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10 Best English Grammar Books UK 2023

10 Best English Grammar Books UK 2023

Q: Top 5 English Grammar Books

No. 1: Raymond Murphy | English Grammar in Use No. 2: Bas Aarts | Oxford Modern English Grammar No. 3: John Seely | Oxford A – Z of Grammar & Punctuation No. 4: A.J. Thomson & A.V. Martinet | A Practical English Grammar No. 5: Raymond Murphy | Essential Grammar in Use >> View Full Ranking

Q: How to Choose an English Grammar Book in the UK – Buying Guide

・Grammar Guides Are Aimed at a Range of Different Groups ・Grammar Books With Practice Tasks Help You Consolidate Your Learning ・Consider the Size and Binding Type According to Where You’ll Use Your Grammar Book ・Kindle Editions Mean You Can Store a Number of Books in One Place >> Click here for details >> View Full Ranking

Grammar’s importance may seem to be dwindling in some areas of life, but if you want to nail that essay, pass that test or simply keep good grammar alive for its own sake, then a decent English grammar book is essential. Maybe you’re a native speaker wondering where that pesky apostrophe goes. Maybe you’re learning English as a foreign language or have an exam coming up, so you’re looking for a book with practice tasks.

We know how tough it can be to find the right English grammar book for you; perhaps an Oxford English grammar guide? Something for adults or kids? Or a book with answers specifically to improve your grammar for a test? We’ve compiled the top 10 best English grammar books you can buy online from Amazon and eBay, ranked according to utility and value for money. Read on to find the ideal tome that’ll whip your grammar into shape.

Last updated 14/07/2023

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Table of Contents

How to Choose an English Grammar Book in the UK – Buying Guide
1
Grammar Guides Are Aimed at a Range of Different Groups
2
Grammar Books With Practice Tasks Help You Consolidate Your Learning
3
Consider the Size and Binding Type According to Where You’ll Use Your Grammar Book
4
Kindle Editions Mean You Can Store a Number of Books in One Place
Top 10 Best English Grammar Books in the UK
No. 1
Raymond Murphy | English Grammar in Use
No. 2
Bas Aarts | Oxford Modern English Grammar
No. 3
John Seely | Oxford A – Z of Grammar & Punctuation
No. 4
A.J. Thomson & A.V. Martinet | A Practical English Grammar
No. 5
Raymond Murphy | Essential Grammar in Use
5 more products
Try Other Books to Learn Different Languages
Summary

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How to Choose an English Grammar Book in the UK – Buying Guide

Grabbing the first grammar book you spot on the shelf isn’t always the best plan, since it takes a little more time to find one that truly suits your needs. Check out our buying guide so you can work out exactly what type of English grammar book is best for you.

Grammar Guides Are Aimed at a Range of Different Groups

One of the key considerations is what kind of learner the book is aimed at. If you’re an advanced native speaker you’ll favour a different type of grammar guide to the kind a lower-level learner will enjoy. Likewise, if you’re coming to English as a foreign language you’ll have different priorities still.

English Grammar Books that Examine the Complexities of Language Are Best for Native Speakers

If you’re a grammar nerd who loves to delve into the complicated ins-and-outs of English grammar so you can pedantically correct your friends, consider an in-depth guide to English grammar. Trusted and reliable language experts like Oxford Press or a book of mistakes typically made by native speakers are a great choice for these learners.

For School-Age Learners or Anyone Hoping to Brush up on Grammar, Pick a Specialist Book

To boost the confidence of lower-level learners, there are some great books on the market which specifically focus on the basics of the grammar that we learn at school. These books help us to differentiate between certain spellings and are often combined with tips on punctuation.

If You’re Learning (or Teaching) English as a Foreign Language, Books With a Breakdown of Meaning and Form Will Help

For a thorough examination of the different tenses used in English grammar, their meaning and written form, get hold of a grammar book aimed at learners and teachers of English as a foreign language.

These books include clear examples of different tenses like the past simple and continuous, as well as timelines illustrating the meaning and an almost mathematical formula for writing them down.

Grammar Books With Practice Tasks Help You Consolidate Your Learning

This type of book is likely to be most useful for learners of English as a foreign language as it enables the user to get a little practice of the points they’ve been reading about. Convenient and easy to use as they have definitions and exercises all in one handy place, this kind of book is a thorough exploration of grammar that should help readers memorise and retain new grammar points.

Consider the Size and Binding Type According to Where You’ll Use Your Grammar Book

Think about the measurements of your grammar book and also the binding style – paperback or hardcover – before you buy. Smaller books are great for chucking into a school bag while larger ones have more space for doing practice tasks on the page rather than a separate notepad.

