Shertzer, Margaret
The Elements of Grammar
1996
U.S. Edition: Pearson Higher Education
U.K. Edition:
This popular companion book in the "Elements" trio, which includes "Elements of Style" and "Elements of Editing", has gone out of print in its most recent edition, according to Amazon.com. Alternatives include:
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Strunk, William Jr., E.B. White, Charles Osgood, Roger Angell (Afterword)
The Elements of Style
2000 (4th Edition)
Allyn & Bacon Paperback
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
This quote from the book provides a great overview of the purpose of the book. Principles of usage, misused words and expressions, and information on a variety of other topics is presented in order to help writers express themselves more clearly and correctly. Looking through this book, I'm struck by the need to review it again.
It's small. It's inexpensive. It's packed with great information. Whether it is for a college application, business letter, web site text, or inter-office memorandum, this book is a worthwhile investment for anyone who needs to communicate clearly using the written word.
Other books on this subject:
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Zinsser, William K.
On Writing Well
1976, 1998 (Most recent edition)
Harper Reference Paperback
Here's a book on writing that's not only packed with information, it's fun to read! Aimed at non-fiction writing, it offers up chapters in three sections entitled "Principles", "Forms", and "Attitudes".
It's a relatively short and easy to digest book, immensely popular, and a great book for review as well as for those just getting started.
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