Summary
The Facts On File Guide to Style is an indispensable guide to writing elegantly and effectively, intended for those who have mastered the basics of correct writing and now wish to improve their skills. Part I, "Writing with Style," explains the fundamentals of good writing style, from the general concept of style to specifics on how readers can improve the style of their own writing. Part II, "Style in Practice," focuses on the techniques to be employed when writing various types of documents, including letters, e-mails, essays, business reports, and more.
Author Biography
Martin H. Manser is a reference book writer and editor based in England
Table of Contents
Introduction |
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xi | |
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PART I. WRITING WITH STYLE |
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3 | (2) |
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5 | (16) |
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5 | (14) |
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What Is Style? An Overview |
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19 | (2) |
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21 | (16) |
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21 | (1) |
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Style and Grammatical Correctness |
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22 | (4) |
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26 | (7) |
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33 | (2) |
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Beyond Correctness: An Overview |
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35 | (2) |
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37 | (34) |
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37 | (1) |
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38 | (14) |
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52 | (1) |
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53 | (2) |
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55 | (8) |
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63 | (6) |
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The Qualities of Style: An Overview |
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69 | (2) |
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71 | (22) |
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71 | (1) |
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71 | (3) |
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The Origins of English Vocabulary |
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74 | (2) |
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76 | (6) |
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82 | (5) |
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Use Longer Words Carefully |
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87 | (1) |
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Enlarging Your Vocabulary |
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88 | (3) |
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Choosing Words: An Overview |
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91 | (2) |
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93 | (30) |
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93 | (1) |
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93 | (12) |
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The Logic of the Sentence |
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105 | (10) |
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The Rhythm of the Sentence |
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115 | (6) |
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Constructing Sentences: An Overview |
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121 | (2) |
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123 | (30) |
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123 | (1) |
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124 | (9) |
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133 | (8) |
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141 | (8) |
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149 | (3) |
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Constructing Paragraphs: An Overview |
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152 | (1) |
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Using Figurative Language |
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153 | (12) |
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153 | (1) |
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The Nature of Figurative Language |
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154 | (1) |
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The Function of Figurative Language |
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155 | (1) |
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Using Figurative Language |
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156 | (1) |
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157 | (1) |
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The Place for Figurative Language |
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158 | (2) |
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160 | (1) |
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The Perils of Figurative Language |
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161 | (2) |
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Using Figurative Language: An Overview |
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163 | (2) |
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165 | (20) |
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165 | (4) |
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Finding the Appropriate Tone |
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169 | (14) |
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Choosing a Style: An Overview |
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183 | (2) |
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Expressing Tone through Words |
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185 | (30) |
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185 | (1) |
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185 | (1) |
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186 | (3) |
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Formality and Informality |
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189 | (1) |
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190 | (5) |
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195 | (2) |
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197 | (2) |
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199 | (5) |
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Emotiveness and Objectivity |
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204 | (6) |
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Expressing Tone through Words: An Overview |
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210 | (3) |
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PART II. STYLE IN PRACTIVE |
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213 | (2) |
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215 | (30) |
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215 | (2) |
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The Structure and Conventions of a Business Letter or Formal E-mail |
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217 | (6) |
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223 | (8) |
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231 | (2) |
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233 | (3) |
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236 | (3) |
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Letters of Recommendation |
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239 | (3) |
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242 | (1) |
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Letters and E-mails: An Overview |
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243 | (2) |
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245 | (6) |
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245 | (2) |
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247 | (2) |
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Memorandums and Resumes: An Overview |
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249 | (2) |
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251 | (18) |
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251 | (1) |
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252 | (13) |
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265 | (3) |
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Essays and Theses: An Overview |
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268 | (1) |
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Business Reports and Presentations |
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269 | (10) |
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269 | (2) |
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271 | (6) |
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Business Reports and Presentations: An Overview |
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277 | (2) |
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279 | (6) |
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279 | (1) |
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279 | (2) |
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281 | (2) |
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Promotional Writing: An Overview |
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283 | (2) |
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285 | (24) |
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285 | (1) |
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285 | (6) |
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291 | (4) |
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295 | (4) |
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299 | (3) |
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302 | (4) |
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306 | (2) |
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Keeping to Style: An Overview |
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308 | (1) |
Index |
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309 | |
Excerpts
An essential guide to the basics of writing style.
From school papers and e-mails to business reports and legal briefs, people write for personal and professional reasons on a daily basis. Finding a style and voice early on helps people become clear and concise writers, simplifying tasks of all kinds.
The perfect companion to The Facts On File Guide to Good Writing, this book helps readers refine and improve their writing style.
Chapters include:
The Qualities of Style: understanding what constitutes clarity, elegance, and vigor
Constructing Sentences: choosing words to form clear, logical, and rhythmic sentences
Constructing Paragraphs: assembling sentences into coherent paragraphs
Choosing a Style: adapting writing to suit circumstance, audience, purpose, and other considerations
Keeping to Style: choosing fonts and the overall presentation of documents and deciding how and when to incorporate numbers, quotes, graphics, and illustrations.
Perfect for readers and writers of all ages, The Facts On File Guide to Style is an essential guide to the basics of style.