Six Useful Books on Writing

From Andrew Naselli

Andy Naselli has posted a piece that recommends Six Useful Books on Writing.  The comments are good, as always.

Books on writing are even more common than first-year Greek grammars. (I should probably revise that sentence.)  Here are six that I’ve found especially useful. I’d suggest reading them in this order.

1. William Strunk Jr. The Elements of Style. Wth revisions, an introduction, and a chapter on writing by E. B. White. 4th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2000. 105 pp.

2. William Zinsser. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. 30th Anniversary Edition. New York: Collins, 2006. 321 pp.

3. Joseph M. Williams. Style: Toward Clarity and Grace. With two chapters coauthored by Gregory G. Colomb. Rev. ed. Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press, 1995. 208 pp.

4. Anthony Weston. A Rulebook for Arguments. 4th ed. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2008. 104 pp.

5. Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. 3rd ed. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press, 2008. 336 pp.

6. Merriam-Webster’s Concise Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2002. 799 pp.

Read the whole thing, if you want some more of his comments on each book. And be sure to skim the comments where several additional works are cited.