Oxford Guide to Plain English

By Martin Cutts

Book Overview

Plain English is an essential tool for effective communication. Information transmitted in letters, documents, reports, contracts, and forms is clearer and more understandable when presented in straightforward terms. The Oxford Guide to Plain English provides authoritative guidance on how to write plain English using easy-to-follow guidelines which cover straightforward language, sentence length, active and passive verbs, punctuation, grammar, planning, and good organization. This handy guide will be invaluable to writers of all levels. It provides essential guidelines that will allow readers to develop their writing style, grammar, and punctuation. The book also offers help in understanding official jargon and legalese giving the plain English alternatives. This guide gives hundreds of real examples and shows 'before and after' versions of texts of different kinds which will help readers to look critically at their own writing. It is organized in 25 short chapters, which each cover a different aspect of writing. Clearly laid out and easy to use, the Oxford Guide to Plain English is the best guide to writing clear and helpful documents.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0199558507
• ISBN13: 9780199558506
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 0.7" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Short sweet. No nonense. Good writing.

"The writing and setting out of essential information in a way that gives a co-operative, motivated person a good chance of understanding it at first reading, and in the same sense that the writer meant it to be understood". Martin Cutts Business and professional writing could benefit a lot by using this advice on how to get the message across. No nonsense. Good writing. I use it myself and as our standard office guide.

Plain English supports clear, straightforward communication

Add the Oxford Guide to Plain English to your essential reference library alongside The Chicago Manual of Style. Martin Cutts, founder of the Plain Language Commission and longtime advocate for clear, simple but not simplistic writing, crams 21 guidelines into this compact yet comprehensive book. Terse, straightforward writing, effective layout and many examples introduce the reader to plain English while effectively modeling the rules presented. Consult the Oxford Guide to Plain English often if you want to improve your writing.