The Quick Reference Plain English Guide
Martin Cutts(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 1. January 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
174 pages
978-0-19-866243-3 (ISBN)
Description
Over the last two decades, governments and companies around the world have been encouraged to implement plain English in order to communicate essential information in letters, documents, reports, contracts, and forms in a more clear and understandable way. The Quick Reference Plain English Guide is a practical guide that explains how to write, and communicate information clearly. It provides guidance on how to write better letters, memos, instructions, legal documents, and reports to avoid being obscure, long-winded, and prone to jargon. This guide teaches how to write plain English using 20 easy-to-follow guidelines covering plain words, sentence length, active and passive verbs, punctuation, grammar, planning, and good organization of points. Writing myths are also explored and controversially exploded, such as 'You must not start a sentence with but', and 'You must not split your infinitives'.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Illustrations
bibliography
ISBN-13
978-0-19-866243-3 (9780198662433)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Writing shorter sentences ... or chopping up snakes; using good punctuation; preferring plain words; seven writing myths explored and exploded; writing tight; conquering grammarphobia; favouring the active voice; planning effectively; using vigorous verbs; using reader-centred structure; using vertical lists; using alternatives to words, words, words; negative to positive; management of colleague's writing; cross-references, cross readers; writing better instructions; clearly non-sexist; lucid legal language; sound starts and excellent endings; clear layout.