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This is the classic book on how to write. The short chapter format makes it perfect for opportunistic reading by busy writers.Who am I to make these recommendations. Nope. If you haven't, then stop reading this review and go get it--either online for free or in an inexpensive paper version. And I've read each of these books and learned something. I'll just suggest three books to back it up on your shelf. If you've already read it, you don't need me to tell you how good it is. Some great writer, maybe.
Strunk and White is the best by far, but these will help you, too.Kilian Crawford's Writing for the Web provides guidance and examples for successful online writing. Web readers have different expectations and attention spans and it takes different techniques to capture, hold and develop their interest in your message.Roy Peter Clark's Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer provides strategy advice that ranges from "Nuts and Bolts" like "Begin sentences with subjects and verbs" to "Useful Habits" such as "Turn procrastination into rehearsal."Mark Kramer and Wendy Call's Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide contains advice from experienced writers and editors on a range of topics. I'm a so-so writer who enjoys it, wants to be better at it, and needs all the help he can get. My guess is that you will, too.Feed your shelf and it will be there for you.
I prefer to have an other grammar guide than this one. With so many other grammar guides out there, this one is very simple in its rather rigid guidelines. Some of the rules used in here are rather old fashioned. It might be good for beginner writers who are fluent in English, but I wouldn't recommend this book to students since this book is very dated. It's considered a classic for grammer, but I find this book to be overrated. The writing is very stiff and forced. Personally I prefer other grammar guides over this one, but this one good for reference.
They cover (1) rules that nobody breaks today or (2) wrong rules. Summary: I wouldn't suggest buying this book. An example of a wrong rule is suggesting that "We read a book, and trusting all of its rules, we made mistakes" is correct, while "We read a book and, trusting all of its rules, we made mistakes" is wrong (note comma's position). You're better off Googling grammar rules as you get suspicious about your writing.Pro: Good summary of rules, with examples. I think the world would be a better place if everyone followed some rules: e.g., commas for dependent clauses, clarity on a statement's subject.Con: Some rules feel dated. Language is a fluid organism; using an early-20th-century book today poses a risk to your style.Suggestion: stick to this: [.]. When in doubt, Google it.
This book served me well when I was an editor/writer long ago and I view it as a must have for all writers. Now that my son is writing, I got this for him and he told me that every other writer in his department had a copy of it. It should be required for all writers and non-writers both. I can't recommend it enough.
This one is worth a look if you collect this kind of book for fun or for completeness, but there are much more thorough and thoughtful and self-aware books out there. Read Geoffrey Pullum's critique of the book in the Chronicle before buying. I would recommend Keys for Writers, 5th Edition in place of Strunk & White. It costs more, but it's probably all you'll need in terms of writing style, excepting perhaps The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 6th Ed [Pub Manual 6E] (PAPERBACK), if APA style is required in your field.If your problem is actually sitting down and writing on a regular basis, then How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing is probably the best one.Pullum's critique: [.].
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