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Understanding Style : Practical Ways to Improve Your Writing

ISBN: 9780195119329 | 0195119320
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Pub. Date: 9/3/1998

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SummaryTable of Contents
Style is often the most difficult issue for writers to deal with. Most people feel helpless and confused when asked to improve something they have written. In fact, key secrets to improving style often remain concealed because even the authors who write on style may not be able to explain themclearly. An ideal text for courses in advanced composition, Understanding Style uncovers some of the inherent mystery of style and explains how to craft good sentences and combine them into writing that is clear and readable. While similar books often fail... MORE
Prefaceix
WHAT STYLE IS: GOOD AND BAD WRITING3(58)
Chapter 1. Voices You Want to Listen to: Elements of a Written Voice
3(23)
Voice... MORE
4(3)
Voice and the Writing Situation
7(3)
Grammar and Voice
10(2)
Diction and Voice
12(2)
Avoiding Discriminatory Language
14(5)
A Gallery of Voices
19(7)
Chapter 2. Voices to Shun: Typical Modes of Bad Writing
26(16)
The Official Style
26(6)
The Creative Genius
32(2)
The Sleepwalker
34(4)
The Clunker
38(4)
Chapter 3. Two Widespread Problems: Overwriting and Underwriting
42(19)
Eliminating Deadwood
42(2)
How Much Cutting Is Enough?
44(2)
Varieties of Deadwood
46(8)
Verbal Filler
47(2)
Authorspeak
49(3)
Overexplanation
52(2)
A Caution Against Underwriting
54(2)
Makeover Exercises
56(5)
CHOOSING ACCURATE, EFFECTIVE WORDS61(34)
Chapter 4. Finding the Right Words
61(15)
What's in a Name?
61(4)
A World of Words
61(2)
Other Word Books
63(2)
Types of Diction in Writing
65(8)
Formal and Informal Words
65(1)
General and Particular Words
66(2)
Abstract and Concrete Words
68(1)
Long and Short Words
69(2)
Learned and Commonplace Words
71(1)
Connotative and Neutral Words
72(1)
Makeover Exercises
73(3)
Chapter 5. Finding Fresh Words: Cliches, Usage, Quoting, Figurative Language
76(19)
Cliches Beat Hasty Retreat: A Learning Experience
76(6)
Usage Cranks and Usage Demons
82(2)
Quoting
84(2)
Figurative Language
86(4)
Makover Exercise
90(5)
CRAFTING CLEAR, PLEASING, AND COHERENT SENTENCES95(100)
Chapter 6. Coherence: Fitting Sentences Together
95(16)
Maintaining Related Grammatical Subjects
95(4)
Patterns of Old and New Information
99(3)
Reinforcing Coherence with Transitional Devices
102(3)
Reinforcing Coherence with Coordinate Structures
105(2)
Reinforcing Coherence with Subordinate Structures
107(2)
Makeover Exercise
109(2)
Chapter 7. Assigning Emphasis
111(17)
Nuclear Emphasis
111(3)
Coming to a Good End
114(2)
Nuclear Stress in Lesser Breath Units
116(3)
A Note on Punctuation
119(1)
Patterns of Emphasis
120(2)
Using Grammatical Transformations to Shift Emphasis
122(3)
Emphasis Through Grammatical Bulk
125(1)
Makeover Exercise
126(2)
Chapter 8. Controlling Rhythm
128(14)
Sentence Rhythms
129(11)
Types of Breath Units
131(2)
Avoiding Overlong Breath Units
133(2)
Using Breath Units to Control Rhythm
135(1)
Using Stress to Control Rhythm
136(3)
Using Long and Short Words to Control Rhythm
139(1)
Makeover Exercise
140(2)
Chapter 9. Naming Definite Actors and Actions
142(15)
The Actor-Action Relationship
142(13)
Naming Definite Actors
142(4)
Naming Definite Actions
146(7)
Keeping Actors and Actions Together
153(2)
Makeover Exercise
155(2)
Chapter 10. Achieving Structural Variety
157(21)
How Complex Sentences Get Built
157(2)
Sentence Variety in Context
159(1)
Varying Sentence Structure with Nominals
160(5)
Noun Meanings
160(1)
Noun Forms
160(1)
Noun Functions
161(2)
Nominals
163(1)
Transforming Kernel Sentences into Nominals
163(2)
Varying Sentence Structure with Adjectivals
165(3)
An Adjective Test
165(1)
Other Adjectivals
166(1)
Transforming Kernel Sentences into Adjectivals
166(2)
Varying Sentence Structure with Adverbials
168(4)
Other Adverbials
169(1)
A Note on Branching and Embedding
170(1)
Transforming Kernel Sentences into Adverbials
170(2)
Varying Sentence Structure with Parallel Construction
172(3)
Grammatical Emphasis
175(1)
Makeover Exercise
176(2)
Chapter 11. Rules of Thumb
178(17)
1. Start Most Sentences with the Subject
178(2)
2. Make Your Subjects Definitely Named Actors
180(1)
3. Make Your Verbs Name Definite Actions
181(1)
4. Write Mostly in Independent Clauses
182(2)
5. Keep Subjects and Verbs Close Together
184(1)
6. Keep Verbs and Complements Close Together
184(2)
7. Use Single Verbs with Multiple Subjects. Use Single Subjects with Multiple Verbs
186(1)
8. Favor the Active Voice
186(1)
9. Choose Positive Rather Than Negative Constructions
187(1)
10. Focus Each Sentence on the Ideas Expressed by the Subject and Predicate
188(1)
11. Mix Long and Short Sentences
188(2)
12. End Sentences with a Bang, not a Whimper
190(1)
13. Makeover Exercise
191(4)
Appendices195(42)
Appendix A. A Brief Dictionary of Usage195(14)
Appendix B. Guide to Punctuation209(13)
Appendix C. Glossary222(15)
Index237

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