Brush Up Your Grammar

     The links on this page will take you to resources that will help native speakers of English tap into their intuitive understanding of syntax and standard usage.

     The Tips for ESL Writers page will help non-native speakers continue to grow in their ability to speak and write English fluently while reading and listening more effectively. 

     The Plain English page offers links to tips for simplifying bureaucratic language, eliminating jargon, and making sure your page design doesn't interfere with readability.

      Help with a variety of issues is available at the following sites:

• Punctuation Made Simple, a popular site at Illinois State University

• Common Errors in English, developed by Professor Paul Brians at Washington State University. Be sure to look at his Other Good Resources links at the bottom of his errors list.

• Grammar and Style Guide, developed by Professor Jack Lynch of Rutgers University

• Handouts on Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling from the Purdue Online Writing Lab

• Grammar and Punctuation tips from the University of Wisconsin Writing Center's Writer's Handbook

• Strunk and White's Elements of Style in electronic format from Bartleby.com

• The Slot, especially for copy editors and people who think like copy editors, developed by Bill Walsh, a copy editor at the Washington Post

• FAQ at the Chicago Manual of Style's Web site, for perfectionists and people fascinated by the details of punctuation, usage, and clarity.  The Chicago Manual is THE standard followed by most publishers in the United States.