Style Guide

By The Economist

Book Overview

This expanded eleventh edition of the bestselling guide to style is based on the Economist's own updated house style manual, and is an invaluable companion for everyone who wants to communicate with the clarity, style and precision for which the Economist is renowned. As the introduction says, 'clarity of writing usually follows clarity of thought.'

The Economist Style Guide gives general advice on writing, points out common errors and clich's, offers guidance on consistent use of punctuation, abbreviations and capital letters, and contains an exhaustive range of reference material - covering everything from accountancy ratios and stock market indices to laws of nature and science.

Some of the numerous useful rules and common mistakes pointed out in the guide include:
*Which informs, that defines. This is the house that Jack built. But: This house, which Jack built, is now falling down.
Discreet means circumspect or prudent; discrete means separate or distinct. Remember that Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are (Oscar Wilde).
Flaunt means display, flout means disdain. If you flout this distinction you will flaunt your ignorance
Forgo means do without; forego means go before.
Fortuitous means accidental, not fortunate or well-timed.
Times: Take care. Three times more than X is four times as much as X.
Full stops: Use plenty. They keep sentences short. This helps the reader.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1610399811
• ISBN13: 9781610399814
• Release Date: June 2018
• Publisher: Economist
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.9" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent for non-native speakers

Writing and speaking are the most difficult skills to learn if you're a non-native speaker. Even though most learners believe that speaking is more useful - and there is some vanity involved in it - it's actually writing that takes precedence in today's connected world. Most business communications today are done through email, and no one wants the recipient to have a laugh at their expense. Grammar, punctuation and vocabulary are important, for sure, but once you have mastered those, why not spend a few more hours dedicated to polishing a bit your written English? With just 160 pages, you get tips that will make your writing look formal, but not stilted; correct, but not pretentious. You may even have a laugh or two with the entries.

It doesn't get any better than this.

I speak English as a second language. This style guide has been incredibly useful and informative. I have improved my writing even in other languages thanks to this book. It even is pleasurable reading. In the Guide's own style: Buy it.

Review of brazilian girl

Very useful handbook for writing. It is fashioned similarly to other journalism guides of Brazilian newspapers, but it is far more witty. It brings a section about differences between American and British English - with clues I couldn't find anywhere else. Lots of vocabulary, as usual. It could bring more examples of good and bad practices, though. But I guess those you can find at live on the pages of The Economist itself. Enjoy your reading, Ruli.

Excellent Reference

More than grammar. This book helps with style and it also has reference information on abbreviations, calendars, countries, currencies, science, geology, internet, latin, proofreading, stockmarket, world times, etc. It has many interesting sections.

Style guidance at its best

Simple. Straightforward. Writing instruction as you would expect from perhaps the best magazine on the planet. Clear, concise, to the point. If you want to write well, then buy this book.