Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A sharp, funny grammar guide theyll actually want to read, from Random Houses longtime copy chief and one of Twitters leading language gurus NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY O: The Oprah Magazine Paste Shelf Awareness Essential (and delightful!)People We all write, all the time: books, blogs, emails. Lots and lots of emails. And we all want to write better. Benjamin Dreyer is here to help. As Random Houses copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alikenot to mention his followers on social mediafor deconstructing the English language with playful erudition. Now he distills everything he has learned from the myriad books he has copyedited and overseen into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward. As authoritative as it is amusing, Dreyers English offers lessons on punctuation, from the underloved semicolon to the enigmatic en dash; the rules and nonrules of grammar, including why its OK to begin a sentence with And or But and to confidently split an infinitive; and why its best to avoid the doldrums of the Wan Intensifiers and Throat Clearers, including very, rather, of course, and the dreaded actually. Dreyer will let you know whether alright is all right (sometimes) and even help you brush up on your spellingthough, as he notes, The problem with mnemonic devices is that I can never remember them. And yes: Only godless savages eschew the series comma. Chockful of advice, insider wisdom, and fun facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to everyone who wants to shore up their writing skills, mandatory for people who spend their time editing and shaping other peoples prose, andperhaps best of allan utter treat for anyone who simply revels in language. Praise for Dreyers English Playful, smart, self-conscious, and personal . . . One encounters wisdom and good sense on nearly every page of Dreyers English.The Wall Street Journal Destined to become a classic.The Millions Dreyer can help you . . . with tips on punctuation and spelling. . . . Even better: Hell entertain you while hes at it.Newsday