Book excerpt: Mastering the details of English grammar and style can be a slow and painful process. With clear, no-nonsense explanations and examples, Idiot's Guides: Grammar and Style makes learning the finer points of the English language easy. The book focuses on what people really need to know — the mechanics of writing, the parts of speech, proper punctuation and capitalization, and the most common errors (and how to avoid and fix them). Exercises that reinforce learning are also packed into this helpful guide.