Practical English Usage

There is truly no other book like it. It categorizes Common English Usage so easily that you can look up "over" and find what the difference is between "over" and "above". It explains things very clearly and I must say I have not run across any explanation than seems unclear or lacks detail. I used this book heavily while teaching English in Hungary and it is an excellent book for teachers to have, as well as learners of English. I must say though it is a rather advanced book in the sense that someone who does not understand basic English grammar already might have some problems with the explanations. Have fun reading guys!

What I like about this book: For anyone learning English as a Second Language, or anyone who has to teach it, this book is indispensable. It covers issues of usage, not grammar (eg: When is the present perfect tense used, not how to form it.) It is designed for international students etc. as can be seen in the entries on 'false friends' like 'sympathetic' with reference to other European languages. I love the way Swan deals with language as it is actually used (he weighs in on the who/whom debate by giving details on what people do say, rather than what they ought. Other good features include a list of swear-words with a rating to help give an indication of their strength. As a native English speaker, I too have found this book very useful (it is slowly teaching me the monstrous spelling rule and irregularities of the English language). What I dislike about this book: Can't fault it. Perhaps the SMS abbreviations are quite dated even a couple of years on. But documenting in print youth abbreviations in Email/SMS etc. are a problem with no solution. Where to from here: 'Practical' 'English' Usage'. It does everything it says on the box, and does it well. If that is what you need, this is the book you need.

Excellent book for those who wish to learn the particular nuances of the English language. I bought this book for someone from South Korea and most of the time he makes an error, I don't pay attention. His English was poor when we met. He's totally immersed in the English language now that he's living in Canada. When he asks me "why" a particular phrase is used, I am often stuck to explain the grammatical syntax. Fortunately, this book answers these questions, and then some... I'd highly recommend this book for those who have a foundation of the language and want to improve their grammatical skills.

Detailed and comprehensive guide to the usage of English in today's world. Swan managed to create an extremely thick book, along with indexes that facilitate word search. I wasn't really expecting the volume, but I guess it was a pleasant surprise; overwhelming actually. Highly recommended for linguists and intermediate/advanced learners of English.

I found this book to be very useful during a Pre-intermediate ESOL class I was observing. Whilst the class were working and I were taking down some notes, Joanna (the teacher) kindly handed me Practical English Usage by Michael Swan. I thanked her, but thought aw yeah, this is going to be another one of those grammar books (where everything id hard to find. As I opened it though, I found it surprisingly easy to use. So much so, that I quickly noted down the book's name and author in bold. I looked in all the book stores in Browns Bay for it and disappointingly realizing this would be a specialized book order, went home and had to ordered it online. Thanks. This book will come in very handy in my future as an ESOL teacher.

I received my first copy of this book in high school, around 1992. There was no internet for research, and it was such a great handbook to look up grammar. I used it for years and years while learning ESL, then as a teacher. Somebody borrowed it last year an it never came back to me. I had to get another one, because I am really used to this systematic, practical, explanatory style - rather than the isolated bits I find on the net, sometimes wrong, often unclear.

After reviewing different English grammar books, I decided to buy this one, following the recommendations on a mailing list. With a practical approach, the author covers not only grammar, but also a wealth of words and structures that speakers of other languages frequently misuse. Explanations are clear and to the point, and examples abound. A worth investment for anyone who wants to write and speak idiomatic English, and an indispensable work for any serious learner of English.

This book is an excellent reference for usage of English words and phrases. I found it very helpful in my experience of teaching English as a foreign language to students in Bangladesh. The condition of the copy which I received was exactly as described on the Amazon Marketplace website, and it arrived in good time. I am very pleased not only with the book itself, but also with the service I received from both Amazon and the merchant who handled my order.

Répond à toutes les attentes d'un enseignant et d'un enseigné. Cet index alphabétique est une trouvaille ! Toutes les particularités sont démontées, expliquées mais attention, ce pavé de 600 pages n'est qu'en anglais....

I have an abject disrelish for grammar books. If I was the only man left on the solar system, and was tasked with populating it, and was surrounded by the most gorgeous women, plopping in a grammar book somewhere in the mix would surely result the extinction of human race. I hate books that say utterly incomprehensible stuff like Subjunctive, postpositive adjective, Grapheme-phoneme correspondences and what not. This book however, is thankfully made for humans, and not grammar / English teachers and consequently uses words and explanations that you and I can understand. It tells us which sentences are wrong and which arent. At each point, if the explanation gets too complex, it simply shuts the explanation down and says, this is how it is b*tches! Now, that is how I like my grammar. Easy, Simple, Clear, and Dirty!

First off, the book arrived in good condition and second the delivery was quick. I would buy again from this seller. About the book. During my years at university we used a 1980's version of this book, which has been an excellent, detailed resource then and still is today. Though years of use took a toll on this version, so I searched for a replacement of the same. The "Third Edition" which I am reviewing has everything the previous edition has and then some. It is current, the volume is larger in size, there are many new lists and topics, examples are clear and simple, and one new section which I love is the "Don't Say It!" 130 common mistakes in English and how to avoid them. Above all this book comes from a knowledgeable, resourceful author and trusted university press. One can never go wrong with publications from Michael Swan and Oxford. I am very satisfied with this purchase.

Il pacco è arrivato in 4 giorni tramite Dhl, dall'India !!, il libro era in perfette condizioni , ricoperto con una pellicola protettiva ed inserito in un pacco di cartone tipo amazon standard! Come già scritto da altri; le varie voci sono messe in ordine alfabetico , poste in relazione con altre simili ( esempio big, large e great) non mancano approfondimenti utili come sulle headlines dei giornali.Una miniera di informazioni ,di facile consultazione per chi già conosce l'inglese!

Recién llegó el libro y comencé a comprender por qué le dicen "La biblia del maestro de inglés (o del estudiante serio de inglés)" Más de 600 páginas de pura estructura sin rodeos. Conciso. Preciso. Al grano. Con una parte de vocabulario y colocaciones. Siendo Oxford quien lo edita, da mucha seguridad en cuanto a contenido y calidad. Muy muy recomendada publicación.