A veteran copyeditor studies the practice of diagramming sentences in a charming and funny look back at its odd history, its elegant method, and its rich, ongoing possibilities.

“Kitty Burns Florey seems to write from a great wellspring of inner calm that derives from a gleeful appreciation of life's smallest details.” —Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls Once wildly popular in grammar schools across the country, sentence diagramming has fallen out of fashion. But are we that much worse for not knowing the word-mapping method? Now, in this illustrated personal history that any language lover will adore, Kitty Burns Florey explores the rise and fall of sentence diagramming, including its invention by a mustachioed man named Brainerd “Brainy” Kellogg and his wealthy accomplice Alonzo Reed ... the inferior “balloon diagram” predecessor ... and what diagrams of sentences by Hemingway, Welty, Proust, Kerouac and other famous writers reveal about them. Florey also offers up her own common-sense approach to learning and using good grammar. And she answers some of literature’s most pressing questions: Was Mark Twain or James Fenimore Cooper a better grammarian? What are the silliest grammar rules? And what’s Gertude Stein got to do with any of it?

Rooted in a deep and successful tradition of understanding the parts of speech and the relationships of sentence components, Sentence Diagramming combines solid grammar instruction with extensive sentence diagramming exercises to improve writing.

Diagraming enables students to gain a better understanding of sentence structure and parts of speech. Each lesson describes the specific structure under study, gives examples, and provides sentences for diagraming practice. Students are then challenged to generate their own sentences to fit the models. Even teachers unfamiliar with the diagraming process will find this step-by-step format easy to follow and use to instruct students.

." . . In Diagramming the Scriptures. . . the curriculum starts with the simple sentence, adds precept upon precept until the learner is able to master complex sentences. . . As each concept is introduced, the student has plenty of practice, followed by quizzes, and later a cumulative test over the entire text. As an educator, a homeschool parent, and a tutor I see this curriculum as an excellent choice for a homeschool, a Christian school classroom, or for an individual of any age who is interested in studying grammar or God's Word, word by word."Deana Haines, Families for Home Education Executive Director." . .I am quite pleased to recommend your book to college professors as an excellent addition to their basic texts in teaching English grammar. . . Since your examples and exercises utilize Bible sentences, your book is also a valuable asset to the study of hermeneutics."Jim Anderson, Chancellor, Midwestern Baptist College, SBC"Diagramming the Scriptures is a unique way to help focus the Bible student on the words and meanings of Scripture. I commend Shirley Forsen for providing this excellent book and recommend it to all who desire to "go deeper" in their study of God's Word."Dr John A Hash, Bible Pathway Ministries." . .I recommend Diagramming the Scriptures to all scholars to clarify interpretations of all books and to all teachers of grammar."Glada Kelley, retired teacher and librarian." . .The best and unique part of Miss Forsen's book is that Bible verses are used for the examples and exercises. This teaches the student an important aspect of "rightly dividing the word of truth" understanding how the structure of the verse influences its meaning. Diagramming the Scriptures teaches necessary skills, both educational and spiritual."Laura Blunk, college freshman

A New York Times bestseller—“Part ode, part how-to guide to the art of the well-constructed sentence” (NPR). Some appreciate fine art; others appreciate fine wines. Stanley Fish appreciates fine sentences. The New York Times columnist and world-class professor has long been an aficionado of language. Like a seasoned sportscaster, Fish marvels at the adeptness of finely crafted sentences and breaks them down into digestible morsels, giving readers an instant play-by-play. In this entertaining and erudite gem, Fish offers both sentence craft and sentence pleasure, skills invaluable to any writer (or reader). How to Write a Sentence is both a spirited love letter to the written word and a key to understanding how great writing works; it is a book that will stand the test of time. “Both deeper and more democratic than The Elements of Style” —Adam Haslett, Financial Times “A guided tour through some of the most beautiful, arresting sentences in the English language.” —Slate