Paperbacks are light, making them great to carry into class and flexible enough to squash into packed schoolbags. Hardcovers are sturdy and durable enough to last the years. Flexibound is a third option which balances the solidity of a hardcover with the movement afforded by a paperback.

Kindle Editions Mean You Can Store a Number of Books in One Place

Lots of people still prefer the feeling of a real book in their hands, especially if there are answer sections or pages you want to annotate by hand. However, kindle versions of books have plenty of advantages which might sway you. Kindles are light and allow you to have many grammar books in one place.

They are also incredibly affordable. Once you've bought the kindle, you'll save money in the long run as you usually get a few pounds off the paperback or hardback price.

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Top 10 Best English Grammar Books in the UK

Now take a look at our ranking of the top ten English grammar books you can buy online this year. From pocket guides to books focusing on specific exams and ones with practice tasks to consolidate each grammar point, we hope there’s a book or two on our list that could help you out.

Popularity

	Products	Image	Click to purchase	Key features
	Products	Image	Click to purchase	Key features
1	Raymond Murphy English Grammar in Use			The Perfect Book for Self-Studying Grammar
2	Bas Aarts Oxford Modern English Grammar			A Definitive Guide to Grammar
3	John Seely Oxford A – Z of Grammar & Punctuation			‘Small, Concise & Informative’
4	A.J. Thomson & A.V. Martinet A Practical English Grammar			Essential Reading for Teachers & Students of Grammar
5	Raymond Murphy Essential Grammar in Use			Clear Examples & Practice Tasks
6	Cambridge University Press Grammar for IELTS With Answers			Nail IELTS-level Grammar
7	Oxford Primary Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Dictionary			An Essential Primary Grammar Guide
8	DK English for Everyone English Grammar Guide			Bold, Accessible Guide for Visual Learners
9	CGP KS2 English｜Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling Study Book			Colourful & Easy-to-Read Guide for the English SATs
10	Sean Williams English Grammar: 100 Tragically Common Mistakes & How to Correct Them			A Bible for Grammar Nerds

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No.1

Raymond MurphyEnglish Grammar in Use

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£23.99

Reference price

£23.99

The Perfect Book for Self-Studying Grammar

From the same series as number 5 comes this ultimate guide to grammar, complete with practice tasks on (nearly) every page. A brilliant companion for both English teachers and students of the language, there is no other grammar book that compares.

Each section looks carefully at one area of grammar, highlighting with superbly succinct examples why each grammar point is used. The facing page is then divided into sections with practice tasks to test the point just discussed. Comprehensive and wonderfully easy to follow.

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No.2

Bas AartsOxford Modern English Grammar

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£16.23

Reference price

£16.23

A Definitive Guide to Grammar

One of the most highly-regarded authorities on English Grammar is the Oxford University Press, which has been publishing dictionaries and language guides for so long it hardly needs an introduction.

This hardcover book is ideal to keep on your shelf at home, either for grammar experts to check the finer intricacies of this complicated tongue, or for learners of English as a second language to check usage, stress and pronunciation of various tenses and structures.

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No.3

John SeelyOxford A – Z of Grammar & Punctuation

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£5.99

Reference price

£5.99

‘Small, Concise & Informative’

This handy paperback is the perfect grammar companion for native speakers, which not only looks at the complexities of grammar but also contains information on the correct use and meaning of punctuation, from the confusing semi-colon to the dreaded apostrophe.

With no practice tasks, this is more of a guide for grammar buffs with an advanced to proficient understanding of the English language. It’s nice and small so can be transported easily along with you, wherever you’re headed on your crusade for immaculate grammar!

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No.4

A.J. Thomson & A.V. MartinetA Practical English Grammar

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£23.97

Reference price

£23.97

Essential Reading for Teachers & Students of Grammar

This book is divided into clear, easy-to-follow explanations and verb lists, making a full understanding of English grammar far more accessible. Across eCommerce sites it’s extremely popular with users, whose reviews focus on its helpful index and straightforward examples.

Ideal for either a learner or a teacher of the language, this book could also be used by younger or older learners. A great reference book when looking up, say, the different uses of which and that or the uses of perfect tenses or explaining their uses to other people.

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No.5

Raymond MurphyEssential Grammar in Use

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£23.34

Reference price

£23.34

Clear Examples & Practice Tasks

One of the best grammar books on the market comes at a range of levels, from essential to advanced, and this copy, which guides its reader through the bare necessities of English grammar, can serve as a lifetime grammar companion to learners and teachers alike.

Not only is a flexible paperback ideal for transporting to and from the classroom, it also has fantastically clear explanations of every element of English grammar, including timelines expressing the time period each tense relates to, plus lots of exercises to hammer the points home.

