Practical English Handbook [antikvár]

This Practical English Handbook aims at presenting the elements of language and composition in a way that is concise and clear without being oversimplified or superficial. It is designed for the student who needs classroom drill on fundamentals as well as for the better prepared student whose chief need is independent study of particular problems in grammar, diction, mechanics, rhetoric, and research technique. The approach is practical and functional, and instructions are specific. Principles are stated explicitly in heavy type, and care has been taken to avoid blanket exhortations to "spell correctly" or "punctuate in accordance with standard usage." Explanations and exceptions are then given at greater length in "regular" type; and all these are generously illustrated, sometimes with the aid of arrows, boxes, and other graphic devices to make structures and relationships at once apparent. Beyond a brief introductory review of the basic structure of the English sentence, the theory of grammar is not emphasized. Rather, the focus is on salient features of English grammar with which students have trouble, beginning with a few "first aid" sections on the most common errors. In matters of diction and usage, this handbook follows the most recent college desk dictionaries. The approach thus recognizes linguistic findings without denying students the support of the limits imposed by accepted practice.