Dewey Edition23
Reviews"A pleasure to read ... the Oxford Guide to Plain English should be on every editor's bookshelf." -- Claire Bacon, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, "More than ever there's a need for writers and editors to understand how best to apply plain English concepts. In this new edition of the Oxford Guide to Plain English Martin Cutts sets out an excellent approach to doing just that. It is an essential reference book for anyone interested in plain English." -- Mary McCauley, Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers of Ireland"A pleasure to read ... the Oxford Guide to Plain English should be on every editor's bookshelf." -- Claire Bacon, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading"This book has been on my list of recommended reading ever since lawyers first started asking me to suggest a book on clear writing 'e¦ Following even half the advice in this book will make you one of the clearest communicators in the legal profession." -- Daphne Perry, The Law Society Gazette"[S]hould be on every writer's bookshelf" -- Susanne Geercken and Alistair Reeves, Medical Writing"This is a most useful addition to the shelves of anyone who has to write whether it is for the web, report-writing, letters, emails, instruction manuals or legal documents. Here is clarity and common sense - this little book provides it all and for a very reasonable cost indeed." -- Reference Reviews, Joan Williamson"This is an excellent book! Information is presented in a crisp, clear and easy to read way. The principles are easily grasped, and the use of examples helps the reader to test their understanding and reinforce their own learning." -- Warren Singer, Communicator, "More than ever there's a need for writers and editors to understand how best to apply plain English concepts. In this new edition of the Oxford Guide to Plain English Martin Cutts sets out an excellent approach to doing just that. It is an essential reference book for anyone interested in plain English." -- Mary McCauley, Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers of Ireland"A pleasure to read ... the Oxford Guide to Plain English should be on every editor's bookshelf." -- Claire Bacon, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading"This book has been on my list of recommended reading ever since lawyers first started asking me to suggest a book on clear writing ... Following even half the advice in this book will make you one of the clearest communicators in the legal profession." -- Daphne Perry, The Law Society Gazette"[S]hould be on every writer's bookshelf" -- Susanne Geercken and Alistair Reeves, Medical Writing"This is a most useful addition to the shelves of anyone who has to write whether it is for the web, report-writing, letters, emails, instruction manuals or legal documents. Here is clarity and common sense - this little book provides it all and for a very reasonable cost indeed." -- Reference Reviews, Joan Williamson"This is an excellent book! Information is presented in a crisp, clear and easy to read way. The principles are easily grasped, and the use of examples helps the reader to test their understanding and reinforce their own learning." -- Warren Singer, Communicator, "More than ever there's a need for writers and editors to understand how best to apply plain English concepts. In this new edition of the Oxford Guide to Plain English Martin Cutts sets out an excellent approach to doing just that. It is an essential reference book for anyone interested in plain English." -- Mary McCauley, Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers of Ireland "A pleasure to read ... the Oxford Guide to Plain English should be on every editor's bookshelf." -- Claire Bacon, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading "This book has been on my list of recommended reading ever since lawyers first started asking me to suggest a book on clear writing EL Following even half the advice in this book will make you one of the clearest communicators in the legal profession." -- Daphne Perry, The Law Society Gazette "[S]hould be on every writer's bookshelf" -- Susanne Geercken and Alistair Reeves, Medical Writing "This is a most useful addition to the shelves of anyone who has to write whether it is for the web, report-writing, letters, emails, instruction manuals or legal documents. Here is clarity and common sense - this little book provides it all and for a very reasonable cost indeed." -- Reference Reviews, Joan Williamson "This is an excellent book! Information is presented in a crisp, clear and easy to read way. The principles are easily grasped, and the use of examples helps the reader to test their understanding and reinforce their own learning." -- Warren Singer, Communicator, "A pleasure to read ... the Oxford Guide to Plain English should be on every editor's bookshelf." -- Claire Bacon, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading "This book has been on my list of recommended reading ever since lawyers first started asking me to suggest a book on clear writing EL Following even half the advice in this book will make you one of the clearest communicators in the legal profession." -- Daphne Perry, The Law Society Gazette "[S]hould be on every writer's bookshelf" -- Susanne Geercken and Alistair Reeves, Medical Writing "This is a most useful addition to the shelves of anyone who has to write whether it is for the web, report-writing, letters, emails, instruction manuals or legal documents. Here is clarity and common sense - this little book provides it all and for a very reasonable cost indeed." -- Reference Reviews, Joan Williamson, This is a most useful addition to the shelves of anyone