Editorial Review

Composition teachers throughout the English-speaking world have been pushing this book on their students since it was first published in 1957.Co-author White later revised it, and it remains the most compact and lucid handbook we have for matters of basic principles of composition, grammar, word usage and misusage, and writing style. ... Read more

Reviews (286)

Do You Dread Looking Things Up?
The Elements of Style makes grammatical research so easy, you'll want to look up things you'd always wondered about but thought would take too much time. Recently someone asked me about the use of the serial comma, and, as it was about text we were going to put on the dust jacket of a book, it was sufficiently important to look up. It turned out to be the second item in the Table of Contents. First you get the general rule, in this case "In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last." The example given is "gold, silver, or copper." The sole exception is a series of names in a business: "Brown, Shipley and Co." There! With thirty seconds effort, the issue was adjudicated. I can't recommend it highly enough. Thank God for the Fourth Edition. My Third Edition is dog-eared with use.

Important Reading
This little book is important reading for any one who has or is desiring to write. One of the best things that I could say about the book is that it is full of examples that are juxtaposed. Every element is clearly defined in such a way that any one can easily see the difference between the examples given. This book is a "how to" book for proper use of english in written form. It seemingly covers everything you could imagine from the use of commas and omiting needless words to expressing yourself clearly and not overwriting. The five chapters are: 1. Elementary Rules of Usage 2. Elementary Principles of Composition 3. A Few Matters of Form 4. Words and Expressions Commonly Misused 5. An Approach to Style.
Absolutely Indispensable!
Anyone doing any writing, regardless of the purpose, must have a copy of this handy little reference book right next to their dictionary and thesaurus. "Elements of Style" is an indispensable little guide full of superb tips for the correct use of the English language. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. English Composition    3. English language    4. Grammar    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Literary style    8. Reference    9. Report writing    10. Rhetoric    11. Style    12. Technical Writing    13. Writing Skills    14. English    15. Technology / Technical Writing    16. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (8)

Better Writing
This book is a step-by-step instruction to different kinds of technical writing. It is easy to understand and follow. The topics are well organized and clearly outlined, which makes it easy to read.
teacher ed. unexpected
i was supprised that it was the teachers edition but it will still be usefull thanks

This book is better than what some reviewers write!
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Subjects:  1. Communication of technical information    2. Science/Mathematics    3. Technical Writing    4. Technology    5. Technology & Industrial Arts    6. English    7. Technology / Technical Writing    8. Technology: General Issues    9. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (5)

Expensive for Students, Expansive for Instructors
I have been teaching with Markel's 7th ed. for almost two years now, and I find that the book provides a springboard for all sorts of discussions into the wild world of Technical Writing. I can typically get through about three quarters of the book in a semester, and I am constantly tweaking the class to allow students more access to the material from this book.
Owner's review
This book is in awesome shape, I used it for an online course, so i have never carried in a book bag.No markings, and very very minimal corners bent.

Interesting and real world scenarios
I teach technical writing at a community college and frequently switched textbooks until I discovered Mike Markel's.It is well organized, gives 8 measures of excellence in technical writing that students quickly grasp, has very up-to-date scenarios that prompt critical reading and writing and the online quizzes and resources are the frosting on the cake.This book is a great tool for educators, students and absolutely anyone who wishes to write in a professional manner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Technical Writing    5. Technology    6. Telecommunications    7. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Reviews (6)

Technical Writing : Process and Product (5th Edition)
This book contains plenty of good information on the process of technical writing. It is however very difficult to read, because of the only style is that it is constantly varying. The authors should take some of their own advice in any future editions.

