Writing with Precision: How to Write So That You Cannot Possibly Be Misunderstood [Paperback]

One of the most popular and respected style guides ever written, this handbook by a seasoned writer with more than forty years of experience offers ten principles and seven axioms that professional writers use to express their thoughts clearly and effectively. This latest edition is expanded to include an extensive glossary of American idiomatic expressions, developed to assist users from other backgrounds and cultures; new chapters with tips on little-known facts of usage, such as compound words, hyphenation, numeration, and capitalization; and explanations of technical problems encountered in writing and editing with tips and exercises to help solve them. For anyone faced with the challenges of written English, Writing with Precision can help readers write more clearly, more effectively, and more precisely than they ever have.Credo
Preface to the Penguin Edition
Preface
Acknowledgments
About This Book... Who Needs It?

Part 1: Writing with Precision
1. Introduction
Can Good Writing Be Taught?
What Is Good Useful Writing?
Why the Confusion About Good Usage ?
Why Bother to Write Better?
The Economics of Clear Writing
The Life You Save...
Getting Down to Brass Tacks
Copyreading Marks

2. The Craft of the Editor
Introduction
Duties and Responsibilities of the Writer: A Preview
Duties and Responsibilities of the Editor: A Preview
Checklist of Editorial DOs and DON'Ts
The Rules of Editing
Ten Principles for Improving Clarity and Precision of Written Documents
Editing Your Own Copy—Hardest Editorial Task of All
Checklist of Steps in Revising or Self-Editing

3. Editing for Strength
Introduction
Definitions of Active and Passive Voice
Make Every Word Count<lóÉ