Making grammar cool

And now, iGrammar

by Dwayne Steward
Entertainment reporter
Newsday
August 22, 2007

Could it be that good grammar is back in style. Possibly, if the success of Mignon Fogarty’s "Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips To Clean Up Your Writing" is any indication.

Barely a year ago Fogarty, a technical writer from Arizona, started a small podcast to help fellow technical writers with their grammar and sparked what you migh call a worldwide, syntax-driven fiesta. Her iTunes podcast has been downloaded 5 million times and has over 2 million listeners each week, from Chinese schoolchildren to American CEOs.

As she guides listeners through such things as the distinction between affect and effect and teh proper use of the semicolon, Fogarty’s Grammar Girl consistantly tops iTunes as most downloaded podcast in the education category. On the strength of that accomplishment she was asked to appear in March as a grammar expert on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Mignon Fogarty, author of "Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips To Clean Up Your Writing"

All the feedback prompted Audio Renaissance her to publish her first audiobook. It's in bookstores and sold on-line for $9.95 through Barens and Noble and Amazon.com. Audio Renaissance's sister company, Henry Holt and Co., is hoping to have a hardback published in 2008, said Liz Noland, Audio Renaissance publicist.

The hour-long CD is divided into three parts and offers tidbits including memorization tips for often confused works (which and that; nauseous and nauseating) and "how-to" sound bites on punctuation marks.

Moving beyond Grammar Girl, Fogarty created a Quick and Dirty Tips empire, at QDnow.com. The site features a host of "Tips for Doing Thing Better," including Mr. Manner’s Tips for a More Polite Life, Money Girl’s Tips for a Richer Life and Mighty Mommy’s Tips for Practical Parenting, which are sampled on the audiobook.