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Good Grammar Is the Life of the Party: Tips for a Wildly Successful Life
Those who can't be bothered with another dry grammar guide owe it to themselves to give this a look.
-Publishers Weekly
Grammar rules!
Good Grammar is the Life of the Party: Tips for a Wildly Successful Life will convert certified grammar goofballs into bonafide word nerds.
As the writer of the award-winning humor column Grammar Guy, Curtis Honeycutt's grammar advice appears in over 40 newspapers each week. His debut book-filled with witty word wisdom-is designed to make your life more awesome by improving your grammar.
Do you love language, but sometimes get tripped up by confusing grammar rules? Good Grammar is the Life of the Party is like a cheat code for your social life. Level up your grammar game to become a linguistic legend-from romantic relationships to job promotions to getting invited to fancy roof parties. Climb the corporate ladder, convince people you're smart, and win at life with dozens of helpful tips on how to master the English language.
Grammar aficionados and beginners alike will love this fresh, friendly approach to tackling American English grammar and punctuation rules. This book answers some of life's most pressing questions, including:
How can I make myself irresistible to attractive people?
What's a moot?
Why don't people like me?
How can I increase my holiday card list to over 1,000 friends?
Is irregardless even a word?
Where can I find the best box of wine?
Can I...or, may I...end a sentence in a preposition?
Are robot overlords ruining our grammar?
What are the chances I'll get killed by a falling coconut?
GGITLOTP offers accessible mini-essays that provide a quirky spin on proper grammar usage along with tips for achieving massive personal success.
-Publishers Weekly
Grammar rules!
Good Grammar is the Life of the Party: Tips for a Wildly Successful Life will convert certified grammar goofballs into bonafide word nerds.
As the writer of the award-winning humor column Grammar Guy, Curtis Honeycutt's grammar advice appears in over 40 newspapers each week. His debut book-filled with witty word wisdom-is designed to make your life more awesome by improving your grammar.
Do you love language, but sometimes get tripped up by confusing grammar rules? Good Grammar is the Life of the Party is like a cheat code for your social life. Level up your grammar game to become a linguistic legend-from romantic relationships to job promotions to getting invited to fancy roof parties. Climb the corporate ladder, convince people you're smart, and win at life with dozens of helpful tips on how to master the English language.
Grammar aficionados and beginners alike will love this fresh, friendly approach to tackling American English grammar and punctuation rules. This book answers some of life's most pressing questions, including:
How can I make myself irresistible to attractive people?
What's a moot?
Why don't people like me?
How can I increase my holiday card list to over 1,000 friends?
Is irregardless even a word?
Where can I find the best box of wine?
Can I...or, may I...end a sentence in a preposition?
Are robot overlords ruining our grammar?
What are the chances I'll get killed by a falling coconut?
GGITLOTP offers accessible mini-essays that provide a quirky spin on proper grammar usage along with tips for achieving massive personal success.
- GenresNonfiction
242 pages, ebook
Published May 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 23, 2020
The author really nailed it. This is a first-rate book, if I do say so myself. Someone should reward him with a briefcase full of non-sequential hundred dollar bills.
March 21, 2020
As a grammar and punctuation fanatic, devotee, enthusiast, aficionado—whichever word is your preference—I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Curtis Honeycutt’s "Good Grammar is the Life of the Party."
Curtis, who lives in Indiana with his wife, Carrie, and his two Instagram-star children Miles and Maeve, has won multiple awards for his humor column, “Grammar Guy,” which appears in dozens of newspapers every week.
"Good Grammar is the Life of the Party," Curtis’s debut book, is "The Elements of Style" with personality. I recommend you keep both of them next to each other on your bookshelf. Unlike Elements, Good Grammar is full of witticisms and laugh-out-loud anecdotes and asides, many of them baby-boomer-centric. Curtis manages to seamlessly segue (there—I’ve just split an infinitive) from his mini-stories to grammar rules. Pay attention—you might miss a pun or word association. Peppered throughout the book are windows called “What in the word?” (get it?), where Curtis compares two words or expressions similar in sound or spelling but different in meaning.
I learned a lot that I didn’t know before, e.g. what on earth is a mondegreen? It’s when you mis-hear a phrase in a song, as in, “Goodbye enormous jeans” instead of “Goodbye Norma Jean,” or “Strumming my face with his fingers” instead of “Strumming my pain with his fingers.”
I found the very final segment of the book especially packed with information and tips, which, for a word nerd like me, were positively joyful. If you want to know a fascinating rule about how to write the months of the year correctly—well, I’m not going to tell you. You’ll have to buy the book. I’m a writer myself, and I have no doubt that some of what I’ve discovered will endear me to my frostiest editor.
