Presents comprehensive style conventions of contemporary American English, in particular, the conventions of punctuation, capitalization, italicization, abbreviation, quotation, and documentation of sources. Paper. DLC: English language - Rhetoric - Handbook, manuals, etc.
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About the Author
The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Webster's son William also served as an editor of that first Merriam-Webster dictionary, which was published on September 24, 1847.
Although Webster's work was honored, his big dictionaries had never sold well. The 1828 edition was priced at a whopping $20; in 13 years its 2,500 copies had not sold out. Similarly, the 1841 edition, only slightly more affordable at $15, moved slowly. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales, the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.
The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was greeted with wide acclaim. President James K. Polk, General Zachary Taylor (hero of the Mexican War and later president himself), 31 U.S. senators, and other prominent people hailed it unreservedly. In 1850 its acceptance as a resource for students began when Massachusetts ordered a copy for every school and New York placed a similar order for 10,000 copies to be used in schools throughout the state. Eventually school use would spread throughout the country. In becoming America's most trusted authority on the English language, Merriam-Webster dictionaries had taken on a role of public responsibility demanded of few other publishing companies.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than the average writing resource books,
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This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Concise Handbook for Writers (Paperback)
Whether you need a simple letter or a thesis, this handbook will enhance your writing and grammar skills. What makes this book so complete is that it offers many explanations for a topic. Take for example the "comma", the most frequently used punctuation mark. You will have plenty of examples on how to use it correctly, and examples on its usage in a sentence.
How do you use a comma with a compound modifier? How about using the comma with contrasting expressions? What about using it "with omitted words"?? Here, you have 10 examples on how to use ellipsis. Take a look at the many examples for compound words...noun+noun; adjective + noun; participle + noun; noun +verb+er; .... You get the picture? This little book also contains thorough data on copy editing and proofreading. What is included here in this booklet is what many writing books lack. This is a concise, easy to follow, complete aid for anything you set out to write! ....Rizzo.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Same as Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Concise Handbook for Writers (Paperback)
I like this book very much and do recommend it. But I own it in another form, Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style.
I ordered the Concise Handbook for Writers thinking it was something different, but the contents are *identical* to Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style. I reviewed both books thoroughly and cannot find any difference between them. If you want a slightly less expensive version of this book in mass-market paperback format, check out Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Handbook for writers,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Concise Handbook for Writers (Paperback)
This book was too technical for me; what I needed was something totally different, something that addressed the creative nature of a text, i.e., like use of methaphors, a cathchy opening, and/or use of point of view. This book was recommened to me by an editor and it was not what I neeed as a novel writer
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