Style
by Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, Gregory G. Colomb · first published 1981
90% recommend10% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Principle-based, systematic guide to clear writing that works from word choice to sentences, paragraphs and whole documents, and explains reader flow and cohesion. Suits engineers and anyone writing nonfiction.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Engaging and direct, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace is the guidebook for anyone who wants to write well. Williams' and Bizup's clear, accessible style models the kind of writing that audiences–both in college and after–will admire. The principles offered here help writers understand what readers expect and encourage writers to revise to meet those expectations more effectively. This book is all you need to understand the principles of effective writing. - Publisher.
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…which this article helps to put in context. But it’s 75 years old, and it has its problems (as the article discusses). I wouldn’t really recommend it anymore. Instead, have a look at: Williams and Bizup, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace And, for everything you ever wanted to know about standard American English usage (and how it’s shifting over time!), there is Garner’s Modern English Usage, which sounds…
on “E. B. White’s “Plain Style” at 75” ↗I've learned quite a lot about editing from "Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace." It presents some tricks to restructure and improve the flow of sentences, and through that process, to generate the momentum to really think about what you want to say.…
on “How to Edit Your Own Writing” ↗…love "Clear and Simple as the Truth" for a very authoritative voice which can present complex things without dumbing down: (Non-aff) http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Simple-As-Truth-Writing/dp/06910... And "Style: Towards Clarity and Grace" for a more humble, direct, simple style for non-complex presentation: (Non-aff) http://www.amazon.com/Style-Clarity-Chicago-Writing-Publishi...
on “A Classic 'Nontextbook' on Writing” ↗I found "Style: Toward Clarity and Grace" [1] by Joseph M. Williams to be more informative than both of these recommendations, but YMMV. There is a newer version, but I haven't read it. [1]: https://smile.amazon.com/Style-Clarity-Chicago-Writing-Publi...
on “Undervalued Engineering Skills: Writing Well” ↗I can offer a great alternative: Style: Lessons In Clarity and Grace by Joseph Williams http://www.amazon.com/Style-Lessons-Clarity-Grace-10th/dp/02... This book is a simple, step by step guide to making you a better writer. By chapter 2…
on “50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice” ↗Read "Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace" by Joseph Williams. It is not one of those books like Strunk and White's that teaches you a set of arbitrary rules. Rather, the author defines a set of general principles.…
on “Ask HN: How do I teach myself better writing skills?” ↗If you're willing to spend a few dollars to improve your writing, buy "Style: Toward Clarity and Grace" by Joseph Williams (http://www.amazon.com/Style-Clarity-Chicago-Writing-Publishi...). It's far better than a list of rules; it breaks down sentence and paragraph construction…
on “Please learn to write” ↗William Zinsser's "On Writing Well," a million times over. Also, Joseph William's "Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace." http://www.amazon.com/Style-Lessons-Clarity-Grace-10th/dp/02...
on “How to Write an Opening Sentence” ↗…For writing as short as articles on Medium, it might be useful to compare the algorithm to a naive version that pulls the first two sentences from each paragraph. [1] See, e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Style-The-Basics-Clarity-Grace/dp/0321... [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_pyramid
on “Automatic Summarization in Medium” ↗I've learned a lot from: * Reading lots of books on writing. Probably this (https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Web-Creating-Compelling-Pictu...), definitely this (https://www.amazon.com/Style-Lessons-Clarity-Grace-12th/dp/0...). Got both from local library. * Reading lots of other books I got from library (on writing and marketing). * Practice, coupled with observing results on google analytics.…
on “Ask HN: Self promotion?” ↗Read some good books on writing. https://www.amazon.com/Style-Lessons-Clarity-Grace-11th/dp/0... or older edition is quite good.
on “Ask HN: Do you know any framework to write content with a clear structure?” ↗…about complex topics in a clear and concise way. Hopefully these reading materials are still useful! - "Science of Scientific Writing" https://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~swanson/papers/science-of-writing.p... - "Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace" https://www.amazon.com/Style-Lessons-Clarity-Grace-10th/dp/0...
on “Ask HN: What are good writing tips for software developers?” ↗One base skill for effective persuasion is the ability to structure paragraphs which convey complex concepts with high clarity and clear emphasis on the important. A good book on this topic is: Style: Toward Clarity and Grace (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing and Publishing) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0226899152/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_...
on “Ask HN: Rhetoric course to learn to report Grenfell/MCAS/O-ring risk?” ↗I recently read this book, recommended in another of the infinite posts about writing well, and it is truly good: https://www.amazon.com/Style-Clarity-Chicago-Writing-Publish... The chapters from 1 through Cohesion II are better at teaching clarity of thought in writing than any I've read anywhere. Most books focus on grammar and style and…
on “It's Time to Start Writing (2019)” ↗This guide makes excellent points. I also recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Style-Clarity-Chicago-Writing-Publish... He says that to achieve clarity, imagine the subject of each sentence as the character of a scene, and the verb as its action. Make sure you hit both character and…
on “How to Write in Plain English” ↗