Do you do things “by the book”?

Are you someone who likes to do things by the book? Or are you more of a rebel, occasionally breaking the rules and doing things your own way?

If you haven’t already guessed, doing something “by the book” is an English idiom that means doing it exactly as the rules or instructions tell you to. For example, when you cook, do you follow recipes by the book? I do, especially if I’m trying a new recipe – I’ll follow the recipe exactly, step by step, without making any changes.

Here are some other examples:

• The chef followed the recipe by the book to make the perfect chocolate cake.
• The policeman did everything by the book so that the criminal would be convicted.

• The bus driver drives by the book, always obeying traffic rules and regulations.
• Despite the urgency of the situation, the surgeon followed the surgical procedure by the book to ensure the best outcome for the patient.

When I’m teaching English, I teach grammar by the book. However, when working with a student to help them develop their fluidity, vocabulary, pronunciation, listening and conversational skills in English, I like to get creative! I use techniques that I never learned from a book but that are nonetheless fun and effective!

Please let me know in the comments when you like to do things by the book – and when you like to break the rules. Also, feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my online classes. I would love to hear from you!