Write Right!: A Desktop Digest of Punctuation, Grammar, and Style

by Jan Venolia

Book Overview

The newest edition of Jan Venolia's best-selling guide , Write Right is an essential resource for writers with 500,000+ copies sold since publication. In this age of electronic correspondence and self-produced documents, we need a useful and reliable writing guide more than ever. Write Right covers the essentials of good writing in a concise and easy-to-follow format. The new edition of this classic handbook takes you through the entire writing process,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580083285
• ISBN13: 9781580083287
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A Good Review for Good Writing

This is a simple, direct, concise review of basic grammar, indispensible for anyone with a short memory and a strong desire to write right. I purchased several copies so that I could give each member on my staff a copy for their desk with the instructions to read it and use it. It will be helpful to improve anyone's writing abilities. The contents are well organized and the examples are very helpful. This book is so good I sometimes use it for bedtime reading when I am preparing to write a special article so that I can do better.

Write Right! is Right On!

As an author and a publisher, I find this book an essential reference. I keep it next to my dictionary, within easy reach. (The earlier editions) have been my constant companion for over 20 years. Jan Venolia makes the rules for punctuation, grammar and style easy to find and easy to understand. Her examples in the form of historical quotations make the rules comprehensible. This fascinating book will be a constant reference for every author, publisher, and bibliophile. And you can't beat the price. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com

A "cut to the chase" writing resource.

The nature of my job has been such that I'm only occasionally tasked with writing a business letter or report, which is to say that I don't write business correspondence often enough to feel entirely confident of my output. Also, I correspond regularly with a couple of friends who are published authors, and golly, I sure hate to come across like a rube. I've found this book to be a real lifesaver at such times, and no doubt it's saved me from outright embarrassment more than once.While there are more expansive books on grammer and style out there, I suspect that this book, for most folks, will cover 99% of such questions likely to arise in composing business letters, personal correspondence, and creative works. Concise, well-organized, and palatable, this compact volume stays in my brief case everywhere I go, and has often shaved points off of my blood pressure during those numerous times when I thought I knew how to do it right, but just wasn't sure. (One minor complaint: earlier editions were available in spiral-bound versions; I miss that feature.)

A decent, inexpensive book to have on your shelves.

I absolutely detest English grammar. Having said that, be forewarned I am Deaf...that explains everything. I had to take English grammar in different formats in 3 classes. Third time around I got smart and started looking for some other help then the recommended textbooks. This book I found on my own, and this is the book on the shelf above my head when I am writing. It is small, concise, helps with things that spell and grammar checks on software won't or can't do. It is inexpensive, so this is the one I recommend to friends and students. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

I am a copy editor who uses this book religiously.

I use it as as an authority on grammar, punctuation, and style. This wire-bound, mid-size reference is a gem. It contains almost everything--if not everything--I have ever had to look up. It is concise, making it an easy read. Despite its being concise, Jan Venolia gives thorough, comprehendable explanations of the way words are supposed to be put together.This book exemplifies its title.