To my further delight, Curtis tackles some of my pet peeves, like the incorrect expression, “I could care less,” and some of the corporate buzz words that drive me nuts—or batty, as the British would say. And, by the way, Curtis does tackle some of British versus American usages of different words.
Don’t be fooled by the light-hearted and sometimes flat-out funny tone of this book. It’s full of valuable information and tips that will serve you well in your writing, particularly if you are a high school or college student. Now, whether it will make you the life of the party is for you to find out.
Thanks to The County Publishing for providing me a review copy.
Kwei Quartey
Author of the Inspector Darko Dawson and Emma Djan Investigations series
Curtis, who lives in Indiana with his wife, Carrie, and his two Instagram-star children Miles and Maeve, has won multiple awards for his humor column, “Grammar Guy,” which appears in dozens of newspapers every week.
"Good Grammar is the Life of the Party," Curtis’s debut book, is "The Elements of Style" with personality. I recommend you keep both of them next to each other on your bookshelf. Unlike Elements, Good Grammar is full of witticisms and laugh-out-loud anecdotes and asides, many of them baby-boomer-centric. Curtis manages to seamlessly segue (there—I’ve just split an infinitive) from his mini-stories to grammar rules. Pay attention—you might miss a pun or word association. Peppered throughout the book are windows called “What in the word?” (get it?), where Curtis compares two words or expressions similar in sound or spelling but different in meaning.
I learned a lot that I didn’t know before, e.g. what on earth is a mondegreen? It’s when you mis-hear a phrase in a song, as in, “Goodbye enormous jeans” instead of “Goodbye Norma Jean,” or “Strumming my face with his fingers” instead of “Strumming my pain with his fingers.”
I found the very final segment of the book especially packed with information and tips, which, for a word nerd like me, were positively joyful. If you want to know a fascinating rule about how to write the months of the year correctly—well, I’m not going to tell you. You’ll have to buy the book. I’m a writer myself, and I have no doubt that some of what I’ve discovered will endear me to my frostiest editor.
To my further delight, Curtis tackles some of my pet peeves, like the incorrect expression, “I could care less,” and some of the corporate buzz words that drive me nuts—or batty, as the British would say. And, by the way, Curtis does tackle some of British versus American usages of different words.
Don’t be fooled by the light-hearted and sometimes flat-out funny tone of this book. It’s full of valuable information and tips that will serve you well in your writing, particularly if you are a high school or college student. Now, whether it will make you the life of the party is for you to find out.
Thanks to The County Publishing for providing me a review copy.
Kwei Quartey
Author of the Inspector Darko Dawson and Emma Djan Investigations series
May 1, 2020
In today’s world, just about everybody is a writer at some time. Anyone who uses social media—or even a cellphone—will write something practically daily. A text message, a post on Facebook, a comment on someone else’s post, a “tweet,” an Instagram post.
For those of us who love our language, seeing the frequent grammatical errors in these is similar to the old “nails on a chalkboard” reaction. I myself created a Facebook page for my “grammar police” friends. It was a delight when I discovered kindred spirit Curtis Honeycutt through his column, “Grammar Guy.” When I learned he was writing this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. Even though I’m a writer, I still sometimes need to double check on word usage and order. I’m very glad English is my first language, and I am in awe of the bilingual people who tackle our native tongue as a second language.
Using considerable skill and an abundance of humor, Honeycutt is the “Mr. Rogers” of grammar police. He points out all the problems of mastering the English language without making us feel we’ve had our knuckles rapped. He uses popular culture right along with great literature to help us understand how to keep subjects, objects, predicates, adjectives, and other parts of speech straight, as well as what punctuation to use where. He handily un-confuses the use of lie, lay, lain, laid—something a lot of aspiring writers struggle with. He also points out that using good grammar is important when speaking English as well, and can make a difference in a job interview, and even in romance.
One of my favorite things in the book are the boxes sprinkled randomly throughout which help us to sort out words that sound the same or similar but have different meanings. There are occasional boxes which straighten out commonly misunderstood use of different words or phrases as well, such as the difference between “flush out” and “flesh out.”
I highly recommend this delightful book and know I’ll keep it handy for reference. And maybe give a copy or two to people who have a difficult time with “their, they’re, there” and “your, you’re.” They’re out there.
For those of us who love our language, seeing the frequent grammatical errors in these is similar to the old “nails on a chalkboard” reaction. I myself created a Facebook page for my “grammar police” friends. It was a delight when I discovered kindred spirit Curtis Honeycutt through his column, “Grammar Guy.” When I learned he was writing this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. Even though I’m a writer, I still sometimes need to double check on word usage and order. I’m very glad English is my first language, and I am in awe of the bilingual people who tackle our native tongue as a second language.
