Below is a short annotated list of references and one excellent web site.
If you're serious about wanting to be a good writer, get familiar with them
(and with a good dictionary).
- William Strunk and
E. B. White, The Elements of Style. A very concise and readable
overview that has the virtue of following (and thus illustrating) its
own advice. This slender book is an excellent starting point for anyone
interested in developing a correct and concise prose style. The text
can be found on-line at
http://www.bartleby.com/141/.
- Joseph Williams, Style:
Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace. A excellent resource for improving
your writing style.
- Edward P.J. Corbett
and Robert Connors, Style and Statement. Includes a rigorous
procedure for analyzing your own prose style and an extensive treatment
of figures of speech, which can lend variety and vigor to writing.
- http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/.
This website includes a comprehensive reference guide to English grammar
and usage, a set of PowerPoint presentations on specific writing-related
topics, interactive quizzes, samples of common forms of writing, and
links to other on-line writing tools. It is equally useful for checking
on a specific point of grammar or for undertaking a rigorous program
of self-development.
- Wired's Style Guide:
http://hotwired.lycos.com/hardwired/wiredstyle/index.html
Available
in both print and online, Wired's Style Guide offers ten principles
for writing well in the digital age, style faqs, and a dictionary of
digital terms. The dynamic Web site includes an "ASK E" section and
a very useful "biblio-bookmarks" page.
- Guide to General
Writing Style Guides, Capella University: http://www.quintcareers.com/writing/style.html
A list
of online and text-based resources.
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