Patricia T. O'Conner (born February 19, 1949) is an American author, editor, and language commentator, best known for her humorous and accessible books on English grammar and writing. She worked as an editor at The New York Times Book Review. Her most famous work, Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English, first published in 1996, has become a classic, praised for its witty, plain-spoken approach. O'Conner's writing demystifies grammar rules and encourages clear, natural expression. She has also written Words Fail Me and Origins of the Specious. Her books are widely used in schools and by general readers, making her one of the most influential popular grammar writers in the United States.
