Customer Reviews

Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace (8th Edition)

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It is difficult to know where to begin. I am writing a brief review of this book to counter the negative reviews I read. I was stunned: I expected to read rave reviews of Professor Williams' book. Without wanting to offend anyone, they are for the most part so far off the mark I would think they were talking about another book.

One author mentioned Strunk and White's book as the ideal. As much as I loved this book when I was young, it seems slightly old-fashioned, even quaint now, and encourages an attention to rules that seems superficial. On the other hand, Williams' book takes advantage of the more systematic, deep approach to language, rhetoric and communication that was developed by the best linguists of the 20th century. There is a good reason that this book has had so many editions for such a long period of time (now in the 8th edition). It is because it is based on an insight that touches a deep truth about communicating in writing: that subjects and verbs, or characters and their actions as Williams helpfully calls them at times, form the basic elements of the English sentence. It is Williams' ability to draw out the implications of this simple truth that gives his book its genius. Emerson once said that rhythm is the deep structure of the universe (he said it better but I can't remember his words); I feel that Emerson would smile in agreement at Williams thesis: that it is an understanding of the significance of the basic character/action relationship between the subject and verb that gives a sentence its strength and, on a "higher" level, the same systole/diastole relationship between theme and discussion that gives a paragraph its strength.

I am by no means doing Professor Williams' book justice, and I would not have written this review if the others had not been so, well, wrong. His writing bad? On the contrary, good writing, as Williams points out in a useful addition to one of the later editions of his book on controlling longer sentences, does not mean Dick and Jane type sentences, and he does not allow himself to fall into Strunk and White's tendency to oversimplify in explaining his ideas. I am now directing an English language program at a major university in Thailand after teaching English at Indiana University for 20 years, and I was recently asked to teach a graduate course on writing. What book did I first reach for in looking for the most substantial, concrete, practical and useful lessons on writing so that my students would not be exposed to the usual platitudes on omitting needless words and relying on your taste to be your guide? Professor Williams' book of course. It is the best of the best and will reward you endlessly as you apply his basic insights in your own writing.

I view writing manuals with more than a hint of jaundice, but I found this one surprisingly practical. I first encountered in in law school, and the examples and exercises helped me to understand where people would find my writing confusing, even when I thought I was being clear. It also helped me become a better editor -- because I could explain to other writers where they were stumbling and how to correct it.

I lost my copy when I moved after law school, and immediately bought another one -- money being perhaps the most telling recommendation of all.

Very thoughtful read-- I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from such a respected editor as Williams about editing and overall style. Many of his suggestions are good ones, and the simplicity of his lessons are encouraging for timid writers.
However, I don't agree with everything that Williams suggests. In his quest for clarity, Williams cites many writers of the past, some who could use clarity, and others that I strongly feel wrote merely with elegance and their own sense of style. Williams proceeds to edit examples from these writers' works, in the process losing the personality of the writing.
This is one of the few flaws I found in his book, and overall I would recommend Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace to anyone who struggles for readable prose that doesn't sounds like something written by a twelve-year-old.

The book is perfect but I was worried because the front of the book says that it should only be used by teachers and not students. Otherwise, its perfect

I will be clear, and I aim for grace. Put simply, this is the best book out of scores of books on writing. Wonder why some writers have punch, why some sentences ring true while others lull you to a sleep? This book will take apart the structure of clear and graceful writing in much the way an analysis of artwork informs folks of a greater depth to art and helps a person understand the techniques of an artist. This is a writer's book and will likely put off folks who simply want to improve their writing, or creative writers who want refine a style. This is essentially the equivalent of Berger's Ways of Seeing book on art...

If you were to read only one book on improving writing proficiency then `Ten lessons in clarity and grace' should certainly be your first choice. This succinct book possesses indisputable educational virtues. Not only does it offer an in-depth analysis of the subject but also reveals the abstruse mechanisms that permit good prose writing. The secrets supplied to the readers are simple to understand and to practise.

This is one of the nicely written text book on English writing. I recommend everyone to read this if you are doubtful how to write.