The Careful Writer; A Modern Guide to English Usage [Paperback]

Theodore Menline Bernstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1977 | ISBN-10: 0689705557 | ISBN-13: 978-0689705557 | Edition: First Paperback Edition

The definitive writers’ handbook of alphabetized entries that provides answers to questions of use, meaning, grammar, punctuation, precision, logical structure, and color.The Careful Writer is a concise yet thorough handbook, covering in more than 2,000 alphabetized entries the problems that give (or should give) writers pause before they set words to paper. It is perhaps the liveliest and most entertaining reference work for writers of our time—delighting while it instructs and amusing even as it scolds and cajoles the reader into skillful, persuasive, and vivid writing. The Careful Writer, Mr. Bernstein’s major work on usage, is an indispensible desk reference, and a perennial source of continuing reading pleasure.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; First Paperback Edition edition (September 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689705557
• ISBN-13: 978-0689705557
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,257,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Humane and Amusing Resource, April 27, 2001

By 

John F. Hawley (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Careful Writer (Paperback)

I have used The Careful Writer with English classes for years, and was disappointed a while back when I thought it was out of print. Just this morning a student came to me with a question about whether "none" was singular or plural, and Bernstein had a great set of comments and suggestions on its usage. If you're an English teacher, grab this book. If you do any kind of writing, grab this book. If you enjoy amusing accounts while you're looking up some arcane grammar point, grab this book. Need I say more?

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Those Who Love Language, February 27, 2003

By 

loce_the_wizard "loce_the_wizard" (Lilburn, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Careful Writer; A Modern Guide to English Usage (Paperback)

I suppose one might argue that other usage guides are perhaps more thorough and instructive but for quality none outshines The Careful Writer. Theodore M. Bernstein created a gem for the ages when he assembled this collection of some 2,000 entries. I cannot imagine how often I've consulted this text to resolve some slippery usage issue or to refine my own text.

If you need help sorting out the use gender vs. sex, for instance, here you will find that gender is a grammatical term and not at all synonymous with sex. If you are not sure whether the context demands the use of fewer or less, Bernstein will set you straight. Did your supervisor remove all the commas you correctly inserted into a report? Check out the clear, precise explanation here.

Even as the standards of language erode, there are still many who strive to uphold correctness, precision, and nuance over fad and fashion. If you can find a copy of The Careful Writer, you will have a powerful tool to help preserve the legacy of our language.

Any copy editor, writer, broadcast journalist, or English professor who does not yet have a copy of Mr. Bernstein's stellar book is bereft of one of the essential compendiums of usage. It's well worth the effort to track down and purchase this book, for you will consult it with increasing frequency as you become aware of what a rich resource it is.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than 5 stars!, December 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Careful Writer (Paperback)

I've been a professional editor (books and magazines) for more than 20 years, and Theodore Bernstein's book remains my hands-down favorite reference. The information is comprehensive, the explanations are crystal-clear AND often humorous, and the organization makes the book extremely easy to use. It has never failed me -- I turn to it for both my own questions and my co-workers' questions, and it always provides an answer. It's even fun to read!

This book belongs on every writer's and editor's bookshelf.