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No.6

Cambridge University Press Grammar for IELTS With Answers

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£25.02

Reference price

£25.02

Nail IELTS-level Grammar

Are you a student of English as a foreign language, hoping to study at University in the UK? Then you’ll probably need an IELTS qualification first. That means serious in-depth knowledge of the meaning and form of some pretty high-level grammar points.

And that’s where Cambridge’s guide to grammar specifically for the IELTS exam steps in. It’s a comprehensive guide to the types of language points you’ll encounter in this tricky exam, with loads of practice tasks that’ll have you acing English grammar in no time.

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No.7

Oxford PrimaryGrammar, Punctuation and Spelling Dictionary

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£7.75

Reference price

£7.75

An Essential Primary Grammar Guide

Another school-level English grammar book is the ‘Oxford Primary Dictionary of Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling’. You’ll be guided through these three English essentials by a cheeky blue bird who helps makes the facts just a little more fun.

The user-friendly layout and bold colours make this book fun to use for children and parents alike. It’s a nice big size, and the fact it’s a paperback makes it all the more pleasant to work through. The book includes lots of tips and tricks to improve basic literary skills.

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No.8

DKEnglish for Everyone English Grammar Guide

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£12.65

Reference price

£12.65

Bold, Accessible Guide for Visual Learners

You can always rely on DK to produce excellent reference books, guides and collections and this illustrated grammar bible is no exception. It’s designed – as the title suggests – to be accessible to learners of any age and level.

It is a particularly useful guide for visual learners as it sets out grammar points with the key words in bold, accompanied by little illustrations which should help the information stick! The guide comes with a practice book filled with more than 3,000 questions to test you.

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No.9

CGPKS2 English ｜ Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling Study Book

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£5.77

Reference price

£5.77

Colourful & Easy-to-Read Guide for the English SATs

This is the ultimate guide to prepare you for your SAT exams, which not only guides you through perfect English grammar but also helps you bring your punctuation and spelling up to standard too. With lots of examples to clearly illustrate every point and plenty of practice, it’s gold.

The flexible paperback style is ideal for squishing into a school bag, but the large A4 size pages mean the layout is clear and easy to follow. There are tasks with spaces to write your answers and each chapter finishes up with a recap so you know you’ll retain your new knowledge.

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No.10

Sean WilliamsEnglish Grammar: 100 Tragically Common Mistakes & How to Correct Them

Source：amazon.co.uk

Reference price

£9.99

Reference price

£9.99

A Bible for Grammar Nerds

This handy guide to the most typical grammar gaffes is a perfect pocket companion for any native or proficient speaker looking to brush up on their grammar knowledge, iron out kinks in their understanding of English or simply play pendant by correcting loved ones’ mistakes.

‘100 Tragically Common Grammar Mistakes’ talks you through the kind of errors being made by students, social media users and even writers every day. It’s a small and flexible paperback so it’s easy to transport and also works well as a gift for grammar geeks.

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Try Other Books to Learn Different Languages

As you attempt to master the English language and all its complicated grammar, why not start exploring the intriguing grammar of other languages too? They say that understanding the structure of other languages helps to improve your knowledge of your own. And let's not forget, there are plenty of practical reasons why being good at languages will help you in today's world.

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Summary

That concludes our suggestions for the best English grammar books you can pick up online this year. We’re pretty sure there’s something on this list for everyone, whether you’re a native speaker or learning English as a second language, hoping to pass an exam at school or further education, or simply like to correct your pals’ grammar gaffes with confidence. No more confusion over ‘there’, ‘their’ and ‘they’re’ for you!

Author: Annie Hopkins

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Top 5 English Grammar Books

No. 1: Raymond Murphy｜English Grammar in Use

No. 2: Bas Aarts｜Oxford Modern English Grammar

No. 3: John Seely｜Oxford A – Z of Grammar & Punctuation

No. 4: A.J. Thomson & A.V. Martinet｜A Practical English Grammar

No. 5: Raymond Murphy｜Essential Grammar in Use

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TOP
Books, CDs, DVDs
10 Best English Grammar Books UK 2023

10 Best English Grammar Books UK 2023

How to Choose an English Grammar Book in the UK – Buying Guide

Grammar Guides Are Aimed at a Range of Different Groups

English Grammar Books that Examine the Complexities of Language Are Best for Native Speakers

For School-Age Learners or Anyone Hoping to Brush up on Grammar, Pick a Specialist Book

If You’re Learning (or Teaching) English as a Foreign Language, Books With a Breakdown of Meaning and Form Will Help

Grammar Books With Practice Tasks Help You Consolidate Your Learning

Consider the Size and Binding Type According to Where You’ll Use Your Grammar Book

Kindle Editions Mean You Can Store a Number of Books in One Place