Technically very good
We use this text by Gerson and Gerson for the technical writing class at the community college where I work. It is an incredibly useful book, particularly for those who are beginning their college careers, and for those who are going into technical fields that require clarity and precision.
Useful and valuable ....
Terrific, easily readable, and highly recommended for tech writers and those learning the craft, as well as for those corporate staff who will work with tech writers.
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Subjects:  1. English language    2. Rhetoric    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Technical English    5. Technical Writing    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. English    9. Technology / Technical Writing    10. Technology: General Issues    11. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (2)

Technical Writing
This book is very easy to read and understand. I ordered this book as a supplement to my current book used at my school. I would highly recommend this book to other new technical writers.
Practical and Educational
As the title mentions, Technical Writing 101, provides real-world planning tips. I found it to be very engaging, informative and very easy to read (finished within 24 hours of receiving it). It also sparked ideas on how I could look at a lot of projects I'm personally working on. The way the book is organized doesn't overload you with "too" much information. It also is very generous in providing other resources for further research and knowledge.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business Writing    3. Business/Economics    4. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing    5. Technical Writing    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Technology / Technical Writing    8. Composition & Creative Writing    9. Handbooks, manuals, etc    10. Language Arts & Disciplines    11. Technology    12. Writing and publishing   

Reviews (3)

Yes Indeed.
Yes indeed this book was/is (I still crack it open)very helpful to me. Before I read this book, or took the class that used this book, I was a very bad speller. My grammer was poor and my writing technique was even worse. If this book helped me I am sure it will help you.

Excellent book for college and your career
Finally, a complete text that is always useful.I have read this book over and over... each time learning something new.It's great if you need a complete and extensive description or a quick overview.This book willgo from your college backpack to the desk of your new exciting job!

An Excellent Guide to Business Writing
This book is an excellent tool for writing, especially for the non-native English writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a study guide with many examples that have been updated for the current business environment. The numerous samples and the grammar review are veryhelpful for studying the fundamentals. This book is extremely relevant in abusiness world crowded with a cornucopia of poor writing, misspelling, andincorrect grammar usage. My heartfelt thanks to Ms. Guffey for writing suchan excellent guide. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business Communication - General    3. Business English    4. Business communication    5. Business writing    6. Business/Economics    7. English language    8. Technical Writing    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Business communication & presentation   

Reviews (4)

Engineering Documentation
I am a British Chartered Engineer working mainly in Blue Chip energy-related companies. I have just started using this book in my work and find it strongly re-enforces my passion for excellent documentation and design management. It is clearly the current 'bible' forEngineering Documentation Control and is extremely valuable in showing how to climb the 'Configuration Management Ladder' (page 8). It cuts away the dross and complexity that is plentiful nearly everywhere else. So many of us technologists and managers are struggling with hugely powerful new computer packages that integrate most processes in our companies. This is one of the very few books to chart our course and give us a chance of a reliable way through to simplicity, speed and profitability that are so often promissed but so rarely fully attained.
Thorough Industry Configuration Management Resource...
...but not for Software CM. Great Inroduction to CM
Unlike the vast majority of books available on configuration management, this book, as the title suggests, focuses entirely on configuration management in industry.Throughout the book, the author focuses on a simplified, fast configuration management system that exceeds DoD standards.This book, in the chapters titled Change Control and Fast Change, has an exceptional explanation of how to handle configuration modifications.In these chapters the author gives a detailed description of how to set up a system that allows the fastest possible changes to take place.Also, many case studies are given in these sections which provide further insight as to how to implement the correct system for a given situation.Overall, the book is very easy to understand, and serves as an excellent introduction and handbook to a configuration management system for industry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Configuration management    3. Documentation    4. Engineering    5. Engineering - General    6. Engineering - Industrial    7. Engineering Management    8. Management    9. Management - General    10. Production Engineering    11. Production management    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Technical Writing    14. Technology    15. Technology / Technical Writing    16. Construction & heavy industry    17. Engineering: general    18. Industrial quality control    19. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (9)

Interaction Design
The majority of this book is from the thoughts and findings of other authors.Nothing orignal.Books is difficult to read and often does a poor job of explaining topics clearly.Currently using this book as a text book for a class and have to believe there is a better choice out there.

