"The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White

[Compaq]

I just started reading it. It is literature for a course called "Academic Writing" I'm taking. Our lecturer, the authors, and soon-to-be I, feel this book is a must read for all that write in their profession - or, write at all and must be understood.

A classic book, it's said.

 

[dbvirago]

It is a classic, but depending on where you write professionally, they may prefer the AP style book or some other. If you truly care about the precise use and placement of semi-colons, it can be a problem.

 

[ceejtank]

It was forced reading at my college. Book made me want to cut myself.

 

[KenC]

It's a well-known and popular book, especially among academics, but I know a lot of people who write extremely well without using it.

 

[Derrel]

Yes, it is a classic. I have a couple of copies.

"The best revenge is writing well."

No, wait,wait,wait...that's not right...

E.B. White's all-time classic though is his famous children's book "Charlotte's Web", published in 1952.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...a=X&ei=Q5IBUcDkA87XigKO3IGgDw&ved=0CEQQ9QEwBQ

 

[Designer]

I'm glad to hear you like it. You seem to be enjoying University.

 

[The_Traveler]

It's a well-known and popular book, especially among academics, but I know a lot of people who write extremely well without using it.

Not here - usually.
We are lucky if the spelling is at least phonetic and the grammar is almost English.

 

[Compaq]

University is great! I just need to figure out what I really want to do, something I should have done a year ago. I'm starting my master's degree the coming fall.

I try to write well, and strive to improve, but I have more trouble formulating sentences when I talk. I notice grammatical errors all over the place: our school, advertisement, news papers, and many other places. How hard can it be to write properly, truly? One would think that if you're advertising a product that hundreds of thousand will see, writing correctly would be a priority, right?

 

[Designer]

I agree. Unfortunately, we see examples of poor writing everywhere. It is shameful when coming from a school, inexcusable when coming from advertising, expected in newspapers, and perplexing when the same simple errors keep popping up in all the usual places.