Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again

"Good writing skills are a must in any professional career, and there's no secret to being a good writer: Learn the tools of English, and practice. And read, of course. A lot. Students can use a hand learning the basics—and the trickier points—of language, and that's where three new books come in. Mignon Fogarty, better known as 'Grammar Girl' . . . wrote her three latest books just for students, to help them learn new words, navigate tricky meanings, and put them all together into clear, coherent English. 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know and 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again are short, handy word guides. [101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again] actually contains more than 101 words, as most entries differentiate at least two words that are commonly mixed up. The entries include 'affect/effect,' 'lay/lie' and 'till/'til/until.' Each word is explained and illustrated with [examples] . . . An added feature in this book is [a] 'quick and dirty tip' for most entries—these offer a mnemonic or short sentence to help people remember the differences . . . It's all done in a light, friendly style with copious examples of what to do, and focuses much more on doing than on not-doing. The main message [is]: You can write; here are the tools."—Lisa McLendon, The News & Observer (Raleigh)