Discovering English Grammar expertly explains all the building blocks of language we use to compose sentences, questions, and commands. For auto-didacts, it’s a perfect combination of textbook and workbook, and for students planning to major or minor in English, it’s right at home in a college linguistics course.

Another favorite of creators of standardized tests, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language is a bit too permissive for our tastes in some cases, but it’s still a standout reference.

If you love prescriptivism as much as we do, you have to read Fowler. And, please, make sure it’s the second edition.