What Not to Write: An A-to-Z of the Dos and Don'ts of Good English

This is a pocket-sized, information-packed and entertaining guide that has been compiled on the basis of long experience in helping people produce documents written in good English, with the underlying message that simple English is the best English. "What not to Write" deals with all those awkward issues - acronyms, ambiguity, American-English, bureaucratese, business English, captions, cliches, grammar, hyphens, jargon, punctuation, quotations, sexist writing, spelling, writing letters and much, much more. Writing English should be a pleasure and although there are rules and conventions, as this book shows, they should be used as a foundation on which to build the confidence to explore the richness and versatility of the language and to put the message across, clearly and simply, in a way that will capture the reader's attention. This handy reference book will be a vital tool for anyone working with the written word, particularly those who write client/company reports, theses, professional papers - students and professionals alike will benefit from having a copy to hand. English is now the global language for written communication, and there is a growing recognition that good writing is as important as the most advanced technology if people want to impress clients and colleagues and outdo competitors. This book is a pocket-sized, information-packed, entertaining and invaluable A to Z guide aimed at both the workplace and the home. It answers all those questions you might hear one person asking another in an office, such as: Is it 'a hotel' or 'an hotel'? What are split infinitives, and should you avoid them? Do you know when to use 'that' or 'which'? Is a semi-colon like a comma? When do you use a colon? It's website? Its website? Where do you put the apostrophe? They say don't use clichés, but what are clichés? Is it 'between you and me' or 'between you and I'? What happens when you have brackets inside brackets? Deals with acronyms, ambiguity, American-English, bureaucratese, business English, captions, cliches, grammar, hyphens, jargon, punctuation, quotations, sexist writing, spelling, writing letters and more. This book is suitable for those working with the written word, particularly those who write client/company reports, and professional papers.