Adequate but not great
I have used this text for a year and half, for three instances of the same course (upper division undergrad).Good: 1. Each chapter is about a week's work, so it fits the schedule nicely; 2. Each chapter has "activities", "summary", and "assignments" which I find very useful when making assignments; 3. Lots of illustrations; 4. Interviews with professionals in the field are added at the end of each chapter -- this adds another dimension to the "textbook" aspects of the book; 5. Cartoons here and there. Could be improved: the quality of some of the illustrations -- some of them are photos that are dark and hard to make out.Some look like they came from the 1950s -- I am not sure how that is possible in a book published in 2002, but that's what it looks like to me.Still, the text is "nicely illustrated".The thing that stops this from being a "great" text is the quality of the writing and presentation of ideas.The writing is too simplistic.A "great" text finds ways to express things in a succinct manner, summarizing key ideas.Instead, this book tends to be wordy in many places, and lacks an effective organization of ideas.Finally, the text is starting to appear "dated", but few textbooks can withstand the breakneck speed of change in this area.That said, no student has complained (to me) about the text (but neither have they praised it).And, I have not been able to find a better text.

Excellent Course Text for HCI students
The breath and depth of this text truly embodies the necessary content for beginning HCI students in an undergraduate and graduate program. I've successfully used this text every semester with my students since its inception. The author's perspective of the discipline accurately reflects an increasing trend in HCI education that places less emphasis on computing and more on designing products to enhance human communication based on the social sciences. It is organized to provide an instructor a way to pick and choose selected chapters or proceed sequentially. Each chapter is multi-dimensional in its approach to provide an array of content that includes both theory and practice. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artificial Intelligence - General    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - General Information    5. Human-Computer Interaction    6. Interactive & Multimedia    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technical Writing    9. Virtual Reality    10. Computer Communications & Networking    11. General Theory of Computing    12. Technology / Technical Writing   

Editorial Review

With so many software products to its credit, Microsoft can't help but have an opinion on computer terms and usage. Many topnotch technical companies, writers, and editors consider the Read more

Reviews (34)

Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications
I was pleasantly surprised and pleased at how soon I received my book.I received it in 2 days from the time I placed my order.I have never received an item so fast from any other place that I have purchased anything from.Thank you so much for being so prompt as this is used in my place of business.

Common Practices: Yes -- Style: F'gettit
Considering that this book is written by a technical writer for technical writers, it shows poor quality writing. Split infinitives, passive voice, and generally poor style abound.
Why is this book needed?
A job I was recently working on used the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications as its style manual.
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Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Computer Books: Word Processing    3. Computers    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Microcomputer Text Processing Software    6. Microsoft Corporation    7. Technical Writing    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Word Processing - General    10. Computers / General    11. General Theory of Computing    12. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (4)

Expensive
The book was expensive at my school's bookstore and I regret not buying it from here. It may be called the little BROWN book but mine is purple and I have an older version which is gray...go figure!!!

useful writers handbook
My school requires all students to buy copies of this book before entering high school and I do not think they could have chosen a better book to use as a basis for grammar excercises and teaching proper citing protocol. While I have only used sections of this book, it seems to be easy to use and contrary to what an earlier reviewer said, both section names and page numbers are listed in the table of contents. The book is tiny, perfect for carrying in my backback and holds a ton of information. The only problem I have with this handbook is that there is an updated MLA pamphlet that is included with the book and it is harder to understand. Also, the book really should be brown just so the books shows some sense of humor (just kidding). I would highly recommend this book to high school students as a quick reference guide for writing research papers and projects.

Hard to Navigate
The layout of this book is very strange, rendering it hard to use.Only a summary Table of Contents appears at the beginning of the book.Worse, it is split over two facing pages--that is, the Table of Contents is presented as one page with the book binding splitting the page in the middle.And, though the book is organized by numbered sections, the section numbers (incredibly) do not appear in the summary Table of Contents. There is a detailed Table of Contents, but it doesn't appear until the literal end of the book.It spans the last page and the inside back cover and is mostly hidden by a fold-in book flap (now that's handy).Of course, this also means that the index is not actually at the end of the book, as you foolishly might have expected; it preceeds that detailed Table of Contents.Read more

