Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was in two minds about which book to purchase for this month's Prime Reads and literally purchased this book because people complained about the grammar. For the sake of transparency, I am a UK English language person. Not that we called it that when I was at school; it was always English and American English. For those ignorant (no insult meant here), yes, the grammar is different. Most of the major grammar and punctuation rules are the same, but there are so many differences between US and UK English variants. In fact, when I moved to the US, I had to relearn some English language rules in order to teach my children American English; even syllables and where to place the accent on words. I had to unlearn my usual grammar and relearn US grammar to teach my children the grammar and spelling they would need to use for the future. My eldest child, a senior at college, says I still use too many commas. My response is always the same, "For American English that is true. Some things are difficult to unlearn." Anyway, I am supposed to be reviewing the book. Excellent historical drama and loved the character growth and development. Just consign the grammar to UK variants and read the book for the value of the story itself. The book does not lack an editor, just an American English editor! EDIT: Perhaps it is necessary to list a few specifics by way of example (these are only some differences): 1. Collective nouns are singular in American English, but in British English, collective nouns can be singular or plural, it really depends on the word. Team or band are good examples. 2. Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, like the auxiliary verb shall, is sometimes used to express the future. However, shall is rarely used in American English. Instead, Americans would probably use will or should etc. Another good example of auxiliary verb difference: Americans use the helping verb do with negative not followed by need. “You do not need to help with dinner.” Brits drop the helping verb and contract not. “You needn’t help with dinner.” 3. There are also some differences with past forms of irregular verbs. The past tense of learn in American English is learned. British English usually use learnt, after all a professor is usually learned. The same rule applies to dreamed and dreamt, burned and burnt, leaned and leant. 4. In the past participle form, Americans tend to use the –en ending for some irregular verbs. For example: got and gotten in the past participle. Brits only use got. 5. As for passive voice, far more an issue in America than in Britain. This was also a major change for us and I still don't always get it right. When they were still in high school and I proof-read their papers, I had to always be intentional seeking out passive voice. 6. As for commas...I expect, for many American English learners, some sentences contained in this book would be regarded as "run-on" as American English tends towards shorter sentence structures. I am not sure of the genesis for the differences between the English variances, but perhaps American schools adapted the language to facilitate immigrant children during the height of immigration to the US from Europe, many not familiar with English at all. Certainly, my eldest is studying to be a teacher and learning how to adapt lessons and language to accommodate ESL students. Here are two typical samples of UK English sentences from one of my favorite authors, Jane Austen: "Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so delighted with it that he agreed with Mr Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week." "The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend."