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.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188306 Anonymous Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:16:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188306 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.

]]> By: Linda Seebach http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188302 Linda Seebach Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188302 Geoff Pullum does not have a "competing book." He is a co-author, with Rodney Huddleston, of the "Cambridge Grammar of the English Language," but that is an encyclopedic tome on English syntax for specialists, not a competitor to any kind of writing guide. Had you some other author in mind? Geoff Pullum does not have a “competing book.” He is a co-author, with Rodney Huddleston, of the “Cambridge Grammar of the English Language,” but that is an encyclopedic tome on English syntax for specialists, not a competitor to any kind of writing guide. Had you some other author in mind?

]]> By: Linda Seebach http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188303 Linda Seebach Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188303 Geoff Pullum does not have a "competing book." He is a co-author, with Rodney Huddleston, of the "Cambridge Grammar of the English Language," but that is an encyclopedic tome on English syntax for specialists, not a competitor to any kind of writing guide. Had you some other author in mind? Geoff Pullum does not have a “competing book.” He is a co-author, with Rodney Huddleston, of the “Cambridge Grammar of the English Language,” but that is an encyclopedic tome on English syntax for specialists, not a competitor to any kind of writing guide. Had you some other author in mind?

]]> By: DG Lesvic http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188300 DG Lesvic Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:35:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188300 If Daniel got his style from Strunk and White, I'm going to stay as far away from that book as I can. If Daniel got his style from Strunk and White, I’m going to stay as far away from that book as I can.

]]> By: DG Lesvic http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188301 DG Lesvic Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:35:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188301 If Daniel got his style from Strunk and White, I'm going to stay as far away from that book as I can. If Daniel got his style from Strunk and White, I’m going to stay as far away from that book as I can.

]]> By: Ray http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188291 Ray Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:49:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188291 Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun. This is the best book on writing period. Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun.
This is the best book on writing period.

]]> By: Ray http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188290 Ray Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:49:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188290 Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun. This is the best book on writing period. Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun.
This is the best book on writing period.

]]> By: Ray http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188288 Ray Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:48:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188288 Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun. This is the best book on writing period. Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun.
This is the best book on writing period.

]]> By: Ray http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188289 Ray Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:48:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188289 Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun. This is the best book on writing period. Simple and Direct by Jacques Barzun.
This is the best book on writing period.

]]> By: silvermine http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188283 silvermine Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:25:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188283 And practice, practice, practice. And find someone who is a good writer to be your editor to show you how you're messing up. ;) And practice, practice, practice. And find someone who is a good writer to be your editor to show you how you’re messing up. ;)

]]> By: silvermine http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188282 silvermine Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:25:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188282 And practice, practice, practice. And find someone who is a good writer to be your editor to show you how you're messing up. ;) And practice, practice, practice. And find someone who is a good writer to be your editor to show you how you’re messing up. ;)

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188273 Anonymous Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:35:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188273 In March of this year Professor Mark Perry (Carpe Diem blog) posted an article on effective business writing with this site referenced: <a href="http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/index2.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/index2.htm</A>There are short quizzes that give very useful writing and word useage improvement to those that visit the site and its mostly free. In March of this year Professor Mark Perry (Carpe Diem blog) posted an article on effective business writing with this site referenced: http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/index2.htmThere are short quizzes that give very useful writing and word useage improvement to those that visit the site and its mostly free.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188274 Anonymous Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:35:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188274 In March of this year Professor Mark Perry (Carpe Diem blog) posted an article on effective business writing with this site referenced: <a href="http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/index2.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/index2.htm</A>There are short quizzes that give very useful writing and word useage improvement to those that visit the site and its mostly free. In March of this year Professor Mark Perry (Carpe Diem blog) posted an article on effective business writing with this site referenced: http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/index2.htmThere are short quizzes that give very useful writing and word useage improvement to those that visit the site and its mostly free.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188267 Anonymous Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188267 Started reading your first link. Got a little bored with it. Scrolled down to the bottom. Lo and behold, Geoff Pullum has his own competing book. His critique seems a little heavy handed as when he writes: "both authors were grammatical incompetents." Wow, that's like being told your catechism instructor was a heretical satanist. Started reading your first link. Got a little bored with it. Scrolled down to the bottom. Lo and behold, Geoff Pullum has his own competing book.

His critique seems a little heavy handed as when he writes: “both authors were grammatical incompetents.” Wow, that’s like being told your catechism instructor was a heretical satanist.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/want-to-write-well-start-by-reading-these-books.html/comment-page-1#comment-188268 Anonymous Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=7094#comment-188268 Started reading your first link. Got a little bored with it. Scrolled down to the bottom. Lo and behold, Geoff Pullum has his own competing book. His critique seems a little heavy handed as when he writes: "both authors were grammatical incompetents." Wow, that's like being told your catechism instructor was a heretical satanist. Started reading your first link. Got a little bored with it. Scrolled down to the bottom. Lo and behold, Geoff Pullum has his own competing book.

His critique seems a little heavy handed as when he writes: “both authors were grammatical incompetents.” Wow, that’s like being told your catechism instructor was a heretical satanist.

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