Allen and Greenough New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges

Our review of Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges finds it best suited to serious students and instructors who want a compact, historically grounded reference. This reprint preserves the original editors' emphasis on comparative grammar and benefits from contributions by noted scholars, making it a dependable reference for classroom preparation, advanced high school courses, and college surveys of Latin. The single biggest reason to buy is its authoritative, scholarly assembly of phonetics, phonology, and comparative syntax in a single, portable volume.

Key Features

• Scholarly foundation: Edited material reflects the work of experienced editors and contributors, offering reliable guidance drawn from academic practice.
• Expert contributions: Early chapters on phonetics and phonology were prepared with assistance from a Harvard professor, improving clarity on pronunciation topics.
• Revised comparative syntax: Notes on historical and comparative syntax were revised with help from a Yale professor, giving the text added depth for historical linguistics study.
• Practical for teaching:
Cooperation by a longtime teacher in the revision process means the presentation suits classroom use and lesson planning.
• Compact reprint: The classic reprint format makes a historically important grammar accessible without sourcing an original edition.

Who It's For

Students in advanced high school Latin courses or undergraduates taking a Roman language survey will find this grammar useful as a reference to phonetics, morphology, and comparative syntax. Instructors who prepare lessons on historical development or comparative grammar will appreciate the scholarly notes and contributions from established academics.

Casual readers or beginners seeking a gentle, modern textbook with exercises and progressive lessons should look elsewhere; this volume reads primarily as a reference and historical grammar rather than a step-by-step beginner workbook.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Authoritative editorial team provides trustworthiness for academic use.
• Includes specialized sections on phonetics and phonology with expert input.
• Clear attention to historical and comparative syntax benefits advanced study.
• Reprint format makes a classic resource accessible to modern readers.

Cons

• Not designed as a beginner textbook with drills or progressive exercises.
• As a reprint, formatting reflects the original style and may feel dated to some readers.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Allen and Greenough's reprint is a strong value for instructors and advanced students who need a concise, academically grounded reference on Latin grammar and comparative syntax. Its expert revisions and attention to phonetics make it especially useful for historical or comparative work, though readers seeking modern pedagogy or beginner exercises may prefer a contemporary textbook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for beginners?
It is primarily a reference and historical grammar, so beginners seeking stepwise lessons and exercises should choose a modern beginner's textbook instead.

Does this edition include updated scholarship?
The reprint preserves the original text and includes noted revisions and assistance from university scholars, but it does not substitute for recent modern research.

Who contributed to the revisions?
Revisions and assistance came from university professors and an experienced teacher who cooperated throughout the revision process.