ABSTRACT
For those not familiar with computer programming, the best first step in learning the R language is to use it interactively by typing textual commands. This chapter teaches not only the syntax and grammar rules, but also gives a glimpse at the advantages and flexibility of this approach to data analysis. In the first part of the chapter you will use R to do everyday calculations. This easy start will give you a chance to focus on learning how to issue textual commands at the command prompt. Later in the chapter, you will gradually focus more on the R language and its grammar and less on how commands are entered. By the end of the chapter you will be familiar with most of the kinds of simple “words” used in the R language and you will be able to write simple “sentences” in R.
