Whatever each of us may think about our command of the language, few of us can afford to do without advice from time to time on matters of grammar, syntax, and usage, not to mention spelling and punctuation. Given the range of informed judgment that exists on issues like these, expect to find some differences of opinion among these volumes. Achtert, Walter S., and Joseph Gibaldi. The Chicago Manual is a comprehensive style manual used throughout the U.S. publishing world, perhaps more comprehensive than most college students need, but containing much useful advice on matters of punctuation, capitalization, and word choice as well as on the documentation of sources. The Random House Handbook .6th ed.
Crews is a comprehensive, well-indexed, easily used review of points of grammar.
Every student should own and habitually consult this volume or one like it. Ebbitt, Wilma R., and David R. Ebbitt. Index to English .8th ed. In alphabetical order, the authors treat the use of certain words and expressions, punctuation marks, parts of speech, points of grammar, and questions relating to the larger issues of writing papers. See also Crews and Strunk and White for discursive coverage of such topics.