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Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace (7th Edition) 7th Edition

by Joseph M. Williams (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 53 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0321095176
ISBN-10: 0321095170
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Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (12th Edition)
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (12th Edition)
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Longman; 7 edition (August 7, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0321095170
  • ISBN-13: 978-0321095176
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.5 x 8.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThe best guide to clear writing
By Grumpy on December 18, 2003
Format: Paperback
I taught writing for 10 years at the University of California, and tried a variety of books. The course was oriented toward clear, effective writing -- writing as communication, rather than writing as "little golden thoughts of me." No book teaches these skills as well as Williams, none is even close. There are books that can teach how to write one clear sentence, and Williams does this too. But "Style" takes the next step and shows how to organize a sequence of sentences in a way that makes it easy for your readers to follow an argument or understand an explanation.
The course produced a real improvement in student writing, an improvement that they could see and appreciate. Most of them said it was among the most useful courses they had taken at college.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIt's like a favorite teacher
By Joseph Judge on April 13, 2004
Format: Paperback
I am an independent corporate trainer who teaches people to write better at work. When my students ask me for good books to learn even more, this is the first book I mention. I tell them, "If you are a good writer and you want to be a very good writer, get this book."
I also tell them several other things about the book. First, it is not a book of lists like the excellent resource, The Elements of Style. Instead, it's a challenging textbook that is informative and compelling from beginning to end. Second, it teaches a novel way to keep readers interested in what you are writing. Basically it's narrative, or story telling, within each sentence. Third, it provides guidance on advanced topics such as emphasis, elegance, and ethics. Topics like these might seem esoteric or irrelevant, but the author makes them easy to understand and shows why they are useful, and he does it in a way that is fun to read.
This book is one of those few textbooks that you will remember the same way you remember that favorite teacher. Like that teacher, it brought you to a new level of knowledge, and it did it with humor and style.
I rated this book 5 stars because I think it is superior in all categories for a textbook: useful content, insightful author, clear exposition, skillful publishing, and reasonable price.
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5.0 out of 5 starsBest of the Best
By Amazon Customer on September 6, 2006
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
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.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsGreat resource for writers and editors
By Paralogue on September 1, 2008
Format: Paperback
I wish I had this book five years ago when I was starting out as a copy editor at my college newspaper. In this abridged version of the text, Williams provides guidelines and techniques as to how to revise problematic sentences. He dissects the problems in a clear fashion and leads the reader through the process of editing through the problems. It takes only a few hours to read, but sessions of careful re-reading will prove rewarding for your writing and editing skills.

Although the focus is on nonfiction writing, insofar as I can tell, the advice and methods Williams presents can be applied beyond nonfiction. Williams does use a lot of grammar terminology and does diagram some sentences, almost a lost skill nowadays, but he explains himself clearly, concisely, and with examples.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who seeks to improve their writing and editing skills, especially at the college level. Added bonus: this is more inexpensive compared to the unabridged version of the book.
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4.0 out of 5 starsOne of the best, one of the worst
By Daniel M. Hobbs on December 1, 2005
Format: Paperback
This book was written to serve as a college textbook (almost certainly for a full quarter or semester freshman composition class), so of course Mr. Williams is going to take 50,000 words to say what he could have said in 5000, and not just by including lots of exercises (although he does that). It was written by a perfesser, so be warned. However, there's good news.

Most books on writing are basically lectures that focus either on correcting mistakes (avoiding passive voice, removing deadwood phrases, etc.) or on following correct writing practices (use active voice, choose the precise word, etc.), generally with lots of examples thrown in. Their premise is that if you tell readers the right/wrong things to do/not to do and show them examples, they'll learn.

But this book - if you stick with it - will *teach you how* to build effective sentences and, to a limited extent, effective paragraphs. Williams' approach is based on three simple principles:

a. People look to the FIRST of a sentence - and to the subject+verb[+object] duo/trio, in particular - to learn what the sentence is about, the subject matter. So, put subject+verb[+object] near the first of the sentence. Keep introductory phrases relevant and short, and DO NOT break this duo/trio up with lots of extraneous material.

b. People remember what's at the end of the sentence best/longest, so put the POINT, the stuff you want to drive home to the reader, at or near the END of the sentence.

c. Vary this pattern to create a logical flow from sentence to sentence, even using the dreaded, evil active voice when it enhances the sentence-to-sentence flow.

If writers would follow these simple principles, at least one third of my job as a technical editor would be unnecessary.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starsWrong edition? Bought from Powell's books (used).

For some reason I think I got the first edition of the book which is titled Style: Toward Clarity and Grace which is published in 1990 instead of the third edition. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Vianca Mandalica
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

I highly recommend this book. Five stars.

Published 16 months ago by gus lobos
4.0 out of 5 starsessential.

An essential for anyone endeavoring to write well.

Published 16 months ago by Charles Ferraro
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very happy with it. Excellent quality product

Published 16 months ago by northeast
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

On time and as stated.

Published 17 months ago by Don Prichard
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great

Published 21 months ago by hau p. nguyen
5.0 out of 5 starswell everything useful, okay most things

Everything I know about writing, well everything useful, okay most things, came from this book. The book is also thin and well organized. Read more

Published on October 13, 2014 by Sam M
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

good product; good service

Published on August 30, 2014 by Elaine H.
5.0 out of 5 starsThis book can really help you.

I had the early version of this 25 years ago. It gives very concrete advice for where to put your verbs and nouns. It has made me a much better writer. Read more

Published on May 25, 2014 by Barrett Koster
2.0 out of 5 starsfirst time disappointed

I have bought used books before with no issues.
The physical shape of the book itself is in pretty good shape but,
disappointed how much is written through out and... Read more

Published on May 7, 2014 by Karen Hill

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