Technical Writer's Handbook: Writing With Style and Clarity [Paperback]

Matt Young (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2002 | ISBN-10: 1891389211 | ISBN-13: 978-1891389214

Written by a practicing scientist, this book is directed to scientists, engineers, and others who want to improve their writing and communication.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book should be on the desk of anyone hoping to convey technical information in understandable language. --Optics News

A scientist and journal editor wisely addresses the problems of technical writing. --Choice

About the Author

Matt Young is a physicist with a government agency in Boulder, Colorado, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado. He holds a PhD from the University of Rochester. Formerly, Dr. Young was a Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Waterloo, and Technical Editor of Optical Spectra magazine. Dr. Young is the author of Optics and Lasers, including Fibers and Optical Waveguides, (Springer, New York, 1986) and over 50 publications in research and teaching journals. He lives in Boulder with his wife, Deanna, and his children, David and Rachel, who attend the University of Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: University Science Books (March 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891389211
• ISBN-13: 978-1891389214
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,148,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Handbook in the True Sense, June 19, 2000

By 

Pat Shepherd (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technical Writer's Handbook: Writing With Style and Clarity (Hardcover)

I borrowed this book from the library, my choice out of the 48 tech writing books available, and I am delighted with it--so much so that I'm ordering my own copy. It covers everything I've been trying to teach my office-full of engineers and scientists, from how to say "nuclear," to when to hyphenate, to what to include in a table. I HIGHLY recommend it to all who want to sound technically competent and at the same time "humanly" readable.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Matt Young's The Technical Writer's Handbook, February 28, 2000

By 

Betty Lise Anderson (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technical Writer's Handbook: Writing With Style and Clarity (Hardcover)

Frankly, this book should be on every scientist's and engineer's shelf. It indicates with clarity and humor the common, stupid, things people do when they write. It's particularly good for developing a non-pompous and concise style. For example, Young tells us to use, instead of "at this point in time," the word "now," or instead of "utilize" just say "use." The book is full of examples and hits all the things that drive me nuts reading other people's writing, particularly the writing of students.

The downside is that it is organized alphabetically by words in commonly used bad phrases, so looking up a specific item is darn near impossible. Still, Matt Young's book makes for fun and delightful reading.

2.0 out of 5 stars Does not deliver $28 'hints', March 21, 2009

By 

LynDee Leffler "Somebunny" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Technical Writer's Handbook: Writing With Style and Clarity (Paperback)

As an Instructional Designer and a Technical Writer, this book did not deliver. The entire book is a list of terms and one person's tips to use them. It simply is not enough to justify the cost.