American English Official Grammar Reference Book

[Deborah Hoffman]

I was also going to suggest the Columbia guide. In addition to grammar, it contains valuable information on varying levels of register, something that tends to plague a non-native speaker of any language, as well as on inclusive usage.
   
   
  >Date:    Sun, 9 Dec 2007 00:14:31 -0600
>From:    Mike Trittipo <tritt002 at TC.UMN.EDU>
>Subject: Re: American English Official Grammar Reference Book?
>
> 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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