How to write properly in English - Guides

Has anybody come across good practical references for using the English language?

I have come across references to the following (American) books:

• Woe Is I (2nd ed. 2004) - Patricia T. O'Conner
  
• Better English (1956) - Norman Lewis
  
• The Elements of Style (4th ed. 2000) - William Strunk & E.B. White
  
• Modern English Usage (2nd ed. 1965) - H.W. Fowler
  
• Garner's Modern American Usage (2nd. ed. 2003) 0 Bryan A. Garner
  

Has anybody tried any of the above books? Any recommendations/preferences?

Is there any particular area you're looking to improve? Grammar, punctuation, style etc.?

You won't go wrong if you stick to Fowler. Kingsley Amis wrote a short book called 'The King's English' a few years ago, a briefer, more venomous version of Fowler, very funny in places, but good advice...

Generally: using the language properly, without making unintended mistakes as to the usage of phrases or words, in order to improve accuracy and commuication.

Kinglsey Amis might be good although I seem to recall that he had a low opinion of Irish people.

Obviously it wouldn't rank up there with the rest of the resources, but the Economist Style Guide is a quick and accessible reference guide, might come in handy.

http://www.economist.com/research/styleguide/

The economist style guide is useful indeed. I don't fully trust it though!

Zhou_Enlai wrote:

Generally: using the language properly, without making unintended mistakes as to the usage of phrases or words, in order to improve accuracy and commuication.

Kinglsey Amis might be good although I seem to recall that he had a low opinion of Irish people.

He was a cantankerous right-wing old soak with some repugnant views, but the book is good, particularly if you're a bit of a pronunciation and usage Nazi, as I am...

The BBC has something along the lines of a guide too, I believe...

Quote :

Compare: A is compared with B when you draw attention to the difference. A is compared to B only when you want to stress their similarity. ( “Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?”)

Sadly, a failure to make that distinction actually formed the basis of a thread on p.ie about Barroso's comparison of Ireland with Iceland. The thread was dominated by people complaining that Barroso had compared Ireland to Iceland.

http://www.bbctraining.com/pdfs/newsstyleguide.pdf

It's quite good, a lot of the focus is on the politics of the language used though as opposed to the mechanics and style issues.

Interesting thread. Do you mean we are not supposed to make it up as we go along?

I shall say but this today: STOP PUTTING PREPOSITIONS AT THE END OF SENTENCES!!!

Yehbut nobbut....

cactus flower wrote:

Yehbut nobbut....

That isn't a proper sentence, cactus. It has no subject, verb or object.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Yehbut nobbut....

That isn't a proper sentence, cactus. It has no subject, verb or object.

yebbut...nobbut...yehbut...nobbut....

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I shall say but this today: STOP PUTTING PREPOSITIONS AT THE END OF SENTENCES!!!

I'll use whatever I want to end my sentences with.

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I shall say but this today: STOP PUTTING PREPOSITIONS AT THE END OF SENTENCES!!!

I'll use whatever I want to end my sentences with.

Who's he saying that to?

Or rather, who's he shouting that at?

Auditor #9 wrote:

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I shall say but this today: STOP PUTTING PREPOSITIONS AT THE END OF SENTENCES!!!

I'll use whatever I want to end my sentences with.

Who's he saying that to?

Or rather, who's he shouting that at?

I don't know! but it was a very demanding statement - I wonder did he think about it before.

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I shall say but this today: STOP PUTTING PREPOSITIONS AT THE END OF SENTENCES!!!

I'll use whatever I want to end my sentences with.

Who's he saying that to?

Or rather, who's he shouting that at?

I don't know! but it was a very demanding statement - I wonder did he think about it before.

Just to correct you - "I wonder had he thought about it before"

I really don't know what he said it for.

Auditor #9 wrote:

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I shall say but this today: STOP PUTTING PREPOSITIONS AT THE END OF SENTENCES!!!

I'll use whatever I want to end my sentences with.

Who's he saying that to?

Or rather, who's he shouting that at?

I don't know! but it was a very demanding statement - I wonder did he think about it before.

Just to correct you - "I wonder had he thought about it before"

I really don't know what he said it for.

Ah right, thanks. I'm always afraid of letting grammar mistakes in.
I appreciate the help along.

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

BuachaillBeo wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I shall say but this today: STOP PUTTING PREPOSITIONS AT THE END OF SENTENCES!!!

I'll use whatever I want to end my sentences with.

Who's he saying that to?

Or rather, who's he shouting that at?

I don't know! but it was a very demanding statement - I wonder did he think about it before.

Just to correct you - "I wonder had he thought about it before"

I really don't know what he said it for.

Ah right, thanks. I'm always afraid of letting grammar mistakes in.
I appreciate the help along.

Always delighted to help - if you're in the area just drop by.

Or just phone up.

In answer to the OP's question, the bible is Strunk and White's 'Elements of Style.'

Kate P wrote:

In answer to the OP's question, the bible is Strunk and White's 'Elements of Style.'

Who are you recommending it to?

Auditor #9 wrote:

Kate P wrote:

In answer to the OP's question, the bible is Strunk and White's 'Elements of Style.'

Who are you recommending it to?

Anyone I know who writes (and I know a few), has a well-thumbed copy of this in their bag of tricks. Anyone who wants to write well should have it.

Kate P wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

Kate P wrote:

In answer to the OP's question, the bible is Strunk and White's 'Elements of Style.'

Who are you recommending it to?

Anyone I know who writes (and I know a few), has a well-thumbed copy of this in their bag of tricks. Anyone who wants to write well should have it.

Thanks. Wouldn't mind looking that up.

Auditor #9 wrote:

Kate P wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

Kate P wrote:

In answer to the OP's question, the bible is Strunk and White's 'Elements of Style.'

Who are you recommending it to?

Anyone I know who writes (and I know a few), has a well-thumbed copy of this in their bag of tricks. Anyone who wants to write well should have it.

Thanks. Wouldn't mind looking that up.

ya, it seems like a handy book to have near.