Using considerable skill and an abundance of humor, Honeycutt is the “Mr. Rogers” of grammar police. He points out all the problems of mastering the English language without making us feel we’ve had our knuckles rapped. He uses popular culture right along with great literature to help us understand how to keep subjects, objects, predicates, adjectives, and other parts of speech straight, as well as what punctuation to use where. He handily un-confuses the use of lie, lay, lain, laid—something a lot of aspiring writers struggle with. He also points out that using good grammar is important when speaking English as well, and can make a difference in a job interview, and even in romance.
One of my favorite things in the book are the boxes sprinkled randomly throughout which help us to sort out words that sound the same or similar but have different meanings. There are occasional boxes which straighten out commonly misunderstood use of different words or phrases as well, such as the difference between “flush out” and “flesh out.”
I highly recommend this delightful book and know I’ll keep it handy for reference. And maybe give a copy or two to people who have a difficult time with “their, they’re, there” and “your, you’re.” They’re out there.
May 1, 2020
Honeycutt has delivered. I’d say he done good, but after reading his wonderful book, that kind of talk was grammared out of me!
Good Grammar Is the Life of the Party is a delightful combination of education and, what I appreciate, humor. Honeycutt has written a gem of a book that explains so many aspects of grammar. He covers a wide range of grammar topics explaining punctuation, differences between commonly confused words, and how to use various parts of speech properly. And, as a bonus, the reader gets to learn about his bizarre friend Byron.
As one reads through Good Grammar, any person is bound to learn things like, well, good grammar. But also, this book is so much fun as Honeycutt mines humor in the vein of Mark Twain or Dave Barry to introduce and explain grammar topics. You may think grammar is a boring subject, but that will change as you read Honeycutt’s take on it with a wealth of quirky pop culture references and hilarious memories.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to succeed in life or who just wants to read a fun book. You may also learn a few things about Good Grammar.
Good Grammar Is the Life of the Party is a delightful combination of education and, what I appreciate, humor. Honeycutt has written a gem of a book that explains so many aspects of grammar. He covers a wide range of grammar topics explaining punctuation, differences between commonly confused words, and how to use various parts of speech properly. And, as a bonus, the reader gets to learn about his bizarre friend Byron.
As one reads through Good Grammar, any person is bound to learn things like, well, good grammar. But also, this book is so much fun as Honeycutt mines humor in the vein of Mark Twain or Dave Barry to introduce and explain grammar topics. You may think grammar is a boring subject, but that will change as you read Honeycutt’s take on it with a wealth of quirky pop culture references and hilarious memories.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to succeed in life or who just wants to read a fun book. You may also learn a few things about Good Grammar.
January 21, 2021
Since grammar is probably the most avoided and feared topic on the planet, it's probably not high on your list of fun stuff to learn. However, its proper use can actually, really have a very important influence on your future (example of bad grammar). Your eloquence and beautifully worded phrasal verbs and use of punctuation will be so impressive, the Queen will want you to write her personal letters for her. That's why you need this guide.
Each short chapter (1-2 pages) opens with a humorous anecdote or story which leads to an easy-to-remember explanation to some ridiculously complicated grammar point. Take for example, the difference between lay and lie. We're so afraid to use these verbs incorrectly that we'll throw in just about any other verb or phrasal verb to replace them (hang loose / chill out / compose yourself on the lounge chair while you wait). The author has come up with some great sentences to show us exactly how these verbs should be used:
Example: "You can lie about laying down your laser while you lie on the loveseat in your lounge". Easy huh? You bet.
An index at the end of the book will direct you immediately to the sections you want to read over and over again. Have fun!
Each short chapter (1-2 pages) opens with a humorous anecdote or story which leads to an easy-to-remember explanation to some ridiculously complicated grammar point. Take for example, the difference between lay and lie. We're so afraid to use these verbs incorrectly that we'll throw in just about any other verb or phrasal verb to replace them (hang loose / chill out / compose yourself on the lounge chair while you wait). The author has come up with some great sentences to show us exactly how these verbs should be used:
Example: "You can lie about laying down your laser while you lie on the loveseat in your lounge". Easy huh? You bet.
An index at the end of the book will direct you immediately to the sections you want to read over and over again. Have fun!
July 16, 2020
Funny and helpful at the same time. If my grammar text books had been this fun back in school, maybe I wouldn't have had to look up the rules for lie/lay every single time I needed one of those words over the years. P.S. I've been to North Dakota.
