Comments on: Want to Write Well? Start by Reading these Books http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html where orders emerge Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Admiral http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188383 Admiral Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:04:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188383 I quite agree with Linda. Strunk&White, while perhaps helpful for some points of good writing, seems to have done much more harm than good for language in general. Language has typically flowed with and changed for the spoken form. The written is derivative. Yet, S&W have influenced many to believe otherwise and put most English speakers into a box. People who think like S&W want them to have no insight into the real brilliance of language. Libertarians especially should take note: S&W are against innovation and the worst of centralized decision-makers. Consult the market, it knows best. I quite agree with Linda. Strunk&White, while perhaps helpful for some points of good writing, seems to have done much more harm than good for language in general. Language has typically flowed with and changed for the spoken form. The written is derivative. Yet, S&W have influenced many to believe otherwise and put most English speakers into a box. People who think like S&W want them to have no insight into the real brilliance of language.

Libertarians especially should take note: S&W are against innovation and the worst of centralized decision-makers. Consult the market, it knows best.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188347 Anonymous Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:25:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188347 I totally agree on Strunk and White, and would add "Write Right" by Susan R. Quinn. By the way, you could start yourself by using an adverb with a verb, as in ..."Writing badly......." I totally agree on Strunk and White, and would add “Write Right” by Susan R. Quinn. By the way, you could start yourself by using an adverb with a verb, as in …”Writing badly…….”

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188324 Anonymous Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:13:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188324 This reminds me of a saying from my high school days: Bad writers don't know the rules, fair writers follow the rules, and good writers choose when to break the rules. This reminds me of a saying from my high school days:

Bad writers don’t know the rules, fair writers follow the rules, and good writers choose when to break the rules.

]]> By: Tim Worstall http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188319 Tim Worstall Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:16:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188319 "people do up with which neither of these authors will put." Which is of course an adaptation of Churchill's quote about the adaptability of the English language. We can use the Germanic sentence structure if we wish, it's *correct*, but it's not *right*. The meaning of which is that you're perfectly at liberty, even encouraged, to bend the more precise grammatical rules in the interests of readability and understanding. “people do up with which neither of these authors will put.”

Which is of course an adaptation of Churchill’s quote about the adaptability of the English language. We can use the Germanic sentence structure if we wish, it’s *correct*, but it’s not *right*.

The meaning of which is that you’re perfectly at liberty, even encouraged, to bend the more precise grammatical rules in the interests of readability and understanding.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188307 Anonymous Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:16:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188307 Linda, I was a too hasty in my assumption. I saw that he had his own (co-authored) book on grammar and presumed it to be competition for Strunk and White. I look on Strunk and White as a starting point for good writing, not an ultimate reference. Perhaps Mr Pullum <i>should</i> write a competing book, or offer his services as editor of a new edition. Linda, I was a too hasty in my assumption. I saw that he had his own (co-authored) book on grammar and presumed it to be competition for Strunk and White. I look on Strunk and White as a starting point for good writing, not an ultimate reference. Perhaps Mr Pullum should write a competing book, or offer his services as editor of a new edition.

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