Safire, William. Fumblerules:Ý A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage.Ý New York:Ý Doubleday, 1990.Ý 153 p.

After three dutifully deep or incredibly practical texts about the theory and practice of teaching writing, the most different of several texts I am still finishing is the one I have enjoyed the most.Ý Selfishly.Ý And guiltily, because although it is a grammar text and it does demonstrate not only that the traditional rules of grammar and usage are still applicable but also that they are intelligently and compellingly explainable, it is not a practically useful book for most eighth grade students. Safireís characteristically playful-yet-serious style makes for entertaining reading, but early adolescents know just enough about the language to be thoroughly confused by Safireís playfulness.Ý The effect of one of his short essays (even after a patient and thorough explanation of the Fumblerule the essay elucidates) upon even capable grammar students would be similar to the distinct lack of response to jokes about the proper manipulation of Dreamweaver from many of the teachers apprehensively stumbling through that application during the OWP. For other grammar teachers, and for those who (perversely) get a kick out of playing with this language, I recommend Safireís Fumblerules as a refreshing way of reviewing (and avoiding, let alone repairing) common errors writers make.Ý HoweveróI have taught college prep writing classes to high school seniors who would have understood and appreciated Safireís presentations as humorous mini-lessons in using the language well, as examples of the short informative essay, and as glimpses of our culture as reflected in the quirks and quibbles about the language we use.

Safire uses humor, cultural history, and wordplay in his brief explanations.Ý EachÝ Fumblerule models the breaking of the rule it seeks to state; each explanation seesaws between proper and cleverly improper usage examples.Ý The reader must be alert.Ý Safireís opinions have occasionally succumbed to continued practice; for example, the Fumblerule ìíThe male pronoun embraces the femaleí is a nonsexist standard that should be followed by all mankindî may have been a trumpeted end-of-the-controversy statement in 1990, but twelve years later, he or she and his or her are still with us. Safire does use abundant, thought-provoking examples: Abraham Lincoln set the standard in the use of passive voice for bureaucrats by changing all the active voice to passive in a message to Congress to avoid taking personal responsibility for the message (72); the missed typographical error in ìSpecious Ranch on One Acreî tells all (86); I laughed at Groucho Marxís use of eponyms, ìIíve got Brightís Disease, but not to worryóheís got mineî(93).

I am sorry this outlook is lost on eighth graders.Ý Like Safire, for whom the language is his currency as a columnist, I am a traditionalist in training and in practice. My experience as a lifelong reader and writer and teacher/analyst of reading and writing enables me to appreciate the skill of those who can have fun with the drier aspects of grammar.Ý ìEnjoy,î writes Safire with full Yiddish inflection while explaining Fumblerule #32:Ý Ixnay on Colloquial Stuff (97).Ý Obviously, he does.Ý I wish we all could.