Backstory

On September 21, 2018, Ellen Jovin set up a folding table on a Manhattan sidewalk with a sign that said “Grammar Table.” Within seconds, passersby began excitedly asking questions, telling stories, and filing complaints.

The Grammar Table was born. What followed is the stuff of grammar legend.

Ellen and her husband, Brandt Johnson, decided to take the table on the road. They visited 47 states before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and Brandt filmed the grammar action. In 2022, they brought the table to the last three states: Alaska, Hawaii, and that faraway land of Connecticut.

Ellen talks about grammar with writers, editors, construction workers, salespeople, teachers, students, small children, doctors, dancers, seniors, and anyone else who uses words in this world. She creates community. Fan-favorite topics include the Oxford comma, spaces after periods, semicolons, “which” versus “that,” and whether you can end a sentence with a preposition (hint: you can!).

But this story transcends grammar. It's the story of an epic quest, in a time of deep social division, to connect with America and bring us all closer together. Over grammar? Yeah. Say goodbye to your preconceptions. Say hello to Grammar Table.

Ellen's book about the adventures of the Grammar Table, titled Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian, was published by Mariner Books (HarperCollins) in July 2022 and became a national bestseller.

Brandt's documentary film about the Grammar Table is in post-production.