Lori Duff Writes

“Good Grammar is the Life of the Party: Tips for a Wildly Successful Life” by Curtis Honeycutt is an irreverent, fun collection of essays written by a self-described Word Nerd.  Honeycutt makes grammar fun and relevant by sticking to his theme: if you want to be taken seriously, you have to sound like you want to be taken seriously.

Which is not to say, of course, that you don’t have a sense of humor.  Honeycutt is genuinely funny, and he uses his humor to impart life lessons amid grammar rules told in ways you will be able to remember.  (e.g. “Just because we have the nuclear codes doesn’t mean we should use them to kill flies.”) 

There are little boxes of joy sprinkled throughout called “What in the Word” in which Honeycutt describes the difference between two or more commonly confused words.  I love these so much and want them to be part of the rules of engagement on Facebook.

Honeycutt’s love of the written word is infectious.  He’s not a stickler.  He talks about the difference between the AP Stylebook and the Chicago manual of style, slang and formal language.  He cautions you about correcting other people’s grammar lest you find yourself correcting grammar in an empty room.  He just wants to help you sound like the intelligent person you are so that people take your points seriously, invite you to swanky parties, and let you win at life.

This is an infinitely readable book, for being, essentially, a textbook on grammar.  It refers to Hobbits; college football; Bed, Bath & Beyond; sunscreen; McRib sandwiches; and adulting.  It contains lines like “But a misplaced apostrophe is like confetti at a funeral: inappropriate and impossible to undo.”  How can you not love that?

The perfect graduation gift or treat for a fellow Word Nerd, you can find “Good Grammar is the Life of the Party by clicking here.

Lori Duff

Lori B. Duff is an award-winning author who practices law on the side.  Her latest book, “If You Did What I Asked in the First Place” was awarded the Gold Medal for humor in the Foreword INDIES awards in 2019. You can follow her on Twitter at @LoriBDuff and on Facebook. For more blogs written by Lori, click here. For more information about Lori in general, click here. If you want Lori to do your writing for you, click here. If you want Lori to help you market your book, click here.