Grammar for Academic Writing: Unit 7 – Speculating: Conditionals and modals
Task 7.13 – End-of-course task
This final task is a really important one, from our point of view at ELTC, because past students’
evaluations have enabled us to improve the course.
If you have been using these Grammar for Academic Writing materials independently, please email
Further help with grammar and vocabulary
Here is a list of some useful books and websites, with our comments.
Books
E/K = contains exercises and a key.
Exploring Grammar in Writing -- upper-intermediate and advanced (R. Hughes; Cambridge
University Press)
Like Grammar for Academic Writing, this book aims to develop your understanding of how genre,
context and purpose affect grammatical choices in writing. E/K
English Grammar in Use (R. Murphy; Cambridge University Press)
The best-selling book on British grammar. It presents grammatical rules (and exceptions) simply
and clearly, and provides plenty of sentence-level exercises. However, it provides rather limited
help for students needing to write academic assignments. E/K
Advanced Grammar in Use (M. Hewings; Cambridge University Press).
In the same series as Murphy’s book. More relevant to university-level writing. E/K
Academic Vocabulary in Use (M. McCarthy and F. O’Dell; Cambridge University Press)
A guide to the key academic vocabulary used in all fields. E/K
Grammar Troublespots (A. Raimes; Cambridge University Press)
Very practical guidance on points to notice when editing your own academic writing. E/K
How English Works (M. Swan and C. Walter; Oxford University Press)
Intended ‘to make grammar practice interesting’. As well as covering the usual areas, it comments
on differences between spoken and written grammar where necessary. Also includes a useful test
to show you which grammatical areas you need to concentrate on. E/K
Oxford Guide to English Grammar (J. Eastwood; Oxford University Press)
A very thorough grammar reference book with clear explanations (there is a good section on
articles and related points, for example), but no exercises. A companion volume, Oxford Practice
Grammar, by the same author, has exercises but less complete explanations.
Cambridge Grammar of English (R. Carter and M. McCarthy; Cambridge University Press)
‘The ultimate guide to English as it is really used’, according to the publishers. A large, very
comprehensive reference grammar, for both spoken and written usage, based on recent research.
Web resources
Links to a number of useful grammar websites can be found in the website Using English for
Academic Purposes www.uefap.com, maintained by Andy Gillett (from the UEfAP home page, select
Links, then Language).
Abridged from ‘Women risk most deadly lung cancer’, by G. Cooper in The Independent, 3 December
1998.
‘Tougher drink-drive limit abandoned’, by K. Harper in The Guardian, 3 December 1998.
The History of Christianity, edited by J. McManners (OUP, 1990).
‘Close quotes’, by K. Melia in Edit 15, Winter 1998/99, page 34.