Table of Contents

First things first
Chapter 1 A thing or two that got us here
Chapter 2 Things to stay calm about: rules that aren't rules
Chapter 3 That writing thing: are we clear?
Chapter 4 Things that punctuate our lives
Chapter 5 More things that punctuate our lives
Chapter 6 Things that lie in wait to trap us
Chapter 7 The thing about American English
Chapter 8 Befuddling things
Chapter 9 Things to use as argument starters at parties
Chapter 10 Things this book might be asked if it couldbe asked things


Last things last
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Index

About the Author

Joanne Anderson has worked as a journalist on major publications in Australia and Hong Kong. She joined The Age's subediting team in 2004, eventually becoming chief desk editor, a role in which she herds thousands of words each day and adjudicates on tricky language questions. She has worked on in-house style guides and written a weekly newsletter on English use for staff at The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and their sister publications. Joanne lives in Melbourne but does not like Aussie rules.

Matt Goldingis a Melbourne-based cartoonist whose work has appeared in newspapers for more than two decades. Matt thinks in images and has a history of managing to write wrongly, even though his tiny pocket cartoons generally contain very few words. Jo has long been called upon to right his wrongs, and the making of this book was no exception. He too cares less about footy.

Reviews

'It's good to finally have a book to learn us how to use the English language proper' SHAUN MICALLEF

'Handbook as much as playbook, here's a guide with grammar the subject, and pleasure the object.' DAVID ASTLE