Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter I
2. Acknowledgments VII
3. Contents IX
4. 1. Introduction 1
5. 2. Grammar as a Study 8
6. 3. The Logic of English Grammar 18
7. 4. The Origin of Grammar 29
8. 5. Changing Grammar 40
9. 6. How Grammar Changes 49
10. 7. Consistency in Grammar 60
11. 8. Inconsistency in Grammar 71
12. 9. Grammar Is Arbitrary 81
13. 10. Tendency to Change 91
14. 11. Expedition, Impatience, Anticipation 102
15. 12. Long-Cutting in English Grammar 112
16. 13. Imagination and Striving for Beauty 122
17. 14. Humdrum and Escape 132
18. 15. Arrogance and the Desire to Impress 141
19. 16. Modesty and Politeness 151
20. 17. Impatience and Abbreviation 160
21. 18. Emphatic Frankness 170
22. 19. Confusion and Profundity 179
23. 20. Sloth and Slovenliness 188
24. 21. Indecisiveness 197
25. 22. Problems of Time 206
26. 23. The Future of English 215
27. Index 225