Comments on: Writing on Writing: Simplify http://paulbogan.com/2009/01/07/writing-on-writing-simplify/ The best of everything... just a little bit late. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:41:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Philip Yurchuk http://paulbogan.com/2009/01/07/writing-on-writing-simplify/#comment-2550 Philip Yurchuk Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:01:01 +0000 http://paulbogan.com/2009/01/07/writing-on-writing-simplify/#comment-2550 Some time ago I picked up "Style: Toward Clarity and Grace" by Joseph Williams. It's chief complaint against Strunk and White is that it tells you what to do, but not how to do it. Williams creates something far more instructive; I saw the clarity of my writing improve dramatically after the first few chapters. Which is why, ahem, I've never gone beyond that, although I have reread them. It looks like he's replaced it with two new books, a longer "Lessons" book and a more succinct "Basics" book. Thanks for the pointer to Politics and the English Language. I'd never read it before and found it entertaining and thoughtful. Some of the same lessons are mentioned in Style, but I think you have to reread these guidelines regularly to keep from forgetting, or as Orwell suggests, getting corrupted by other people's bad writing habits. Some time ago I picked up “Style: Toward Clarity and Grace” by Joseph Williams. It’s chief complaint against Strunk and White is that it tells you what to do, but not how to do it. Williams creates something far more instructive; I saw the clarity of my writing improve dramatically after the first few chapters. Which is why, ahem, I’ve never gone beyond that, although I have reread them. It looks like he’s replaced it with two new books, a longer “Lessons” book and a more succinct “Basics” book.

Thanks for the pointer to Politics and the English Language. I’d never read it before and found it entertaining and thoughtful. Some of the same lessons are mentioned in Style, but I think you have to reread these guidelines regularly to keep from forgetting, or as Orwell suggests, getting corrupted by other people’s bad writing habits.

]]>