For students who want to learn the nuts and bolts of English grammar A generation ago, the United States public school system stopped formal instruction in English grammar and consequently created a legion of students and professionals notoriously weak in writing and language skills. English Grammar for the Utterly Confusedis a must-have for anyone who gets that “deer-in-the-headlights" look when asked to recognize a misplaced modifier or even find the verb in a sentence. This user-friendly, witty guide helps everyone-from students taking the GED to professionals writing business plans-learn the structures of English grammar and how to use them easily and proficiently. Demystifying grammar once and for all, this handbook will help all readers acquire the ability to speak and write competently, correctly, and confidently. Key features include: Exercises throughout to develop facility in writing skills Clear explanations of complex concepts Handy icons More than 200 solved problems and examples Test Yourself section in each chapter

For students who want to learn the nuts and bolts of English grammar A generation ago, the United States public school system stopped formal instruction in English grammar and consequently created a legion of students and professionals notoriously weak in writing and language skills. English Grammar for the Utterly Confusedis a must-have for anyone who gets that “deer-in-the-headlights" look when asked to recognize a misplaced modifier or even find the verb in a sentence. This user-friendly, witty guide helps everyone-from students taking the GED to professionals writing business plans-learn the structures of English grammar and how to use them easily and proficiently. Demystifying grammar once and for all, this handbook will help all readers acquire the ability to speak and write competently, correctly, and confidently. Key features include: Exercises throughout to develop facility in writing skills Clear explanations of complex concepts Handy icons More than 200 solved problems and examples Test Yourself section in each chapter

Parlez-vous Français like a local with the help of the Utterly Confused series Providing an ideal, easily accessible, instructional guide to one of the two most popular foreign languages taught in the United States, this new Utterly Confused self-study handbook is ideal for both students and adults looking for a user-friendly introduction to their language studies. Based on the highly successful Utterly Confused format, this guide introduces beginners, in a unique conversational style and format, to the basic pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary needed for effective communication.

Whether you're a science major, an engineer, or a business graduate, calculus can be one of the most intimidating subjects around. Fortunately, Calculus for the Utterly Confused is your formula for success. Written by two experienced teachers who have taken the complexity out of calculus for thousands of students, this book breaks down tough concepts into easy-to-understand chunks. Calculus for the Utterly Confused shows you how to apply calculus concepts to problems in business, medicine, sociology, physics, and environmental science. You'll get on the road to higher grades and greater confidence, and go from utterly confused to totally prepared in no time! Inside, you'll learn about Calculus problems with applications to business and economics How to use spreadsheets for business analysis Growth and decay models including exponential and logarithmic models for biology How to integrate algebra into business analyses

From pulling all-nighters to memorizing rote facts, today's students have shown that they have no organized, logical, or sequential understanding of how to study or prepare for tests. Test Taking Strategies & Study Skills for the Utterly Confused arms students of all ages with the skills they need to pass their tests with flying colors. The perfect guide for all the major standardized tests, including SAT, GMAT, Series 7, LSAT, MCAT, and more, this skillbuilding resource shows students, career changers, and business professionals how to make the most of their study time, how to deal with study and test panic, and how to take tests with optimal confidence and success.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A sharp, funny grammar guide they’ll actually want to read, from Random House’s longtime copy chief and one of Twitter’s leading language gurus NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY O: The Oprah Magazine • Paste • Shelf Awareness “Essential (and delightful!)”—People We all write, all the time: books, blogs, emails. Lots and lots of emails. And we all want to write better. Benjamin Dreyer is here to help. As Random House’s copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alike—not to mention his followers on social media—for deconstructing the English language with playful erudition. Now he distills everything he has learned from the myriad books he has copyedited and overseen into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward. As authoritative as it is amusing, Dreyer’s English offers lessons on punctuation, from the underloved semicolon to the enigmatic en dash; the rules and nonrules of grammar, including why it’s OK to begin a sentence with “And” or “But” and to confidently split an infinitive; and why it’s best to avoid the doldrums of the Wan Intensifiers and Throat Clearers, including “very,” “rather,” “of course,” and the dreaded “actually.” Dreyer will let you know whether “alright” is all right (sometimes) and even help you brush up on your spelling—though, as he notes, “The problem with mnemonic devices is that I can never remember them.” And yes: “Only godless savages eschew the series comma.” Chockful of advice, insider wisdom, and fun facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to everyone who wants to shore up their writing skills, mandatory for people who spend their time editing and shaping other people’s prose, and—perhaps best of all—an utter treat for anyone who simply revels in language. Praise for Dreyer’s English “Playful, smart, self-conscious, and personal . . . One encounters wisdom and good sense on nearly every page of Dreyer’s English.”—The Wall Street Journal “Destined to become a classic.”—The Millions “Dreyer can help you . . . with tips on punctuation and spelling. . . . Even better: He’ll entertain you while he’s at it.”—Newsday

Banish bafflement in this tough subject! From formulas and lab techniques to the periodic table, Chemistry for the Utterly Confused focuses on the areas of maximum confusion and breaks down the most difficult chemistry topics into easy-to-understand concepts. This invaluable guide also teaches problem-solving skills you need to master this imposing subject. Whether you're in high school, in college, or simply brushing up on chemistry knowledge, this fun, easily accessible book will make understanding chemistry a breeze.