Understanding Style: Practical Ways to Improve Your Writing

by Joseph Glaser

Many writers view style as a dreaded Bermuda Triangle--they have no idea how to improve anything they have written. This book dispels much of that mystery, using the findings of modern linguistics to explore the relationship between written and spoken voices and to uncover little-known ways to
control rhythm and emphasis.
With a focus on sound and voice, author Joe Glaser explains and illustrates measurable, non-subjective keys to good writing--an approach that yields practical writing techniques and advice rarely found elsewhere. An excellent choice for courses in advanced composition, the book also covers more
standard topics such as economy, diction, coherence, and variety--along with abundant open-ended exercises drawn from business, history, popular science, and other areas. Each chapter includes a final, quick-reference summary and a "Your Writing" assignment that readers can apply directly to their
own work.
Updated throughout, the second edition emphasizes word processing and Internet resources and includes a new chapter on subjects and predicates. The book also features a glossary of writing terms, a brief dictionary of usage, a guide to punctuation, and a detailed index.
Exercises, sample answers, analytical tools, writing links, and other helpful aids are available on the author's website at

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 1998

Reviews

[Daniel Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall not a bad read. Very informative and straight forward, but the plot jumped around a lot and was confusing. There were so many heart wrenching moments and parts that moved me to unstoppable tears.

[Persy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and I found a lot of the chapters insightful. I wish there would have been more examples and less practice exercises to really give me a firm grasp of the reading, but c’est la vie.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taught me a lot, but I took a star off just because it was also really hard.

[Alejandra]

Personally, I didn’t enjoy the book, though some tips are really useful.

[Jenny Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. Not only did it help to improve my own writing, I now use it in my composition classes to teach my students that everyone can improve their writing with simple yet challenging concepts.

[Katie J Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of exercises are frustrating, but overall Understanding Style: Practical Ways to Improve Your Writing was a useful, easy to understand guide.

Four Stars: This book was really good and I'll definitely recommend it to people with relevant interests.

[Julie S.]

Wordiness is bad. I'm glad that he agrees.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am currently using this book in my I&E class in college. The exercises are very neat and it is overall a helpful book in improving my writing.