- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: University of Chicago Press; New edition edition (13 July 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0226899152
- ISBN-13: 978-0226899152
- Product Dimensions: 21.7 x 14.2 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 332,528 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This acclaimed book is a master teacher's tested program for turning clumsy prose into clear, powerful, and effective writing. A logical, expert, easy-to-use plan for achieving excellence in expression, "Style" offers neither simplistic rules nor endless lists of dos and don'ts. Rather, Joseph Williams explains how to be concise, how to be focused, how to be organized. Filled with realistic examples of good, bad, and better writing, and step-by-step strategies for crafting a sentence or organizing a paragraph, "Style" does much more than teach mechanics: it helps anyone who must write clearly and persuasively transform even the roughest of drafts into a polished work of clarity, coherence, impact, and personality.
A textbook edition with exercises, "Style" is available from Longman.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Go to any bookstore (cyber or otherwise) - see writing books arrayed row upon row. Now, take down a copy of "Style" by Joseph Williams, and leave Zinsser and Strunk & White collecting dust on the shelf, because William's is the only one you'll ever need. Williams describes the actual writing process better than anyone, and presents a method which an aspiring writer may employ to accomplish his or her writing goals - whatever they are! And he does it without recourse to the usual grammatical rules and "mechanics of writing" approach. That approach [resumptive modifier!] never helped anyone become a better writer - and it sure discouraged a lot of us!
Make no mistake! This is not beach reading, as Williams himself would tell you. Williams develops an entire system of writing over the course of the book, adding to it chapter by chapter. If you're not used to sustained intellectual effort, or if you have a short attention span, this book will definitely be a stretch. It requires prolonged concentration. But if you put forth the effort, it will be rewarded! I've read this book through at least eight times cover to cover, and while I'm not a great writer, I've improved immeasurably.
My compliments to Professor Williams - a great book!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Joseph Williams' book, "Style: Toward Clarity and Grace" is the best book on writing I have ever read, by far. Williams himself describes the emphasis of the book on page one: "Telling me to 'Be clear' is like telling me to 'Hit the ball squarely.' I know that. What I don't know is how to do it." But Williams does know how to write well, and his explanations are precise and concrete.
This book takes a sort of linguistic, almost scientific approach to improving your writing style. I first learned of Williams' work in "The Language Instinct," by the Stephen Pinker, the acclaimed professor of linguistics from MIT.
Unlike every other writing book, this one is more than a laundry list of grammatical shoulds and shouldn'ts. This book is about HOW-- how to write to suit the human brain's innate method of processing information.
I am a professional writer, and I have a whole book case filled with grammar books. But this book is worth more than all the others combined. If you're a writer, this is the book you've been looking for.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
By itself, this book is helpful. But its not nearly as helpful as Williams other book "Style - Ten Lessons Towards Clarity & Grace," which is also available through Amazon.com. This version of Style simply presents Williams' theories about writing, but it does not provide the reader with the "workbook" drills that are contained in "Ten Lessons." A reader will only understand the value of Williams' techniques after he's had a chance to apply them. I recommend this book without reservation, but believe that most readers will benefit more from the "Ten Lessons" version.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
an alternative opinion
I bought this book to improve my story writing; it wasn't much help. This book is mainly concerned with technical writing. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. J. Hudson
One of the best books for Students and Researchers
It is one of the best books on the market for students and researchers. We often face a blank page not knowing how to get started. Read more
Published on 6 July 2009 by G. Dewez
Good practical principles for writing well - clearly set out
Am only 2/3 of the way through this book, bought while looking for works for science postgraduates, to help them with their writing. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2000 by mike.brisco@flinders.edu.au
A Systematic and Enlightening Guide to Better Writing
For people who are serious about improving their writing skills, this is an excellent how-to book. Prof. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 1998
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