American English Official Grammar Reference Book?

[Mike Trittipo]

"Paul B. Gallagher" <paulbg at PBG-TRANSLATIONS.COM> wrote:
(after quoting Andrey Shcherbenok's message regarding someone's search
for "an official grammar reference book of American English," specifically 
one
to "be . . . AS OFFICIAL AS POSSIBLE (words like "government" in the title, 
etc.)
>
> No such thing. This is not France, there is no Académie Américaine.
>
> The most widely accepted grammar references are the "Chicago Manual of 
> Style" <http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/> and Strunk & White's "The 
> Elements of Style" <http://www.bartleby.com/141/> . . ..

I strongly approve of the Chicago Manual (far superior to the AP style) and 
of Strunk & White (although I probably show my age by somewhat bristling at 
the suggestion that it's antiquated).  But I regard them both as style 
books, not grammar references.  As for grammar texts, Paul's certainly right 
about there being no such thing as an "official" grammar of English (whether 
East Pondian or West).  But I would suggest that The Columbia Guide to 
Standard American English might meet an authority-lover's desires.  Columbia 
is as prestigious as any U.S university, and the guide has a more 
prescriptive bent than some, so it probably fits the desires of someone who 
_wants_ prescription, as it seems the original questioner does.

Of course, as for actual grammars, Quirk's Comprehensive Grammar of the 
English Language (1978) and The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language by 
Huddleston and Pullum have the most solid scholarly reputations.  Mind, they 
cost a bit more than any of the others mentioned.

Michael Trittipo
Minneapolis, MN

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