who has to write whether it is for the web, report-writing, letters, emails, instruction manuals or legal documents. Here is clarity and common sense - this little book provides it all and for a very reasonable cost indeed., "A pleasure to read ... the Oxford Guide to Plain English should be on every editor's bookshelf." -- Claire Bacon, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading "This book has been on my list of recommended reading ever since lawyers first started asking me to suggest a book on clear writing EL Following even half the advice in this book will make you one of the clearest communicators in the legal profession." -- Daphne Perry, The Law Society Gazette "[S]hould be on every writer's bookshelf" -- Susanne Geercken and Alistair Reeves, Medical Writing "This is a most useful addition to the shelves of anyone who has to write whether it is for the web, report-writing, letters, emails, instruction manuals or legal documents. Here is clarity and common sense - this little book provides it all and for a very reasonable cost indeed." -- Reference Reviews, Joan Williamson "This is an excellent book! Information is presented in a crisp, clear and easy to read way. The principles are easily grasped, and the use of examples helps the reader to test their understanding and reinforce their own learning." -- Warren Singer, Communicator
Table Of ContentAcknowledgementsStarting pointsThe thirty guidelinesSummary of the twelve main guidelines1: Planning comes first2: Organizing your material in a reader-centred structure3: Writing short sentences and clear paragraphs4: Preferring plain words5: Writing concisely6: Favouring active-voice verbs7: Using vigorous verbs8: Using vertical lists9: Converting negative to positive10: Using good punctuation11: Using good grammar12: Keeping errors in Czech: its time to Proof read13: Dealing with some troublesome words and phrases14: Using or avoiding foreign words15: Undoing knotty noun strings16: Reducing cross-references17: Exploring and exploding some writing myths18: Avoiding clichés19: Pitching your writing at the right level20: Writing sound starts and excellent endings21: Creating better emails22: Using inclusive language23: Using alternatives to words alone24: Caring enough about customers to write to them clearly25: Overseeing colleagues' writing26: Writing better instructions27: Clarifying for the Web28: Making legal language lucid29: Writing low-literacy plain English30: Clarifying page layout: some basicsAppendix 1: Commonest wordsAppendix 2: A short history of plain-English momentsSources and notesIndex
SynopsisPlain English is the art of writing clearly, concisely, and in a way that precisely communicates your message to your intended audience. This book offers expert advice to help writers of all abilities improve their written English. With 30 chapters, each centred around a practical guideline, its coverage is extensive, including lessons on vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, layout, proofreading, and organization. There are also hundreds of real examples to show how it's done, with handy 'before' and 'after' versions. All this is presented in a straightforward and engaging way. This new edition has been fully revised, reorganized, and updated to make its content even more accessible. There are new chapters discussing customer-service writing and common blunders in the workplace, while other sections have been amended to update examples and provide easier routes through the book. The chapter on sexism, in particular, has been heavily expanded to advise on the use of inclusive language in general. A new appendix has also been added, summarising the history of plain English from Chaucer to the present day., Plain English is the art of writing clearly, concisely, and in a way that precisely communicates your message to your intended audience. This book offers expert advice to help writers of all abilities improve their written English. With 30 chapters, each centred around a practical guideline, its coverage is extensive, including lessons on vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, layout, proofreading, and organization. There are also hundreds of real examples to show howit's done, with handy 'before' and 'after' versions. All this is presented in a straightforward and engaging way.This new edition has been fully revised, reorganized, and updated tomake its content even more accessible. There are new chapters discussing customer-service writing and common blunders in the workplace, while other sections have been amended to update examples and provide easier routes through the book. The chapter on sexism, in particular, has been heavily expanded to advise on the use of inclusive language in general. A new appendix has also been added, summarising the history of plain English from Chaucer to the present day., The Oxford Guide to Plain English offers practical guidelines to help readers make their writing clearer by improving structure, word choice, grammar, punctuation, and layout. This new edition gives expert and up-to-date advice on all aspects of the writing process, from planning the material successfully to writing in the most user-friendly way., Express yourself in good, clear English with 30 easy-to-follow guidelines. Explains how to plan, organize, and structure your writing. Helps you master plain English and improve your writing with expert advice on vocabulary, style, punctuation, grammar, and proofreading. Provides advice on avoiding jargon and clichés, and practical, up-to-date guidance on writing in an inclusive manner. Shows you how it's done with hundreds of real examples, including 'before' and 'after' versions. Book jacket.