Its index is enormous and you don't waste time being bounced from one cross-reference to another. The organization is admirably simple: the section on letter writing, for example, begins with an extensive section on formatting, and then proceeds to the business of what you put on the envelope, how to use return addresses, etc., right down to the letter's closing. The book contains an abundance of examples, complete with acceptable ranges of formality (with a tip of the hat to what is still acceptable but somewhat too formal by today's tastes). All of this information is nicely, thoroughly indexed with references to paragraph numbers and pages where appropriate. GRM also contains up-to-date advice on altering templates in today's software packages (for stationery, etc.) to individual and corporate needs.

William Sabin's even-handed style is ideal for this kind of text; he will state a grammatical rule concisely and then give just enough illustrations to make the rule stick in the mind. Where there is disagreement among other stylebooks, Sabin provides for those differences and often suggests a commonsense resolution of disputes. But GRM is more than just a compilation of rules: Sabin gets into the nitty-gritty of writing, of style, and all users, at whatever level, will write with more economy and energy—whether they're writing a memo to the boss or an academic research paper—if they keep GRM handy. (The spiral-bound edition is handy for this purpose: you can use that spiral ring to grab it off the shelf and then it lies nice and flat on the desktop.)

Barbara Wallraff, author of Word Court
and editor of Copy Editor newsletter
“Grammar,” I've found, makes even seasoned copy editors surprisingly anxious. Help is available from The Gregg Reference Manual, by William A. Sabin, which defines and explains grammatical terms. The information it contains is more trustworthy and broader in scope than anything I’ve yet come across on the Internet. With regard to punctuation, too—another copy-editing bugbear—Gregg is among the best resources I know of, with 84 dense, well-thought-out pages of information on the subject.

Barbara McGovern, partner, WD Communications,
Red Bank, New Jersey
If you want to be confident that your writing is correct and current, keep The Gregg Reference Manual at your elbow. It's your writing bible! In seconds, you can take the guesswork out of any grammar, punctuation, or style question.

Linda Comerford, communications consultant,
Comerford Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana
As a written and oral communications trainer specializing in grammar, I needed the best reference manual I could find for my students. After reviewing dozens of them for over a decade, The Gregg Reference Manual by William Sabin continues to receive an A+ in my book. It is the only one I recommend because it is so comprehensive in scope, easy to use, and simple to understand. I take my copy with me everywhere.

Working with varied groups as a grammar expert, I am concerned about receiving a question I can't answer. Thanks to The Gregg Reference Manual, that's never happened. I've found answers to questions about even the finest points of grammar as do my students. Regardless of the concept in question, the book is amazingly easy to navigate, thanks to its unique index. Unlike others, this one does not simply contain page references. Mr. Sabin references the numerous and detailed subjects in his index to distinctly numbered and lettered paragraphs instead. Those paragraphs contain both clear explanations of the related rules along with enlightening examples that serve to clarify rather than complicate the issues in question.

In my business, I have worked with thousands of corporate and government employees ranging from experts in English to those who can barely differentiate between a subject and a verb. Whatever their English expertise or lack thereof, I recommend this manual to all of them. Without exception, those who bought it are praising it for the reasons mentioned in this review and more. In addition, the price is right.

Try it for yourself, and join the myriad of other satisfied users who say, "Gregg is great!"

Diane Ullius, president, Word Tamers, Arlington, Virginia
I've used this book for years, and I think it's terrific. Why? Four reasons: First, the information about grammar and usage is so mainstream, so consistent with the majority of other important references (The Chicago Manual of Style, for one). Second, it is accurate and reliable. Third, the outstanding index makes it wonderfully easy to use; you can look something up, in everyday terms, and readily find a reference. Fourth, the rules are short and the examples clear; once you've found the rule you need, you can read it, grasp it, and 30 seconds later be on your way.

As a full-time trainer of writers and editors, I have used this book with everyone from grammar-challenged support staff to highly educated professional editors. With some classes, I've also used the optional worksheets (sold separately). I can't recommend Gregg highly enough.

Christine Mowat, president, Wordsmith Associates, Edmonton, Alberta; chair, Plain Language Association International, 2000-2002
Since 1980 I have been recommending this reference to over 23,000 participants in my business writing workshops. I describe the book as invaluable, comprehensive, beautifully organized, and continuously updated. The Gregg Reference Manual is one of two essential tools for business, government, and corporate writers; the other is a fat dictionary. The manual is full of wisdom and articulates sound uniform rules with nicely nuanced exceptions. It is simply my writer's crutch.

