Writing Resources: The Mechanics of Writing

Understanding the mechanics of story and the mechanics of language are two different things. Without a good story, the reader won't want to keep reading. Without good writing, the reader won't be able to keep reading.

Here are some handy resources to brush up on the mechanics of the English language so your reader can be engaged in the story, not snared by errors in the writing.

The best punctuation book, period. by June Casagrande

Probably the most comprehensive guide to punctuation in the English language ever compiled, if you have questions about the difference between a hyphen, an en dash and an em dash, this is the place to look. Each punctuation mark gets its own chapter that breaks down all its possible uses. Even better, each section identifies the general rules based on the type of writing, covering fiction, journalism, sciences and academic writing, so no matter what you write, The best punctuation book, period. has you covered.

A full copy can be found online through the Internet Archive.

The Grammar Devotional by Mignon Fogarty

This is one of the best quick reference guides for common grammatical errors. Written in short, easy to understand sections, it comes complete with quizzes, exercises, word searches and scrambles to help you retain the information. After the first read through, it's a handy companion for every time you need to quintuple check if it's lay or lie or whichever quirk of the English language just won't stick in your brain.

It was the best of sentences, it was the worst of sentences by June Casagrande

If you're looking for a clear, easy to digest, practical guide on writing better, it's hard to top this one. While the basics of grammar are well covered, the strength of Casagrande's book is that she provides plenty of examples and explains how applying these rules affects the quality of the sentence and reader understanding. Most importantly, while she has strong opinions on what makes a good sentence, she also invites you to disagree with her, as long as you understand the rules first and have thought through the reasons for breaking them. The result provides authors with a useful guide that doesn't feel overwhelming.

Practical Grammar by Maxine Ruvinsky

An excellent overview of English grammar from a Canadian perspective. It is well organized and indexed, making it easy to look up specific grammatical questions as they arise. Each section comes with a series of exercises to practice what you've learned, which is a great way to test your knowledge.

A full copy of the second edition is available online through the Internet Archive.

Woe is I by Patricia T. O'Conner

If you are looking for short, clear explanations of the ins and outs of English grammar, Woe is I is the book for you. O'Conner covers each tricky aspect of English grammar in a page or less with lots of examples. There are no big words or jargon here. Just straightforward simple prose that makes the sometimes complex rules easy to understand. While there are some points where O'Conner can become a little too prescriptive, especially when it comes to spelling and pronunciation, this is tempered by her continual reminders that language is a living thing and as a result, what is consider incorrect today might be correct in the future or vice versa. Chapter 8 provides one of the best guides on how and when to use punctuation marks, especially the comma. It isn't as comprehensive as Casagrande or Ruvinsky, but it covers the most common situations clearly and concicely.

A full copy of the forth edition is available online through the Internet Archive.