Subjects:  1. English language    2. Grammar    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Report writing    5. Rhetoric    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Technical Writing    8. Technology    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. English    11. Technology / Technical Writing    12. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (38)

Superb content, poor presentation
I read the Pyramid Principle in 1995 and dutifully trained myself to use it, with a little help from a class with Ms. Minto.
They should pipe this into a hospital room to save on anesthesia
It is VERY slow going, but you *do* get the impression that this is an important skill to have. The tips are good, and the examples are easy to comprehend. I dont think they should wait until you're in business to learn this. They should teach the Principle in highschool!... if you could stay awake long enough to learn it.

You Must Practice What You Read
I purchased this book primarily because it was referenced by several authors of other Mckinsey books that I've read. I was taken aback by the price of the book but I'm of the school of thought that great ideas need not come in large packages. As like many of the other reviewers, I found this book a tough read and had to break it down into smaller bite size readings. What I did that help me tremedously was build a Pyramid chart capturing the SCQ ---Answer using sticky notes. Once built, I was able to easily see the ideas she was presenting and was able to clarify my thinking and writing substantially.
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Subjects:  1. Technology & Industrial Arts    2. Technical Writing    3. Business communication & presentation    4. Writing skills    5. Reference - General    6. Business & Economics    7. Written Communication In Business    8. Business/Economics   

Reviews (2)

Terrific for Planning from the Ground Up!
I just can't say enough about this book.I am developing a training program for the first time and it has added outstanding depth to my process.It is simple to use.If you go step by step everything just seems to fall in to place. Very applicable
I read this book in 5 hours.After that, I had all the tools I needed to start developing a training course for a subject matter I still knew little about.Great book for someone who has a short time to develop a training course.Great reference for anyone who needs new approaches to their training development. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics / Training    2. Design    3. Education    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Instructional systems    6. Occupational training    7. Planning    8. Technical writing    9. Technology / Technical Writing    10. Business & Economics    11. Technology    12. Training   

Reviews (1)

Writing Up Qualitative Research
This book has been very helpful in determining where to start and steps to make for completing a qualitative research project. It offers suggestions of "how to" and provides application tips that make a sometimes seemingly overwhelming project manageable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Educational anthropology    3. Ethnology    4. General    5. Literary Criticism    6. Research    7. Technical Writing    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Social Science / Research    10. Social research & statistics    11. Writing & editing guides   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - General    4. Business communication    5. Business writing    6. Business/Economics    7. Technical Writing    8. Business & Economics / Business Communication    9. Business communication & presentation   

Reviews (9)

Franklin Covey Style Guide for Business and Technical Communication
This was great just what I expected.

Unfortunate
This is a wonderful reference book.Unfortunately, it embodies a politically correct communication philosophy that makes it worthless.Don't waste your money.There are better reference books out there and they don't promote a polical/social philosoply.

This Style Guide Has Everything!
This book tells you how to do everything!It can be used by both students and professionals.This book has everything from how to properly use a comma to writing bibliographies; from how to use photographs in presentations and documents to writing resumes.This guide gives you hints on how to manage meetings effectively.I use this book at both work and home.People come to me to borrow this fantasic book constantly.I have the CD installed on my computer and love using the program - it is very user-friendly.I don't think any student or office should be without this wonderful tool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - General    4. Business/Economics    5. Reference - General    6. Technical Writing   

Reviews (8)

How to read a potato in a painting as a potato and not a solar symbol?
This book is about writing on art.It has sections to equip you with what to keep in mind while writing an essay, research paper or review of an exhibit.
Useful in some ways, not in others.
I recently read the 6th edition of this book in hopes that it would help me to improve my ability to understand and write about art. I found that the book is a direct, well-written primer for someone finishing high school or beginning their undergraduate degree, but for someone with a bit more experience, it turns out to be a mixed bag. points out the obvious
A professor highly recommended this book to my art history class. Iwas disappointed in it. I had hoped it would offer some useful advice but instead it merely outlines the things anyone writing on a college level (and the book seems to be aimed at college students) should already know. Perhaps it would be better suited to high schoolers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art criticism    3. Authorship    4. Composition & Creative Writing - General    5. Composition & Creative Writing - Nonfiction    6. Fine Arts    7. Fine Arts (Specific Aspects)    8. General    9. Language    10. Reference    11. Research And Report Writing    12. Technical Writing    13. Creative writing guides   

