Grammar Bytes Review: Interactive Grammar Exercises with Attitude

Grammar Bytes! (hosted at chompchomp.com) is an interactive grammar practice site created by US grammar instructor Robin L. Simmons in 1997. It's tagged "Grammar Instruction with Attitude" — and the tone carries through the witty examples and irreverent copy.

The site is built around the cycle of rule → exercise → handout:

• Terms — detailed definitions of grammar terms, abstract nouns through verbs
• Exercises — interactive, self-grading grammar quizzes
• Handouts — downloadable PDFs that track which exercises a student has done
• Rules — concise cheat-sheet style grammar explanations
• Presentations — PowerPoint slide decks ready for projector use
• Canvas modules — five 10-item quizzes importable into Canvas Instructure via Commons

Beyond the site, there's a YouTube channel (GrammarWood) and a small merch shop. The core offering — exercises, handouts, slides, rules — has stayed free since 1997.

Grammar Bytes works best for these specific things:

• Direct grammar instruction: pick a topic (commas, semicolons, subject-verb agreement), project the slide deck, then send students to the matching exercise.
• Printable handouts for proof of work: students fill in the handout as they go — useful for grading or accountability in a sub plan.
• Canvas / LMS integration: import the Canvas modules once, get 10-question quizzes for free, attach to your course.
• Targeted remediation: the rules pages are short enough to project for a 5-minute review before a writing task.
• Adult ESL / EAP writing classes: comma rules, parallelism, and subject-verb agreement are the most-used sections for English-language learners preparing for academic writing.

Yes — Grammar Bytes has earned its longevity. The pairing of rule → exercise → handout is exactly what a teacher needs, and it's been free for almost three decades.

The downsides are mostly aesthetic and topical. The grammar is US-standard (period-vs-comma debates, Oxford comma, MLA-style comma splices), and the design is functional but visibly old-school. For non-US English or CEFR-tagged resources, look at Teach-This or Crystal Clear ESL.

Honest recommendation: if you teach grammar at high-school or adult ESL level and want ready-made exercises plus handouts without building anything yourself, Grammar Bytes is one of the best free options still online. Pair it with a more modern site (British Council) for the polish it lacks.