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The Careful Writer (Paperback)

by Theodore M. Bernstein (Author) "1. WHICH TO USE. In Old English there was only an..." (more)
Key Phrases: takes preposition, nonrestrictive term, verb tails, United States, Miss Thistlebottom, Soviet Union (more...)
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Customers buy this book with Miss Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins: The Careful Writer's Guide to the Taboos, Bugbears, and Outmoded Rules of English Usage by Theodore M. Bernstein

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Free Press (December 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684826321
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684826325
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,439 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
1. WHICH TO USE. In Old English there was only an. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
takes preposition, nonrestrictive term, verb tails, centaur words, fused participle, fad word, correlative conjunctions, copulative verb, casual usage, defining clause, careful writer, quoted matter, inside talk, common misuse
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Miss Thistlebottom, Soviet Union, United Nations, Supreme Court, American English, British English, White House, Breezy Point, Madison Avenue, Winston Churchill, Chinese Communists, Comfortable Words, General de Gaulle, George Washington, Jerry Biffle, King John, Ontario's Prime Minister, President Johnson, Professor Ives, The Egyptian, West Berlin
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
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4.7 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars For Those Who Love Language, February 27, 2003
This review is from: The Careful Writer; A Modern Guide to English Usage (Paperback)
I suppose one might argue that other usage guides are perhaps more thorough and instructive but for quality none outshines The Careful Writer. Theodore M. Bernstein created a gem for the ages when he assembled this collection of some 2,000 entries. I cannot imagine how often I've consulted this text to resolve some slippery usage issue or to refine my own text.

If you need help sorting out the use gender vs. sex, for instance, here you will find that gender is a grammatical term and not at all synonymous with sex. If you are not sure whether the context demands the use of fewer or less, Bernstein will set you straight. Did your supervisor remove all the commas you correctly inserted into a report? Check out the clear, precise explanation here.

Even as the standards of language erode, there are still many who strive to uphold correctness, precision, and nuance over fad and fashion. If you can find a copy of The Careful Writer, you will have a powerful tool to help preserve the legacy of our language.

Any copy editor, writer, broadcast journalist, or English professor who does not yet have a copy of Mr. Bernstein's stellar book is bereft of one of the essential compendiums of usage. It's well worth the effort to track down and purchase this book, for you will consult it with increasing frequency as you become aware of what a rich resource it is.

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45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Humane and Amusing Resource, April 27, 2001
By John F. Hawley (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have used The Careful Writer with English classes for years, and was disappointed a while back when I thought it was out of print. Just this morning a student came to me with a question about whether "none" was singular or plural, and Bernstein had a great set of comments and suggestions on its usage. If you're an English teacher, grab this book. If you do any kind of writing, grab this book. If you enjoy amusing accounts while you're looking up some arcane grammar point, grab this book. Need I say more?
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40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than 5 stars!, December 3, 2001
By A Customer
I've been a professional editor (books and magazines) for more than 20 years, and Theodore Bernstein's book remains my hands-down favorite reference. The information is comprehensive, the explanations are crystal-clear AND often humorous, and the organization makes the book extremely easy to use. It has never failed me -- I turn to it for both my own questions and my co-workers' questions, and it always provides an answer. It's even fun to read!

This book belongs on every writer's and editor's bookshelf.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on English Usage
My dad gave me this book when it was first published in hard cover, more than 35 years ago, if I'm not mistaken. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Hollis T. Hurd

5.0 out of 5 stars If you write anything, you should have this book
I discovered this book years ago and have kept a copy close at hand throughout my career as a writer. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Barry Hampe

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm sure this is a great book, but...
regarding the review just below, no professional editor could have written "this one earns it's cost." Oh, wait...the individual is Canadian. Read more
Published on May 27, 2006 by John Landkamer

3.0 out of 5 stars A professional editor discovers a classic
There's no question that Bernstein's book has got to be on your shelf if you're a professional editor, as I am. Read more
Published on March 4, 2006 by Buffy fan

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for students
As advisor to a school newspaper staff, I recommended this marvelous book to the students because it made finding the precise word or the correct pronunciation fun. Read more
Published on September 20, 2005 by M. Lackner

5.0 out of 5 stars Super
This is, indeed, a wonderful book, just as the other reviewers have said. People who are interested in language think most books on grammar and usage are entertaining even if... Read more
Published on September 18, 2002 by Judith C. Kinney

5.0 out of 5 stars Super
This is, indeed, a wonderful book, just as the other reviewers have said. People who are interested in language think most books on grammar and usage are entertaining even if... Read more
Published on September 18, 2002 by Judith C. Kinney

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the grammar books.
I have read many grammar books over the years, and this is the best of them all. It was originally published in 1965; but since the English language changes very slowly, 99% of... Read more
Published on February 2, 2000 by Caleb Murdock

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