Reviews (3)

Its okay, but wouldn't have bought it if I didn't need it.
The book was required for a Junior level course I'm taking at alocal college and that is why I bought it.My personal opinion is that there were too many writers on this book.It is poorly organization and broke some of the basic rules in writing a reference book, such as referencing various studies without actually providing the citation for the study.
Reporting Technical Information
It would be more helpful to have the authors added more figures which arefor illustrating the lessons and for examples. Thanks

Student Reviews Textbook
I used this book for my technical writing class.I found the readings straightforward.Sometimes, the actual chapters were too common sense.This book really shines in its use of examples.There are examples of eachtype of document.The handbook in the back is also a handy reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Nonfiction    2. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    3. Literary Criticism    4. Reference    5. Technical Writing    6. Language for technical & scientific purposes    7. Literary Criticism & Collections / Reference    8. Literature/English | Writing | Business, Legal, & Technical Writing   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (38)

Good, but Bly Never Met My Creative Director
As several other reviewers have mentioned, this IS a great back-to-basics handbook for anyone getting into or going back to the business. Among the more helpful items for me are that 1) It's just an ad (don't get bent out of shape if it doesn't come); 2) Write like people speak, and 3) Pen the most common, front-of-mind words in a list and compile them to craft a headline. Good stuff. Inspirational. But some of this common sense doesn't cut muster in the cut-throat-and cut-some-more (copy) world of advertising that I know.
Good copywriting guide
This book is easy to read and it's good for beginners and also for professional copywritters to refresh.Good tips and advices

What is your goal??
That's the real question here. If you are just a business person who needs to write copy once in a while, this is probably a good book for you. If you are trying to become a writer at an ad agency this book will get you laughed at by every CD on the planet (And if it doesn't RUN). Bly doesn't really have any ad cred (No pencils or lions), but in the business world this really doesn't matter. Now as far as creativity and entertainment not being important: Nike before W+K and their ads = company nobody has ever heard of. Nike after W+K and their ads = biggest brand on the planet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advertising & Promotion    2. Advertising copy    3. Business & Economics    4. Business Writing    5. Business/Economics    6. Careers - General    7. Reference    8. Technical Writing    9. Writing Skills    10. Written Communication In Business    11. Advertising    12. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (5)

Great Book!!
There's an interesting story to how I got this book, "Spring Into Technical Writing". I subscribe to a HTML email list that I don't read that often.However, one day, I saw a mention of "Technical Writing" in the subject line and browsed through the email.In the email was a link to a review of "Spring Into Technical Writing".
Should be on every techie's bookshelf...
I wish I had this book available to me about three years sooner...Spring Into Technical Writing for Engineers and Scientists by Barry J. Rosenberg.I'd be much further ahead in my writing skills, that's for sure...
A Nice Surprise
I take guilty pleasure from books like Strunks's Elements of Style, etc.The pleasure comes from the nuance of order and rule, while the guilt comes from my own failings from laziness and haste.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Science/Mathematics    3. Technical Writing    4. Technology    5. Technology & Industrial Arts    6. English    7. Technology / Technical Writing    8. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (1)

This is an excellent and comprehensive guide to tech writing
This book is an excellent guide to technical writing. It provides clear, organized recommendations that are supported by research. It provides practical advice for writers in situations ranging from writing reports toreviewing colleagues work to creating web pages and writing email. Althoughthere are 20 chapters, because it's so useful and well-written, it's apretty quick read. A colleague let me borrow it and I think it's the bestbook I've found yet on the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. Higher    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Technical Writing    8. English    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing    10. Technology: General Issues    11. Writing & editing guides