Practical Grammar

A Canadian Writer's Resource

Third Edition

Maxine Ruvinsky

One-stop grammar resource. A simplified but comprehensive approach to learning the basics of English grammar that includes an introduction to parts of speech and sentence elements as well as an explanation of punctuation and how to avoid common errors.
Readable and engaging. The clear structure and language take the guesswork out of mastering grammar.
Up-to-date documentation guidelines. APA, MLA, and Chicago have been fully updated to provide an accurate and accessible reference that students will refer to when writing.
New and improved drills and exercises. Over 1000 in-chapter drills and review exercises increase your operational knowledge of grammar, allowing you to apply new knowledge to your writing.
New content on key topics. New content on pronouns, active/passive voice, objective case, and dangling modifiers ensure that this text is a comprehensive guide to grammar.
Canadian. Written by a Canadian expert in her field specifically for Canadian students.
Compact format. Small and portable; easy to carry around campus.

Practical Grammar

A Canadian Writer's Resource

Third Edition

Maxine Ruvinsky

Description

Practical Grammar: A Canadian Writer's Resource offers students of all levels and disciplines a succinct and comprehensive overview of the basics of English grammar.

New in-chapter drills and review exercises increase the student's operational knowledge of grammar and allow them to better apply new knowledge to their writing. Documentation guidelines for APA, MLA, and Chicago have been fully updated to provide an accurate and accessible reference that students will refer to when writing.

The third edition retains clear and concise explanations of important grammatical concepts, information on citation, expert advice on avoiding common errors, and tips on research and writing techniques.

Practical Grammar: A Canadian Writer's Resource is a valuable addition to any class with a focus on writing or a written component and can serve as a reference throughout students' academic careers.

Practical Grammar

A Canadian Writer's Resource

Third Edition

Maxine Ruvinsky

A Note to the Reader
A Note to the Instructor
Part I Grammar Basics
1:Parts of Speech
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Interjections
Review Exercises
2:Sentence Structure
Subjects and Predicates
Phrases and Clauses
Sentence Types
Sentence Patterns
Review Exercises
3:Verbs Revisited
Person
Tense
Principal Parts of the Verb
Participles
Mood
Verb Types
Subjects, Objects, and Complements
Active and Passive Voice
Review Exercises
Part II Elementary Errors
4:Subject-Verb Agreement
Reversed Sentence Order
Words between Subject and Verb
Relative Pronouns
Linking Verbs
Correlated Subjects
Collective Nouns as Subjects
Compound Subjects
Plural Nouns
Indefinite Pronouns
Review Exercises
5:Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Pronoun Case
Clear Pronoun Reference
Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent
Pronoun Case
Parting Tips on Pronoun Case
Review Exercises
6:Diction and Danglers
Diction
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
Fixing Danglers
Review Exercises
Part III Points of Style
7:Parallelism and Faulty Constructions
Parallelism
Faulty Constructions
Review Exercises
8:Punctuation
Terminal Punctuation
Internal Punctuation
Review Exercises
Part IV Writing Essentials
9:Writing Well: A Compendium of Tips
Four Stages of Writing
Top Twelve Writing Tips
10:Style and Documentation
Answers
Glossary of Grammatical Terms
Resources
Index

Practical Grammar

A Canadian Writer's Resource

Third Edition

Maxine Ruvinsky

Author Information

Maxine Ruvinsky, Associate Professor, School of Journalism, Thompson Rivers University

Maxine Ruvinsky is associate professor of the School of Journalism at Thompson Rivers University. A former journalist and copyeditor, she is an author of three other Oxford University Press textbooks: Investigative Reporting in Canada, 2008; Reporting for the Media, Canadian Edition, 2011; and Practical Writing, 2014.