During the years I was a manuscript editor and needed to be updated about grammar and style, two books that never left my desk were the fifteenth edition of The Chicago Manual of Style and Patricia O’ Connor’s Woe Is I.

At the time, we didn’t know of any good grammar reference books by a Philippine publishing house, so you can just imagine how excited I am to be hearing about National Book Award-winning author Jose A. Carillo’s The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors (softcover, P120).

Carillo, who writes under a pen name, won the National Book Award for linguistics from the Manila Critics Circle in 2005 for his first English-usage book, English Plain and Simple: No-Nonsense Ways to Learn Today’s Global Language. A columnist with the Manila Times, Carillo has won nine major industry awards in the Philippines for his work as company editor and public affairs executive.

The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors consists of the author’s no-holds-barred critiques of the most annoying grammar and usage errors that crop up in today’s newspapers and magazines, as well as in broadcasting and the Internet. Released simultaneously with this 122-page grammar Bible is an updated version of Carillo’s best-selling book, English Plain and Simple: No-Nonsense Ways to Learn Today’s Global Language (hardbound, P490).

Whether you’re a writer, an editor, a blogger, a student, or someone who simply wants to enhance his or her English proficiency, these books are for you. If you are interested to browse the books’ excerpts, check them out here. The books are also available at National Bookstore, Powerbooks, Bestsellers, Goodwill Bookstore, Fully Booked, and Expressions. Group or bulk orders may be placed with the publishers by e-mail to books@manilatimes.net.