Cherie Tucker, GrammarWorks, Seattle, Washington
I recommend The Gregg Reference Manual to everyone. People in my classes who are using it wish they had known about it long before. It is clear, friendly, and speaks to the layperson as well as to the English majors (who also find it irreplaceable). Now that professionals are given computers in place of secretaries, it is an invaluable tool for keeping them from looking foolish on paper. It is the bible for good language.

Carol Ann Wilson, PLS, CLAS, CL§, Houston, Texas
The Gregg Reference Manual is the one book I could not live without in my working life. It is my reference for the seminar materials I prepare, for the courses I teach (to legal secretaries, legal assistants, writers, and in-house training in law firms and other offices), for the hundreds of articles and booklets I have written, and for the book I wrote, entitled Plain Language Pleadings which was published by Prentice Hall/Pearson Education. It is THE FINAL WORD, in my opinion. Its easy-to-use index is the best of any reference work I have seen. Its frequent updating is extremely valuable in these days of many changes.

Joseph Kimble, professor and director of legal writing,
Thomas Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
The Gregg Reference Manual by Bill Sabin is one of the few writing and editing handbooks that I regard as indispensable. You can count on it for clear and principled answers to questions about grammar, style, and formatting. By all means, get it and keep it close at hand.

Reva Daniel, writing consultant, Dynamic Business Writing,
Clinton, Mississippi
For 15 years of consulting and training in business and government all over the United States, I've always recommended The Gregg Reference Manual to my clients as their one authority for grammar, punctuation, and business writing questions. I urge them to make a copy available to every employee who writes. I've found that The Gregg Reference Manual is reliable, clear, authoritative, thorough, and easy to use. In my opinion, the Gregg manual is the only choice for a business writing style guide. My clients are uniformly pleased with the choice.

Marian Younger, instructor, Sage College, Moreno Valley, California
As both an English instructor and the owner of a court reporting agency, I have found The Gregg Reference Manual to be the best and easiest way to teach punctuation, grammar, and style to my students and novice court reporters. The index is so phenomenal that it enables you to locate the answers to your questions in no time flat. From the beginner to the more advanced, with this comprehensive, organized, and easy-to-understand manual, you will find The Gregg Reference Manual to be an indispensable tool and won't want to leave home without it!

Bernell Lovett, training consultant, Klein, Texas
For any administrative assistant or secretary who aspires to succeed, The Gregg Reference Manual is a "must." Its clear, easy-to-use style makes this comprehensive reference book a valuable tool.

Diane Moore, editor, The Office Professional,
Toronto, Ontario
Every place of business needs this essential tool! The Gregg manual is an indispensable resource for managers, support staff, professional writers, and anyone who wants to look good on paper.

Mollie Newman, editor, proofreader, writer, Aurora, Colorado
Bill Sabin's advice is indispensable. He provides no-nonsense rulings—along with enough examples of exceptions to those rules—to please any writer, whether amateur, academic, or professional. If you're writing a term paper, this is where to seek advice. If you're writing a brief to present to the court, this is where to turn. If you're writing a scholarly treatise, Bill Sabin's advice is impeccable. He writes with wit and energy, and he's authoritative without being pedantic. Bravo!

Nora Leech, editor, League of Women Voters, Seattle, Washington
I have been a fan of The Gregg Reference Manual for some time. With your book, I have the highest success rate at finding the answers to my questions over other style manuals. I believe it is a direct result of how you have structured the book and particularly the excellent index and table of contents. Love using your book and do not use any other. Thanks so much.

Ryan Ebens, president, Danray Products LLC, Rockford, Illinois
The Gregg Reference Manual is the single most useful grammar, usage, and style reference available for business professionals. I have been using it for years as my primary reference tool. The manual is very comprehensive, and the well-organized index makes things easy to find. It is updated frequently to incorporate current technology, which makes it invaluable in today's continually changing environment.

Robert Miller, senior vice president, marketing and advertising,
Murrieta, California
I am now retired, but when I was working, I was the in-house advertising and creative director for an NYSE corporation. Your manual was as valuable to me as the Bible is to a preacher. I thank you for all the help your creativity has been to my success.

Nancy Jespersen, principal, Personal Business Management Services, Farmington, Connecticut
Over the 17 years of my business life, I have found The Gregg Reference Manual to be an invaluable source book. Thank you for such a fine reference book!

