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How Not to Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar
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How Not to Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar Paperback - 2005

by William Safire

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Safire spotlights the "essential misrules of grammar," those mistakes that call attention to the major rules and regulations of writing. He provides entertaining advice on language, grammar and life, covering a vast territory from capitalization, split infinitives, run-on sentences and semi-colons to contractions, the double negative, dangling participles and even onomatopoeia.

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From the publisher

How Not to Write is a wickedly witty book about grammar, usage, and style. William Safire, the author of the New York Times Magazine column "On Language," homes in on the "essential misrules of grammar," those mistakes that call attention to the major rules and regulations of writing. He tells you the correct way to write and then tells you when it is all right to break the rules. In this lighthearted guide, he chooses the most common and perplexing concerns of writers new and old. Each mini-chapter starts by stating a misrule like "Don't use Capital letters without good REASON." Safire then follows up with solid and entertaining advice on language, grammar, and life. He covers a vast territory from capitalization, split infinitives (it turns out you can split one if done meaningfully), run-on sentences, and semi-colons to contractions, the double negative, dangling participles, and even onomatopoeia. Originally published under the title Fumblerules.

First line

What kind of word is intro for the beginning of a book laying down rules of grammar and usage?

Details

  • Title How Not to Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar
  • Author William Safire
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 162
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher W. W. Norton & Company
  • Publication date 2005-07-01
  • ISBN 9780393327236 / 039332723X
  • Weight 0.4 lbs (0.18 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.72 x 4.8 x 0.52 in (19.61 x 12.19 x 1.32 cm)
  • Category Reference
  • Dewey Decimal Code 428.002

Media reviews

Citations

  • Ingram Advance, 07/01/2005, Page 71
  • Kirkus Reviews, 04/01/2005, Page 407
  • Publishers Weekly, 05/02/2005, Page 185

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