should I learn English grammar or American English grammar?

[CraigKeeble]

So I'm from England and I very much want to sell a lot of content on this site. I think I will probably need to improve my grammar before I can reliably do so and I was wondering whether I should learn American English grammar or just plain English grammar.

Is there a huge difference between the two? I would prefer to learn American English grammar as America is considerably larger than England, but if I ever wanted to publish a novel in the UK would I be badly handicapping myself by writing in an Americanised style? Do you think it would be easy enough to change grammar based on what country I'm writing content for or are there a lot of big differences?

This may seem like an odd question but I was trying to decide on a decent and affordable grammar guide to buy and couldn't decide on whether I should pick up the Chicago Manual of Style or something more English, or something else entirely (I am completely open to suggestions, I am very new to the idea of learning grammar).

Any help you can give would be great.

[jadedragon]

There are several requests right now for UK targeted articles. Write what you know and be consistent.

[Ed]

I suggest finding a copy of Hodges' Harbrace Handbook:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... odges+harb

[dmgray]

I am from the UK and to be honest, I usually write my articles using US spelling, rather than UK. I consider that spelling more universal, but that is my personal choice. The easiest thing to start with may be to use Word and set the default language to United States. You may wish to double-check each piece though - Word can be a bit quirky.

As far as actual grammar goes - is there really that much difference? There are small discrepencies (dare I whisper, "the Oxford Comma"?! ), but then there are opposite factions, within each country itself, that argue where a comma should go and whether comma splices are acceptable etc.

For basic grammar, there is a little handy-sized book called "My Grammar and I" that is quite good to start with and never forget Lynne Trusses' "Eats, Shoot and Leaves" - if only for its hilarity.

I do have a question for Ed though. Do you use a definitive guide, or do you try to allow for the idiosyncracies between UK and US grammar?

I readily admit that I am a nightmare for comma splices and Ed has scolded me once or twice...but I am trying!

[Ed]

I allow for the idiosyncrasies. Which sometimes means looking up usage rules or conferring with a native.

[dmgray]

Good to know. Thanks for being impartial!