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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better and less dry than one might expect, April 26, 2002
This review is from: The Fine Art of Technical Writing (Paperback)
THE FINE ART OF TECHNICAL WRITING was recommended reading in a class I recently took on how to become a better technical writer and I must agree that the book earns its high recommendation. Carol Rosenblum Perry squeezes a lot into this thin volume, but wastes very little space. The author writes in a direct and to the point manner, so anyone afraid of reading pages and pages of dry material would do well to try this handy little book. Many of the major discussion topics occupy less than a couple of pages, and this quick style really works to the benefit of the reader. The author will typically mention a topic in clear, easy-to-understand language, maybe give an example, and then swiftly move on to the next topic. The subject matter manages to cover virtually everything that the to-be technical writer would need to have a firm understanding of, including: how to construct a good framework, how to be concise, how to use language effectively, how to write an effective ending, and how to avoid the inevitable bout with writer's block (something familiar to everyone who does technical writing work). I found this to be a very uncomplicated book that can be finished in a single sitting if desired. As a resource, it's a fairly handy volume to keep around as the shortness of the individual topics makes for fast referencing. In only one hundred pages the book manages to cover a wide range of topics, from the nitty-grittiness of grammar to making your writing flow smoothly to enhancing your prose style. Recommended for anyone learning how to write technical papers, or even for those who are already experienced but seeking to improve their writings.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quick and concise guide for college students, July 6, 2000
This review is from: The Fine Art of Technical Writing (Paperback)
Perry, following her own advice and techniques, condenses the 'fine' art of terse and succinct technical writing to 100 pages of blunt tips for student writers and excellent examples. Very accessible by students, and focuses on the entire process of writing...not just editing a final draft.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gem, not just for college students, May 2, 2001
This review is from: The Fine Art of Technical Writing (Paperback)
This book is targetted at, and helpful for, anyone who needs to write non-fiction prose of any kind. I think that not only college students, but many kinds of professionals and academics, will find it useful. It addresses the general process of and strategies for writing -- the kind of information that is often actually glossed over in books on writing. Perry's metaphor of a document as a vertebrate body provides an interesting new perspective for familiar pieces of advice, such as "use active voice." This book will go on my shelf next to Strunk and White, and Joseph Williams' _Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace_.
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