February 23, 2020
Curtis Honeycutt’s writing style reminds me of G. K. Chesterton, who, “Whenever possible … made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out.”
Curtis’ choice of quotes from books, music and movies to illustrate a point or inject wit is not just entertaining, although it is very much that. His backstories highlight and untangle confusing grammar rules. He challenges other rules as if he is Super Grammar-Man fighting for the common sense of our language usage. And I’d say he is winning just by the way he takes a stand against punctuation and grammar inconsistencies and gives refreshing options to sidestep them.
By page 27, I realized Curtis had made me laugh so much that I hardly noticed all the handy grammar tips that came along for the ride. He reaches out from the pages to share bits about himself as a kid, as a dad, as a nerd, as a writer; and his way of relating grammar gaffes is often hilarious and certainly memorable, like this gem: “…dropping exclamation points all willy-nilly makes you look like a person who has had a few too many espressos.”
Speaking of memory, I especially appreciate his mnemonics, most new to me, to help remember some of the trickier grammar rules. And you will want to remember them if you don’t already know them. Honeycutt offers a fresh take and examples on how saying and writing what you mean can lead to success.
You’ll want to add this book to the top of your reading list.
Curtis’ choice of quotes from books, music and movies to illustrate a point or inject wit is not just entertaining, although it is very much that. His backstories highlight and untangle confusing grammar rules. He challenges other rules as if he is Super Grammar-Man fighting for the common sense of our language usage. And I’d say he is winning just by the way he takes a stand against punctuation and grammar inconsistencies and gives refreshing options to sidestep them.
By page 27, I realized Curtis had made me laugh so much that I hardly noticed all the handy grammar tips that came along for the ride. He reaches out from the pages to share bits about himself as a kid, as a dad, as a nerd, as a writer; and his way of relating grammar gaffes is often hilarious and certainly memorable, like this gem: “…dropping exclamation points all willy-nilly makes you look like a person who has had a few too many espressos.”
Speaking of memory, I especially appreciate his mnemonics, most new to me, to help remember some of the trickier grammar rules. And you will want to remember them if you don’t already know them. Honeycutt offers a fresh take and examples on how saying and writing what you mean can lead to success.
You’ll want to add this book to the top of your reading list.
February 20, 2020
Excellent book! I learned so much and it was fun to read. This book is filled to the brim with fun stories, humor, and facts. I'm ready to read it again.
April 27, 2020
I'm an editor by trade, so I opened this book with high standards and high hopes for a fun twist on the rules that govern my career -- and I was not disappointed! Curtis takes grammar and makes it accessible, interspersing the many inelegant rules of the English language with fun, often pop-culture-related tips and tricks for remembering everything from how to make last names plural to what split infinitives are and all that exists in between.
Honestly this book had my heart when I noticed that Curtis devoted a section to my favorite punctuation mark (yes, of COURSE I have a favorite punctuation mark; I'm an editor!), the interrobang. But the rest is well worth the reading. Whether you're looking for a refresher on some of the more obscure rules of English or just really want to get "there/their/they're" straight once and for all, this book swaps the standard academic explanations for answers steeped in humor, clarity, and "tips for a wildly successful life."
Bottom line: This book has well-earned its place on my bookshelf right next to "The Elements of Style Illustrated" and "The Associated Press Stylebook."
Honestly this book had my heart when I noticed that Curtis devoted a section to my favorite punctuation mark (yes, of COURSE I have a favorite punctuation mark; I'm an editor!), the interrobang. But the rest is well worth the reading. Whether you're looking for a refresher on some of the more obscure rules of English or just really want to get "there/their/they're" straight once and for all, this book swaps the standard academic explanations for answers steeped in humor, clarity, and "tips for a wildly successful life."
Bottom line: This book has well-earned its place on my bookshelf right next to "The Elements of Style Illustrated" and "The Associated Press Stylebook."
April 30, 2020
Three cheers for Good Grammar is the Life of the Party: Tips for a Wildly Successful Life, a hilarious alternative to the staid language primers of old. Tackling today's thorniest English language conundrums, Curtis Honeycutt cleverly packages mini-lessons in relatable, laugh-out-loud anecdotes. For students who strive to write coherently and for job seekers who wish to put their best foot forward, it's difficult to imagine a more concise, useful, entertaining combination. For professed word nerds or those who seek a lighthearted escape from the daily news, GGITLOTP will delight. One hopes that this book is the first in a series whereby the author wittily and painlessly elucidates tricky subjects. If Honeycutt can do for Organic Chemistry what he's accomplished for grammar, the Nobel Peace Prize surely awaits!