Carolyn Schuler-Oest, formerly program developer,
State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Illinois
The Gregg Reference Manual is the most comprehensive, detailed reference tool I have ever used. Throughout my career as a business writer and educator, I have used it religiously. As my reference "Bible," it has served me, countless coworkers, and many students quite well.

Lynn Krug, administrator, corporate policies,
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York, New York
I have used this manual for years and find it most helpful. I edit policies and procedures and utilize this manual on a daily basis. I also gave my older copy to my son, a high school sophomore, who raved about the book: "Now I understand the rule."

Carole DeVries, assistant professor, Union County College,
Cranford, New Jersey
My students call Mr. Sabin "the answer man." They often call me years later from the workplace and tell me they still use The Gregg Reference Manual to answer all sorts of questions.

Eva Lewis, business education instructor and proofreader,
El Cajon, California
For students preparing to enter secretarial positions, The Gregg Reference Manual provides a complete source for answering questions concerning grammar, punctuation, usage, etc. The well-done index allows easy access to needed information. A MUST for office employees.

Margo Schneider, assistant to the director, The Stanley Foundation,
Muscatine, Iowa
The Gregg Reference Manual is my most valued resource book and has been for the past two decades. The comprehensive section on grammar, usage, and style is especially helpful. I appreciate having such a wide range of topics covered in one easy-to-read manual.

Lynn Day, editor and retired educator, Knoxville, Tennessee
As a retired business educator, I have used The Gregg Reference Manual for most of my life. I continue to look to it for guidance as I edit books for publication. I do not know what I would do without it!

Christine Hartbauer, former director of education, Gladstone, Oregon
I taught grammar, proofreading, executive/medical/legal typing, and word processing for ten years at the college level and SOLELY used The Gregg Reference Manual, telling my students that if they learned only one thing, it would be how to look up something! Now I'm working with the federal government and continue to use it as my "Bible"!

Katherine McNally, adjunct instructor, GateWay Community College,
Phoenix, Arizona
I love The Gregg Reference Manual. I teach court reporting, and it is the first reference book I recommend to my students.

Dianne Massey, legal staff manager, Haynesworth Baldwin Johnson & Greaves, Greenville, South Carolina
I am the legal staff manager of our law office, and each secretary has the most recent version of The Gregg Reference Manual. I could not work without it. I am the firm's primary editor for publications, and The Gregg Reference Manual is my bible at work. One feature I really appreciate is the comprehensive index. It is so easy to find the rules. The index makes it a very user-friendly tool.

Deborah Patton, legal secretary, Linowes and Blocher,
Bethesda, Maryland
I've shared some of the tips I've learned from The Gregg Reference Manual at the law firm where I work, and as a result, I've had attorneys come to me (a legal secretary), asking for advice on writing. One attorney even added the manual to his Christmas list because he decided it would be a great way to improve his writing skills.

Judith Cavanaugh, legal assistant, St. Joseph, Michigan
This manual has answered many, many questions for me, my boss, and my coworkers. They were so impressed with what is covered, they bought their own copies!

Nancy Matthews, certified professional secretary,
Mays Landing, New Jersey
I want to heartily thank you for this manual, which I have constantly used since I was in college in 1964. It is my favorite grammar manual.

Donna Pelletier, executive assistant, Maine Yankee, Wiscasset, Maine
I use The Gregg Reference Manual all of the time and find it to be a very valuable tool in the office. I have learned so much from this book and highly recommend it.

Janet Shepherd, project secretary, Summerville, South Carolina
The Gregg Reference Manual is the best reference book on the market. It well surpasses any other book of its kind and is the "bible" of grammar and punctuation. It is so easy to understand, has excellent examples, and looking up things is a breeze. I used it all the years I was teaching business education and have educated both my daughters and my coworkers to its value.

Dorothy C. Huff, administrative assistant, Project CRISS,
Kalispell, Montana
The Gregg Reference Manual has almost become our right arm. We are a nationwide educational program with materials and newsletters going to thousands of teachers and educators in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. We have to be letter-perfect. The clear format and the extensive cross-referencing make this an easy-to-use, comprehensive resource.

Tammy Hicks, administrative assistant, Lansing, Michigan
I love The Gregg Reference Manual. It's great to have a consistent authority to use within our office.

Cindy Midtbo, account clerk, Juneau, Wisconsin
Thank you for your prompt response to my question. I didn't really think you would answer it personally. I was expecting a generic response and instead got a real answer. Thank you so much.

Lynne Richards, probation officer, San Mateo, California
The Gregg Reference Manual is the absolute BEST! I've yet to find a better grammar reference.