Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) 2nd Edition

by John R. Trimble (Author)

52 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0130257130

ISBN-10: 0130257133

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Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (3rd Edition)
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A storehouse of practical writing tips, written in a lively, conversational style. Readers lean to develop a “writer's sense” : the book demonstrates that writing is really applied psychology since it is essentially the art of creating desired effects. Provides an explanation of what effects are desirable and how to create them. An exceptional book that works successfully on several levels simultaneously. Provides new insight into: how to generate interesting ideas and get them down on paper; how to write a critical analysis; how to write a crisp opener; how to invigorate a banal style; how to punctuate with confidence; how to handle various conventions, and much more. For anyone who needs a reference guide on writing.

Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing (2nd Edition) [Print]

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Product Details

Paperback: 198 pages
Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (January 6, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0130257133
ISBN-13: 978-0130257130
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #177 in Books > Textbooks > Business & Finance > Business Communication
- #374 in Books > Textbooks > Reference > Writing Skills
- #561 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Rhetoric

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Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

5 star		73%
4 star		17%
3 star		4%
2 star		4%
1 star		2%

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87 of 92 people found the following review helpful

Excellent (though not perfect)

By Matthew Cheney on January 5, 2001

Format: Paperback

This is a fine book, and I'm surprised it's not better known. More useful than Strunk & White, less intimidating than Joseph Williams, it is the single best book for someone who is looking to improve their writing beyond spelling and grammar. With clear, succinct, and witty chapters on subjects which other books go overboard on -- beginnings, middles, and ends; diction; punctuation; revising and proofreading -- there is no better introduction to the art (beyond the craft) of writing. There are useful tips on usage and superstitions ("never use contractions", "never split an infinitive", etc.) as well as a twenty-five-page collection of quotes from writers about writing. Many of the points which Trimble considers most important are highlighted in boxes separate from the text, so if you're in a hurry and looking for the meat of a chapter, it's easy to find.
This is not a perfect book, though, an it's not intended to be encyclopedic, so you won't find answers to all your questions. The chapter on writing a critical analysis is tantalizingly useless and seems like an afterthought (although it was included in the first edition). The "Quoting" chapter is useful if you're not doing academic writing, but the book seems aimed at an academic audience, and such audiences mostly need to know the details of citing sources through the MLA , APA, or Chicago styles. (On the other hand, Trimble has some interesting tips on using quotes in your writing.)
If you're an experienced writer, you won't find anything new here. That's okay, though. Few of the ideas Trimble explores have ever been stated more clearly or gracefully.Read more ›

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38 of 42 people found the following review helpful

A Must for anyone interested in 'Writing with Style'

By Jeffrey Wolf on January 19, 2001

Format: Paperback

Everyone knows about and owns a copy of Strunk and White, but I found this little book by Trimble to be a lot more useful and probably more relevant to writing today.
If I were to teach a writing course (unlikely as it sounds), I'd be sure to have all my students buy a copy of this to supplement their writing practice.
The highlight of this book, I think, is Trimble's comments on style. He has a great chapter on 'Superstitions' of writing. Still think that you shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition? Not so. The best response to someone who insists that you should is to tell the short anecdote about Churchill, as Trimble does: "When the prime minister--a Nobel Laureate in literature--found that an editor of his memoirs had had the cheek to 'correct' one of his sentences ending in a preposition, he wrote back, 'This is the kind of impertinence up with which I shall not put.'"

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33 of 36 people found the following review helpful

A slim, seminal volume

By Eric P. Perramond on March 31, 2000

Format: Paperback

This book was assigned in a graduate-level research methods class in geography. I generallly do not hold much hope for writer's "manuals," but Trimble's slim volume is so much more. His own writing is clear, honest, and pithy. I make all of my senior research students read it now, as a professor, and it's by far the best small treatise on the subject. It could be used side-by-side with Strunk&White's Elements of Style seamlessly. Get it!

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22 of 26 people found the following review helpful

Read it over a cup of coffee

By Trish C. Berrong on June 22, 2001

Format: Paperback

As a student of John's, I was amazed by his ability to create an environment where neurotic college students felt completely comfortable sharing their work with very talented peers. As someone who now makes a living stringing words together, I credit him with teaching me to write honestly, conversationally and effectively. Reading his book is a lot like returning to a class: He nurtures, nudges, inspires, excites, and never, ever condescends. And, as always, he's charming as all get-out. I've bought at least half a dozen copies of "Writing with Style"--when I give it to writer friends, I never get it back.

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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

The best writing guide there is

By Carl W. Banks on December 11, 2002

Format: Paperback

Reading Trimble's style guide changed my writing forever. In this book, Trimble explains the thought process of a good writer, and he makes his point so well that, since reading it, I have permanently conditioned myself to think in way he describes.
This style guide is more an essay on good writing than a reference book. Trimble focuses more on the thought process of a writer than on details. He exhorts us to always consider the audience as we write, and he carefully explains how to do this. He explains the writing process; how to construct the text to best communicate the point. He gives useful advice on common writing tasks like quoting and punctuating.
My favorite chapter is where he debunks some myths about the English language; these myths are arbitrary rules that had been thrust upon us by rigid prescriptive grammarians trying to make English more like Latin.
I first read an older edition of the book for an English class as high school senior about eight years ago. Reading this book made me excited about writing; Trimble writes in such as way that builds interest. I read the book cover to cover and immediately adopted the practices recommended in it. Unfortunately, in high school, they only lent textbooks, so I had to give it back. About eight years later, I repurchased the new edition of this book. Oddly enough, rereading it was kind of a waste of time, for I had learned the lessons well the first time and they had stuck with me. Trimble hadn't just given me good advice; he had permanently changed me.
I recommend that everyone who writes get this book, read it, and do what the book says.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Four Stars

good helpful book

Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer

fits description, good quality

good condition, and as promised the only markings were the name on the front cover, which was crossed out.

Published 2 months ago by Eleni Minias

insightful and witty

Old review for this book. I've kept it through 3 moves and gave it to my highschooler to reference. I loved every bit of it.

Published 5 months ago by April Wood

and think better, it is the book you are looking for

If you have a desire to write , read, communicate, and think better, it is the book you are looking for.

Published 9 months ago by Rosillah N.N.Nalule

Five Stars

perfect condition!

Published 10 months ago by TARAE B MAYE

Five Stars

quick shipping, product as described

Published 10 months ago by marsha

Five Stars

Good quality, arrived quickly, didn't smell like poo, all around good.

Published 14 months ago by RobC

Good book if you want the basics on how to be a good writer

My college professor recommended this book to me, specifically for sentence structure and good advice for a writer. P.S. I am an English major. Read more

Published 18 months ago by Christie Gencarelli

Great book

Fantastic book to help anyone, whether pro or beginner, to enhance their writing. And a fun read as well! Trimble makes it enjoyable and easy to understand.

Published on September 21, 2013 by Karli Barrett

Good handbook for writing

As a teacher, it is interesting to read this book written in '75 and see that most of its recommendations have become standard practice today.

Published on September 19, 2013 by Donna Mixon