Founding Grammars

A “lively and revealing” history of America’s obsession with grammar—from the debate over double negatives to the influence of frontier vernacular ( Kirkus Reviews ). Standard grammar and accurate spelling are widely considered hallmarks of a good education, but their exact definitions are much more contentious—capable of inciting a full-blown grammar war at the splice of a comma. With an accessible and enthusiastic approach, Ostler considers these grammatical shibboleths, tracing current debate