grammar" as a style guide to enrich your language then you need to draw out a practical plan rather than committing to these laborious exercises. You have to practise reflective grammar/good language. You can't train yourself to identify asperities in language from a set of instructions in a rulebook but you have to discern "good" and "bad" grammar idiomatically. (1) Watch television programmes that are renowned for fostering good language. (2) Read magazines and media articles like New Yorker and Slate that instill a good taste in vocabulary. (3) Rigorous exercises may help you to imprint tricks but you will be able to remember things better when you learn playfully by watching television or reading Roald Dahl books. (4) Be mindful of language around you. When anyone uses a new word, a new construct or a sing-song tense then refer to dictionary/style guide/grammar book but rather than learning from bottom-up you may find it helpful to approach this challenge as top-down. Lastly, some of the enshrined books are so fusty and language is fluid. You may want to read up articles on "Is Grammar necessary anymore" and "Is Comma splice accepted now" on the net to realise how language swings and adapts.
