Customer Reviews

Gabay's Copywriting Compendium

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Despite the title, I think this book is actually more useful if
you are an employee or entrepreneur who occasionally
writes copy as part of your job and not for full-time copywriters.

At a whopping 700 pages, the book is a sort of
combination English usage/style guide and a
marketing/copywriting glossary. Author Jonathan Gabay
is a British copywriter who's also penned some other
nifty books on marketing.

Experienced copywriters would probably not find this
book particularly insightful since they would most
likely already have this information in their
reference library. And the copywriting sections are
relatively brief.

But for a businessperson or student who needs a
helping hand now and then on writing well (with an
emphasis on marketing communications) Gabay's book
would be a worthwhile purchase.

As well as the usual spelling, grammar and punctuation
advice, Gabay provides lists of metaphors, similes,
clichés, euphemisms, business quotes, famous
historical dates and general world facts.

In the marketing arena, he provides info on how to
write compelling slogans and basic copy tips for
direct mail, brochures, packaging, press releases and
posters.

Gabay writes with the sort of dry humor that Brits are
known for and it makes the volume stand out from the
usual textbook tone of style guides.

My one design complaint is the book uses a thin, san serfif typeface for the body text -- not the easiest on the eyes.