The King's English

By Henry Watson Fowler, F G Fowler, F.G. Fowler, et al.

Book Overview

Delve into the authoritative pages of "The King's English," the seminal guide to English grammar and usage by the esteemed Henry Watson Fowler and Francis George Fowler. This indispensable language handbook stands as a cornerstone for anyone seeking mastery over the intricacies of British English. Meticulously detailing proper usage and effective style, it offers comprehensive guidance on grammar, punctuation, and the finer points of written expression.

"The King's English" addresses common pitfalls and illuminates best practices, serving as an essential reference for cultivating clear, precise, and elegant writing. For students, writers, and language enthusiasts, this classic work provides a deep exploration of the English language as it was (and largely still is) understood and employed in Great Britain. Its enduring insights into linguistic principles make it a timeless companion for refining one's writing skills and appreciating the nuances of proper English. This meticulously prepared print edition ensures the wisdom of the Fowler brothers remains accessible to all who value articulate communication.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025238303
• ISBN13: 9781025238302
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 546 Pages
• Weight: 2.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Prequel to Fowler's "Dictionary of Modern English Usage"

If you liked "A Dictionary of Modern English Usage," you will love "The King's English."For three generations, a single book dominated the market as the authoritative reference in matters of grammar, style, and usage in the English language: "A Dictionary of Modern English Usage" by H.W. Fowler, first published in 1926, now in its third edition (published 1996). Twenty years earlier, however, Fowler and his younger brother F.G. (their given names were Henry Watson and Francis George) had collaborated on a precursor, "The King's English," first published in 1906 (and which went into its third edition a quarter century later, a few years after the first edition of "A Dictionary" appeared).This book is every bit as charming and graceful as the later "Dictionary" and, while this earlier work covers fewer topics than "Dictionary," it treats the ones that it does cover with as much thoroughness and skill as "Dictionary"--in some cases with more thoroughness, since the book is structured as part essay, part textbook, and can thus afford more examples and exercises than "Dictionary." The book begins by laying out five "general principles" worthy of Strunk and White (whose masterpiece "The Elements of Style" did not appear until half a century later): "Prefer the familiar word to the far-fetched. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract. Prefer the single word to the circumlocution. Prefer the short word to the long. Prefer the Saxon word to the Romance."The Fowlers expand upon those five "principles," and also treat vocabulary, syntax, punctuation, and other such technical matters in great depth. But amidst these technical chapters they also include a lengthy chapter on "airs and graces," in which they advise the reader about imbuing writing with art.The Fowlers write with every bit as much elegance, flair, and humor as they advise their readers to use, and their mastery of their subject is unsurpassed. "The King's English" has stood the test of time and, today, a century after its initial publication, it still stands the Fowler brothers with Strunk and White from half a century ago and Bryan Garner of today in the first rank of authors about style and usage in the English language.