April 30, 2020
I learned more about proper grammar reading Curtis Honeycutt’s fantastic new book, “Good Grammar is the Life of the Party,” than I did in reading the complete works of William Shakespeare, the Merriam-Webster dictionary, or Strunk and White’s “The Elements of Style.” However, that may perhaps be due to not having actually read any of those other books…
But Curtis's book (or should that be “Curtis’ book”? You’ll find a discussion on that very topic within these pages) is a fantastic assemblage of strategies to deal with a wide array of grammatical conundrums. This book will surely live up to its promise of making me its titular “Life of the Party” – if only I can secure an invitation to one.
But Curtis's book (or should that be “Curtis’ book”? You’ll find a discussion on that very topic within these pages) is a fantastic assemblage of strategies to deal with a wide array of grammatical conundrums. This book will surely live up to its promise of making me its titular “Life of the Party” – if only I can secure an invitation to one.
April 30, 2020
I had the good fortune to be invited for an advance reading of this new book on English grammar, available at BarnesandNoble.com in May (pre-order available now), check GoodReads and Amazon too.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know… your buddies will think you’re being pretentious if you start talking like your high school English teacher. But when you get invited back for a second-round interview for your dream job, or want to talk up that new babe or dude at the club, you better be ready to talk the talk – meaning good grammar. And Curtis Honeycutt’s "Good Grammar Is the Life of the Party" is an entertaining way to seal the deal. Love, laugh, and learn.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know… your buddies will think you’re being pretentious if you start talking like your high school English teacher. But when you get invited back for a second-round interview for your dream job, or want to talk up that new babe or dude at the club, you better be ready to talk the talk – meaning good grammar. And Curtis Honeycutt’s "Good Grammar Is the Life of the Party" is an entertaining way to seal the deal. Love, laugh, and learn.
April 30, 2020
If you want to learn something and have fun doing it then this book is for you. The book is easy to follow and hits all the right grammar questions. It’s so funny, you’ll actually forget you are learning something! Before reading the book, I felt pretty solid in my grammar skills; I still learned some new things! Everyone can learn something by reading this!
April 30, 2020
Who would have ever guessed a book about grammar would be so much fun? And something that you wouldn't want to put down? This is the perfect gift for anyone who uses words... which of course is everyone! But it's especially great for grads. Seriously, buy this book and keep it handy! It'll improve your life.
May 17, 2020
This book is FUN.
I don't generally read fun books- I spend my time on serious, boring books where I learn something. Honeycutt takes a dry topic– finer points of grammar and word use– and makes it fast-paced, engaging, and really, really understandable and entertaining. I look forward to gifting this to recent grads and other word nerd friends like myself!
I don't generally read fun books- I spend my time on serious, boring books where I learn something. Honeycutt takes a dry topic– finer points of grammar and word use– and makes it fast-paced, engaging, and really, really understandable and entertaining. I look forward to gifting this to recent grads and other word nerd friends like myself!
April 29, 2020
This is a fun read that you won’t be able to put down! Curtis displays a unique wit and sense of humor that captivates his audience, plus it provides a refresher course in grammar which is sure to impress your English aficionados! Makes for a great gift to a recent grad!
May 24, 2020
Curtis does a great job of making grammar fun and relevant. This book is an easy read and one you’ll want to refer back to because let’s be honest, how much grammar can we take in one setting? Great job, Curtis!
January 4, 2021
My questions about lead and led and aww and awe were answered -- as well as learning about a ton of other questions involveds with grammar! Honeycutt shared this information in an amusing and laidback way. It was fin-to-read, but informative.
May 1, 2020
Grammar Guy has hit a home run in the field of grammar nerdiness! I thoroughly enjoyed this witty way to up my grammar game. Thanks, Grammar Guy!
July 23, 2020
Super clever book -- not just about grammar (although I learned a lot!), but also pop culture and lots of funny anecdotes. Would be perfect to-to gift for a recent high school or college grad.
January 14, 2021
Takes a while to digest but worth it
February 2, 2021
This book is witty and fun. Plus I learned a lot about grammar. I literally laughed out loud so many times. Curtis is absolutely pun master!
August 16, 2022
Curtis Honeycutt is my hero! I love his weekly column in our local newspaper. So finding this book was a no-brainer. Fun. Entertaining. Affirming. Highly recommend.
April 29, 2020
This book is so well-written and witty! I find myself laughing out loud on a regular basis! It is also very helpful - many tips and tricks of the grammar-trade as they would say! I highly recommend this for anyone to read! PS - It would be a great graduation gift this year...wink wink.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews