Book excerpt: A Commonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage is just what its name suggests: a straightforward, student-friendly grammar guide. The text’s modular lessons break down complex grammatical concepts with plain-language explanations, handy tips, and visual examples that show — rather than just tell — students how to recognize, correct, and learn to avoid errors in grammar. With hundreds of exercises in the book and thousands more available online for free at Exercise Central, students get ample practice finding and fixing errors in their writing. The text also includes writing coverage and brief documentation guides for MLA and APA, making it a useful reference for a variety of college courses. Read the preface.