Grammar can be an intimidating subject. This guide helps you learn-- or relearn-- the essentials, and makes learning and using proper grammar simple.

Introduction to grammar and style. Rules and conventions ; Beyond the rules: writing with style -- Grammar basics. Brushing up on parts of speech ; Recognizing the parts of a sentence -- Using the parts of speech to build sentences. Using nouns and pronouns as subjects ; Taking action with verbs ; Describing words: adjectives and adverbs ; Wrapping up action with complements ; Using phrases ; Adding clauses -- Writing with style. The seven Cs of good writing ; Choosing the right words: diction ; Maintaining parallel structure ; Varying sentence structure ; Avoiding and fixing common errors ; Avoiding sexism, bias, and other no-no's -- Fine-tuning the mechanics. Basic punctuation ; Quotation marks and apostrophes ; Hyphens, dashes, parentheses, and brackets ; Spelling rules, tips, and tricks ; Capitalization, abbreviations, and numbers.