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As a counterpoint to the Strunk and White recommendation, please take a look at this: 50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice[1]. (Note that it doesn't primarily obje
by telemachos 14y ago
As a counterpoint to the Strunk and White recommendation, please take a look at this: 50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice[1]. (Note that it doesn't primarily object to the stylistic advice in S&W, which it calls "vapid" but "mostly harmless". The real objections are to the grammatical claims and advice.)
Two books on writing I strongly recommend:
Clear and Simple as the Truth: Writing Classic Prose[2], exerpt here[3].
Style: Towards Clarity and Grace - this one has gone through countless versions as the publisher seems to re-release it every academic year. (Make used copies obsolete and raise the price.) I prefer the older, shorter versions to the more recent ones. It was clearer itself when briefer! Anyhow, here's an author search on Amazon - look for older used copies[4]. Edit: Just found this outline of the 6th ed. of the book. A good way to see what he covers in a hurry.[5]
The first is not a standard writing guide; it's a thoughtful analysis of what makes a certain kind of writing clear and persuasive. The second is a more nuts-and-bolts guide to writing. They're both excellent.
[1]: http://chronicle.com/article/50-Years-of-Stupid-Grammar/25497 http://chronicle.com/article/50-Years-of-Stupid-Grammar/2549...
[2]: http://classicprose.com/ http://classicprose.com/
[3]: http://classicprose.com/csx.html http://classicprose.com/csx.html
[4]: http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-M.-Williams/e/B001H6MZ40/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-M.-Williams/e/B001H6MZ40/ref=nt...
[5]: http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/StyleTenLessons.htm http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/StyleTenLessons.htm
- jgrahamc 14y agoThanks for those recommendations. I was looking for my next few books to read.
- jeremyt 14y agoI've read those, which are good, but I think this one is better than all of them put together: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Well-30th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0060891548/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1342191649&sr=8-4&keywords=on+writing http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Well-30th-Anniversary-Edition/...
- telemachos 14y agoWithout arguing for or against it, I'll just say it's the first book JGC recommends in his linked post. :)
- jeremyt 14y agoI'm just going to fess up and say that I didn't read the linked post, just the comments.
- telemachos 14y agoWe all do it sometimes, and it's no big deal. I just couldn't pass up the smile.
- rgraham 14y agoThis book is on my shelf. It's a thoughtful and practical approach to language and writing. The prose in the book is often winking at you as it reveals a principle.
- tgrass 14y agoI second Towards Clarity and Grace. Additionally, Orwell's Politics and the English Language https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm. And as for listening to editors, the world is your editor. Put your writing into the hands of anyone you can and ask for feedback. When someone says it is great, thank them and move on until you find someone who can honestly provide constructive criticism...your work is never great.
- wmat 14y agoTwo books I've found quite useful are: The Elements of F*cking Style: a helpful parody. http://www.amazon.ca/Elements-cking-Style-Helpful-Parody/dp/031258377X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342199661&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.ca/Elements-cking-Style-Helpful-Parody/dp/... The Yahoo Style Guide http://www.amazon.ca/Yahoo-Style-Guide-Ultimate-Sourcebook/dp/031256984X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342199743&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.ca/Yahoo-Style-Guide-Ultimate-Sourcebook/d...
- dfc 14y agoI would add Garner's Modern American Usage.