Dreyer's English
by Benjamin Dreyer · first published 2019
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A practical guide to clear, concise English writing from a copy editor's perspective, funnier and more engaging than standard grammar references, and suited to anyone wanting to improve their prose.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"Authoritative as it is amusing, this book distills everything Benjamin Dreyer has learned from the hundreds of books he has copyedited, including works by Elizabeth Strout, E. L. Doctorow, and Frank Rich, into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best foot forward in writing prose. Dreyer offers lessons on the ins and outs of punctuation and grammar, including how to navigate the words he calls 'the confusables,' like tricky homophones; the myriad ways to use (and misuse) a comma; and how to recognize--though not necessarily do away with--the passive voi
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2010–2026Steering the Craft
Ursula K. Le Guin
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 53 recommend · 5 mention3 recommend · 53 recommend
2007–2026Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Lynne Truss
Recommended by 11 · mentioned by 2111 recommend · 21 mention11 recommend · 2111 recommend
2014–2026The Sense of Style
Steven Pinker, José C. Vales
Recommended by 45 · mentioned by 5645 recommend · 56 mention45 recommend · 5645 recommend
2007–2026On Writing Well
William Zinsser
Recommended by 137 · mentioned by 170137 recommend · 170 mention137 recommend · 170137 recommend
- Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style - Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think - The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗…my favourite books to start on serious study: "A Sense of Style" - Steven Pinker "The Making of A Story" Alice LaPlante "Steering the Craft" - Ursula Le Guin "On Writing Well" - William Zinsser "Dreyer's English" - Benjamin Dreyer The problem is that everyone thinks their writing is great. You need to be willing to think it could be better. :-)
on “To write better, develop a habit of writing” ↗This remind me of the excellent read ‘Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style’, if you are interested in stuff like this. I cannot recommend it enough. But, be warned, your friends and family might think you have turned bonkers reading…
on “The Art of Punctuation” ↗If you're looking for something more entertaining than a reference-type grammar book, I'd recommend Dreyer's English. (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/232363/dreyers-engl...)
on “Ask HN: What are good books on English grammar?” ↗This article reminds me of the book “Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style”, one of the best books I’ve read the last couple of years. English is my second language.
on “Writing English as a Second Language (2009)” ↗good advice to writers from Benjamin Dryer, whose book "Dreyer's English" is full of a lot more of it (and is funny as hell). "Good writing, I think, ultimately exists between the twin goal posts of as-few-words-as-you-need and as-many-words-as-you-want. I, a natural natterer,…
on “Writers, be wary of Throat-Clearers and Wan Intensifiers” ↗…things that could be better in my own work - both from reading writing that was good and helping correct and provide feedback on writing that was bad. OTOH I really like the Pinker "A Sense of Style", "Dreyer's English", "On Writing Well", "Steering the Craft", and "The Making of a Story". (There are lots of others I like too, but these are top of mind.)
on “Ask HN: How to Get Better at Writing?” ↗I highly recommend picking up a book in writing and style. I enjoyed Dreyer's English (Strunk & White, while commonly recommended, is a little antiquated). There are so many avoidable mistakes like subject-verb agreement, attaching adjectives to the wrong noun ("A violent, intense, affair,…
on “Why Engineers Need to Write” ↗Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a good one on punctuation. Dreyer’s English is a good recent one. Woe Is I is a classic. There are a lot of style guides and fun little books about grammar and editing. My partner is a editor at a publishing house so she guides me a lot on things…
on “Why engineers should focus on writing” ↗