Polishing the PUGS: Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling

by Kathy Ide Reviewed by April Stier Self-published, 70 pages Price: $12. Book/CD combo: $20. Expanded Edition: $18. Expanded Edition combo: $30. To order: www.KathyIde.com ("Published Works" page) Polishing the "PUGS" is not just another grammar book--it is the grammar tool for today's professional writers and editors. Unlike most grammar books, Polishing the "PUGS" offers advice straight from the industry-standard rule books: The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (for books), The Associated Press Stylebook and Webster's New World College Dictionary (for articles), and The Christian Writer's Manual of Style. This all-in-one reference provides a one-stop shop for any writer or editor needing advice about punctuation, usage, grammar, or spelling. Ide covers punctuation topics such as apostrophes, capitalization, italics, quotation marks, the difference between an em-dash and an en-dash (and when to use them), and those pesky commas. In her usage lessons, she provides a lengthy list of commonly misused words (such as affect/effect, bad/badly, fliers/flyers, and underway/under way), their definitions, and how to properly use them. Instead of rehashing all the grammar rules available, Ide only discusses the most common errors writers make. Her section on spelling provides more than a dictionary--it includes hyphenation, numbers, publishers' preferences on key issues, and how to spell terms for modern technology, slang, and sounds. For every rule discussed, Ide cites the latest stylebook page or reference number for easy access. She also provides excellent examples to illustrate each rule, as well as space at the end of each section to record your own favorite rules. Polishing the "PUGS" is also available on CD as a Microsoft Word document, which makes a quick search even easier. If you're looking for a simple yet inclusive grammar reference manual, buy Polishing the "PUGS"!