The audiobook version of “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Clean Up Your Writing” came across my desk recently. I had heard of Mignon Fogarty, the Grammar Girl, through her Web site. I don’t go to the Web site regularly, but I think she gives good advice in her podcasts. (Addendum: A Newsday story reports that her iTunes podcast has been downloaded 5 million times and caters to 2 million listeners each week.) The audiobook is like the podcasts: clear and concise. For people who learn better by listening than by reading, this might be a good resource. She offers memory tricks, too.
The explanation of affect and effect is a good sample of the Grammar Girl’s work.
As the Grammar Girl explains at the beginning of her audiobook, today’s electronic communication demands that we learn even more about usage and grammar. We could communicate in text message shorthand, but sooner or later, we need to write clear and complete sentences that our teachers, bosses, co-workers and customers can understand.
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