Why Not Say It Clearly : A Guide to Expository Writing

by Lester S. King

Paper Book, 1991

Status

Available

Call number

ISMC Library - PE 1429 K53w 1991

Publication

Boston : Little, Brown, 2nd edition

ISBN

9780316493536

Description

Poor medical writing results from lack of training in writing skills and time to complete the work. The text is designed for medical students and physicians as a reference work or guide to lucid and pleasing writing. Modes of writing that hinder expression and suggestions for clear and agreeable writing of expository prase are discussed. The illustrative examples are either taken from English litterature, printed verbatim with bibliographic reference, or from medical journals with suppressed references and changes to hinder article identification. Specific topics include editing, revisions, style analysis, dialects and problems in translation, book reviews and setting up a course in medical writing. The most pressing needs of good writing : flexibility, awareness of alternatives, judgement, and conscience, are discussed.… (more)

Local notes

Although this book has a medical orientation, its lessons go beyond the confines of medicine and apply to exposition of any type. It is the author's intent to induce in the reader the ability to discriminate good writing from bad, to develop a gut reaction against whatever is clumsy and unclear, to identify specific factors that make bad writing bad, and then to effect improvement. A large part of the book deals with the concept of style and the way to compare various prose styles. Also given are hints on such topics as how to begin writing, how to revise or edit, how to overcome writer's block, and when to consider the work finished. One chapter deals with the special problems of translation.

MARC view

Page: 0.0666 seconds