Publisher's Synopsis
The Complete Plain Words is the essential guide for anyone who needs to express themselves clearly, fluently and accurately in writing.
Whether you are working on paper or on a computer, this invaluable reference work will lead you through the intricacies, problems and pleasures of the English language with wit, common sense and authority.
- Deals with the dangers of jargon, cliché and superfluous words
- Covers strategies for choosing the right word in any situation
- Lays out the ground rules of grammar and punctuation and shows how to avoid the pitfalls
- Discusses the influence of science and technology, and other cultures
- Gives suggestions for drafting letters
- Provides a list of words to use with care
Sir Ernest Gowers (1880-1966) advised numerous commissions and committees on a wide variety of subjects from work conditions to the preservation of historic houses.
Sidney Greenbaum (1929-1996) was Quain Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of London, a Director of the Survey of English Usage and the author of many books on grammar and linguistics including A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1985).
Janet Whitcut has worked on a number of prestigious dictionaries, including the Longman Dictionary of the English Language (1984) and is now a freelance writer with a special interest in language and lexicography.
