Customer Reviews

Clear Technical Writing

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is nicely laid out and easy to follow. I like the fact that there are a lot of examples given. This book covers all the issues most important the Tech Writers, such as, writing in an active voice, writing concisely, and proper punctuation.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was its exorbitant price. Seventy-eight dollars is a little excessive for a book with only 213 pages and written back in 1973! Fortunately, I was able to buy this book at a more reasonable price through Amazon Marketplace.

I've been using this book since 1978. It is the best book I've seen for new business or technical writers. As an experienced writer, I refer to it often. It uses many examples of wording in before and after format. I've also used it as a textbook for writing courses.

I've taught classes for writers and editors, and I've never seen so many good examples for improving writing. Brogan collects hundreds of examples that show how to simplify and clarify, usually by cutting superfluous words or by replacing ambiguous phrasing with something more specific. He shows writers how to write and editors how to edit. Furthermore, he doesn't ban the use of passive voice. What more can I ask of a book?

The used copy I purchased through Amazon (from Jabez Books) is in excellent condition. I first discovered [local store] book at [local area], where a tattered and marked-up copy sells for [money]. My copy cost [money]!

I recommend this book to technical writing students in Japan. Its topics are the usual ones that you would expect for a book from 1973, so many topics of more recent concern are of course not dealt with. But its merit is that it gives hundreds of practice sentences in these topics, and the content of the practices maintains the voice of technical writing--no Jack and Betty having a pleasant time in coffee shops. A further merit of the exercises is that answer keys are included.

My first serious contact with technical editing (in particular, line-by-line editing of text) was through this very useful book. Its insights served me well for 20 years. It is probably used in college courses, where such high prices are common, but that doesn't excuse the excessively high price.

For anyone who must write (which is just about all of us), clarity is essential. Astronomical amounts of time and money are wasted due to confused and unclear communication. To make matters worse, an increasing number of professionals are churning out writing that wouldn't pass muster in English Comp 101.

Even if the writing you do is not technical, going through this self-paced workbook will sharpen your communications by showing you how to remove redundant and "puffy" words that make writing a burden to read.

When I defended my master's thesis, one of my professors opened the session by stating that my thesis was one of the most enjoyable he'd ever seen -- that it was easy to read and therefore a pleasure to read. I immediately thought of this book and silently gave thanks that I'd worked through it.

Even now, as a syndicated columnist, I hear from editors that they hardly ever have to edit my work (contrasted by their telling me how much time they spend editing the work of some rather well-known columnists out there).

Bottom line, Clear Technical Writing receives my highest recommendation. Get it and work through it. The time spent will pay you back over and over.

I'm a writer and I've read plenty (twenty?) books on writing, and this is the best. The title makes it seem more limiting than it is. Yes, the examples given in the book have to do with changing light bulbs and wiring circuits and whatnot, but the points made--about clarity, order, rhythm, and word choice--apply to every kind of writing you can think of, poetry included.
I strongly recommend this book to anybody interested in honing their skills, or even for going from bad to good.
It's a work book. It requires you to write your responses, then check for accuracy. I think the whole book takes under 20 hours to complete, and it's 20 hours well spent.
Even at new prices, it's a bargain. If you buy it used, ask the seller if it has been marked up (answers filled in) by the previous owner. Better to pay close to a hundred bucks for a fresh one than to spend ten or less for one you can't use. You could spend two hours erasing pencil answers, but...your time's got to be worth something, no?

I bought my copy brand new ten years ago at the price of $26.95. I thought it was a high price to pay at the time, but after going through the exercises and improving my understanding of how to edit my work it was well worth the amount. I've referred to its guide lines quite often in my work as a technical writer and instructional designer. It is one of the best books to teach someone about minimilist writing. So if you have doubts about the high price, it is well worth the expense. I'm just glad I bought mine when I did.

Back in the 80s, John Brogan offered a seminar based on this book. I sent several of my already seasoned technical writers to this course, and I was pleased to see how their writing tightened as a result. I'm sorry to say that his seminars are no longer offered, but I was delighted to discover that I could still buy the book. In fact, as I look to hire new technical writers, I intend to use some of the exercises in this book as part of a screening test.

The technical examples he uses are somewhat humourously dated now (this was originally published in 1973), and I am not so enamored with the layout he uses, but his pointers are still relevant and excellent.

This is the single best book I've seen on removing extraneous noise from technical prose. After steeping yourself in this book you will start to see countless opportunities for improving the clarity and conciseness of your writing.

I paid $20 for this in 1986, and having been out of print so long copies are terribly expensive. Hopefully you can find one for a reasonable price, it's well worth it.