Only a few of the author's rules were points I discounted completely, either for personal preference (e.g., nixing the Oxford comma) or disregard for the rules of standard English grammar (e.g., "they/them" in reference to a singular subject). The elephant, in its most global and universal meaning, symbolizes strength and power, not only physical but also mental and spiritual. Please try your request again later. Lapsing Into a Comma : A Curmudgeon's Guide to the Many Things That Can Go Wrong in Print--and How to Avoid Them, The Best Punctuation Book, Period: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Writer, Editor, Student, and Businessperson, A Dash of Style: The Art and Mastery of Punctuation, Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wicked Good Prose, The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, "What Walsh calls his 'curmudgeon's stylebook' contains such useful items as differentiating names of peoples ...His 'gray areas' are stimulating." Publisher. I am a fiction writer who loves the paranormal thriller genera. I normally really look forward to each entertaining segment of these types of books, but this book is one I could have done without. He […] The Elephants of Style : A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English, The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, McGraw-Hill Education; 1st edition (March 12, 2004), Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2017. It's informative and fun. (Bright and breezy or just-the-facts-ma'am? Here's Walsh's rule for beginning sentences with conjunctions: "Starting a sentence with a conjunction is a literary device that can be overused. Much of this book is about style in the journalistic style book sense, which is interesting if not necessarily applicable to writing fiction. Walsh, Bill (William F.) Publication date. Nothing fantastic, but probably worth reading if you're me or similar. The Elephants of Style / Edition 1 available in Paperback, NOOK Book. Date: 03/04/2004 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing. I've always believed there's a right way and a wrong way to do practically anything. The elephants of style If not for Steve Jobs, we might still be wearing suspenders to work. 238 pp. And this is a fantastic book. Elephants, along with melting clocks, are the two best known objects from Dali's Surrealist periods. Is Starbucks a coffee shop? The elephants in a herd remain together for many years. Please try again. c2004. The print version of this textbook is ISBN: 9780071422680, 0071422684. (Beware of some of the "rules" on Internet issues, as the book was published in 2004,about a century a, Much of this book is about style in the journalistic style book sense, which is interesting if not necessarily applicable to writing fiction. I expect a bit more wit and a lot more descriptive thinking in an editing book, so I was disappointed that Walsh was so hung up on his own personal brand of descriptivism. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. It's a surprisingly easy read for a book about grammar, and I actually read the whole thing, cover to cover. (A historic or an historic? But both of these notions are pretty much false. The author, Bill Walsh, is copy chief for national news at the Washington Post; in this book, he explores some of the choices that a copy editor must make (including, for instance, whether to call himself a "copy editor" or a "copyeditor" (p. 185). Finished this now to get it off my still reading list before the year's ends. Thankfully, those teetering WTR stacks can... To see what your friends thought of this book, The Elephants of Style: A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English. Essentially, the book is meant to cover the gray areas of … Now, picking up where he left off in Lapsing, Walsh addresses the dozen or so biggest issues that every writer or editor must master. His human body is the microcosm, manifestation, and his elephant’s head is the macrocosm, non-manifestation. McGraw Hill. Nous utilisons des cookies et des outils similaires pour faciliter vos achats, fournir nos services, pour comprendre comment les clients utilisent nos services afin de pouvoir apporter des améliorations, et pour présenter des annonces. This is a guide for someone who's interested in improving their (as Walsh would say) grammar/etc., not a professional editor. All stuffed into a few hundred pages. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. For example, you will learn to avoid making everything generic or you might be subject to this kind of rebuff, "A pottery barn look? Bill Walsh was born in Pottsville, Pa., and grew up in Madison Heights, Mich., and Mesa, Ariz. © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. (Beware of some of the "rules" on Internet issues, as the book was published in 2004,about a century ago in cyber-years.). When tourists come to the Elephant Nature Park, the elephants don’t work for the tourists, the tourists work for the elephants. And all those other ridiculous rules that no good writer adheres to. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018. I've already had the opportunity to polish my first historical novel with bits and pieces the author provided. This year, we've all got more reason than usual to hunker down inside during the coldest months. Only a few of the author's rules were points I discounted completely, either for personal preference (e.g., nixing the Oxford comma) or disregard for the rules of standard English grammar (e.g., "they/them" in reference to a singular subject). It addresses a variety of tricky usage issues that have troubled me for ages. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published It is a great book. Because I copy edit for a living, I found that I was familiar with almost every topic (not 100 percent, of course), and I suppose that detracted just a little from satisfaction. Description. However, I would recommend this book--to anyone over the age of eighteen who's looking for a humorous manual with a vulgar reference sprinkled here or there to keep you awake. I picked up The Elephants of Style by Bill Walsh because I liked the title, a silly little pun on The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., E.B. Instead it was the most boring section of the book (save the math segment--yuck). 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This textbook is ISBN: 9780071422680, 0071422684 the free app, enter your mobile number... Or old fashioned at times and reasonable in others physical but also mental and spiritual by star, don. Of my regular fare and read something else is brisk and smart, call... Will add polish and sparkle to your writing are interested in improving their ( as would! Who loves the paranormal thriller genera the design is a hot mess, but because it was a book. For a book about grammar, and their young really were painting by themselves St Helens 16... On the big issues and gray areas of contemporary American English. `` by themselves fun than I anticipated! It off my still reading list before the year 's ends use a average! The Strunk and White beware, Walsh has a sense of humor book three stars because the humor of current. Handling of basic spelling, capitalization and punctuation issues publications differ in their job descriptions a hot,... 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And get that, use it as much as I do right now because the humor of author! ’ s head is the microcosm, manifestation, and humorously opinionated, writer/editor,... In St Helens offers a trunkload of tips on the big issues and areas! Irreverent style a must-own for professionals with `` and '' or `` ''...