Customer Reviews

Getting the Words Right: 39 Ways to Improve Your Writing

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm the owner of a literary agency (About Words Agency), and when sending 99.95% of the submissions back to their authors for revision, I make sure to recommend Getting The Words Right, by Theodore Cheney in every single reply. I tell authors to read Stein on Writing, by Sol Stein, and then read Getting The Words Right. The two books work very well together. Cheney's method of working on the biggest problems first, like eliminating the first two or three chapters, and last of all, checking for smaller things such as spelling and punctuation, makes so much sense! It is the most efficient method of editing, and with increasingly busy lives, seems the most reasonable method as well. For a trademarked, innovative method of using your word processor to help you with the editing process, I also recommend Write in Style, by Bobbie Christmas. The competition for agents and publishers is fierce. If you want to get to the top of the pile, read and implement Getting The Words Right before you send in a query!

Theodore Rees Cheney is a favorite guide for improving my writing. This book is another great example of his sound advice, relevant examples, and useful exercises. But the type size is so small and faint I had to use a magnifier to read it and the decorative flourishes on each page quickly become an annoying distraction. Shame on the publisher for diminishing such a good work. 5 stars for the content; zero stars for the page design.

Before I bought the book I saw a review that complained about the type size and page layout, and I thought that the reviewer was just nitpicking. BUT it turned out that the book's design DOES make it very hard to read. Other good choices that don't have this setback are Wm. Zinsser's On Writing Well and Sol Stein's Stein on Writing.

Every time I reread a section of this book I learn somthing new about editing my fiction.

The author convinced me early that he know what he was talking about and the conviction stayed throughout. It seems clear that he applied every single one of his editing maxims to the work itself. Practicing what he preaches.

Having first read copy from the library I immediately ordered my own and have re read most of it several times. I have no doubt that it will be read through many more times before I have absorbed all of the wisdom it contains

Every writer should have this at his side. I've read portions of it and then tried to apply Cheney's advice. What I most enjoy is that it really reads well, its not a tedious textbook. He really applies what he teaches, even an an academic work. I write inspirational nonfiction and I find myself incredibly inspired after I read a passage. Its an exceptional book.

I've been writing and editing off and on for about 25 years, and this is one of the best books I found on editing. One thing I like about it is that Cheney actually gives the reader live examples of how to correct, how to liven things up, or how to cut excessive words. This book along with Elements of Style and perhaps a quickie like Howard-Johnson's The Frugal Editor are a great trio for the editor or proofreader to have close at hand. You cannot go wrong in picking up this book.

I learned a LOT! This book isn't so dry you dread picking it up. It's interesting and motivating all together!

I found this easy to use, with good ideas. I would suggest only getting after your first few drafts, when you've finished with plot and structure. Most of his advice would be useful when tidying up your manuscript at the end.

I'd read this again.

As a freelance writer, I have inhaled all of Professor Cheney's books. I have to say, though, that Getting The Words Right, challenged me the most. He talks about coherency, verbs, and the importance of pruning each word before releasing it to the world. He's a master!

A Thesaurus is handy and I use one often when writing letters. But, using another word that may have a similar meaning may not be the correct word to express the meaning I am looking for. I ordered this book in hope that it may help me to use the word to express the meaning I want to fetch.