Why you need a good grammar textbook

A student of mine recently commented that grammar textbooks are “old fashioned” compared to online resources. I beg to defer.

I’m certainly a fan of new technology. The internet has opened up fabulous opportunities for language learning that weren’t available a decade or so ago. YouTube videos, Ted talks, English discussion boards, online tutoring, even this blog are all resources that can help English learners tremendously. But there are some instances when a good old-fashioned grammar textbook can be a great help.

First of all, a good grammar textbook lays out the structure of English grammar in a coherent, systematic, progressive, orderly format. It starts with the basics and then layers on increasingly complex information. Many students, especially those who feel more comfortable with a logical, analytic approach to learning, will appreciate this format. It’s just easier to proceed step-by-step through a textbook than picking and choosing what you think you need to learn from a wide-ranging variety of websites which may differ greatly in both approach and quality.

Secondly, a good grammar textbook provides more reliable information. Let’s face it … anyone can post anything on the internet. There’s very little fact-checking or accountability in the process. This is not true for your average textbook, which is written by one or more highly-trained professionals, edited by knowledgeable colleagues, and proofread multiple times before publication. I’ve been appalled by some of the misinformation and errors I’ve seen at English grammar websites. I would always put more trust in the information in a high-quality grammar textbook than in material offered at a random website.

Also, a good grammar textbook is usually easier to use. When you browse haphazardly for information about a particular grammar point on the web, you may find it’s difficult to go back and review the material at a later date. Few people are systematic in recording where they’ve gleaned various information on the internet. On the other hand, a textbook can be marked up, highlighted, commented on, bookmarked, and consulted for years and years. The information is always there in the same place and it’s much easier to access and refer back to.

Grammar isn’t the end-all or be-all of English language learning. But it does provide the basic structures that, with the addition of a good working vocabulary, can help you to express your opinions, thoughts, ideas, and feelings in coherent, comprehensible English. And isn’t that the goal of language learning?