Do I Make Myself Clear?: Why Writing Well MattersA wise and entertaining guide to writing English the proper way by one of the greatest newspaper editors of our time. Harry Evans has edited everything from the urgent files of battlefield reporters to the complex thought processes of Henry Kissinger. He's even been knighted for his services to journalism. In Do I Make Myself Clear?, he brings his indispensable insight to us all in his definite guide to writing well. The right words are oxygen to our ideas, but the digital era, with all of its TTYL, LMK, and WTF, has been cutting off that oxygen flow. The compulsion to be precise has vanished from our culture, and in writing of every kind we see a trend towards more -- more speed and more information but far less clarity. Evans provides practical examples of how editing and rewriting can make for better communication, even in the digital age. Do I Make Myself Clear? is an essential text, and one that will provide every writer an editor at his shoulder. |
Contents
Use and Abuse of Writing Formulas | |
The Sentence Clinic | |
Ten Shortcuts to Making Yourself Clear | |
Please Dont Feed the Zombies FleshEaters | |
Give the Bard a Break | |
Consequences | |
Explaining the Underwear Bomber | |
Afterthought | |
Answers to Man or Machine? | |
Bibliography | |
About the Author | |
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Abdulmutallab abstract active voice adjective adverbs all-source American analysis AQAP Blundy called clarity clear Collection/The Cartoon Bank concise counterterrorism CT community CT community failed database David David Blundy December 25 December 25 attack Dictionary Donald Trump Ebola editing editor Empire of Japan English explosive device Facebook Flesh-Eater Fly list Grammar Harold Evans identify individual insurance benefit intelligence Kim Philby language London McCain means million NCTC and CIA noun Obama Obamacare paragraph passive voice percent Philby phrase pleonasms plots political predatory clause Preferred preposition President Press prose readability reader redundancy responsibility Rewrite Roger Angell Shakespeare Social Security speech statement story style Terrorist Screening Terrorist Screening Center therapy there’s thought told U.S. government U.S. Homeland understand University verb wall What’s White House words writing York Yorker Yorker Collection/The Cartoon zombies