Dreyer’s English
Posted: March 29, 2019 Filed under: Books Leave a comment
Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style
Benjamin Dreyer
Random House (January 29, 2019), 284 pages
Kindle edition $12.99, Amazon hardcover $15.00
Being the word nerd that I am, I found this book delightful.
Benjamin Dreyer is a seasoned copy editor, and this book is based on his experience in that role. His guidance and recommendations are based on the errors in grammar, punctuation, and style that he has seen over his decades.
He writes about rules that make sense and arbitrary rules that exist for no reason. He discusses the proper use of numbers and traps in grammar to avoid. His writing style is engaging and entertaining. His footnotes are not used to cite his sources, but rather to provide additional anecdotal, amusing, or entertaining information or commentary. Do not overlook them; savor and enjoy them.
The second part of the book is made up for the most part of lists: his own pet peeves, words that are often misused, and people and places whose names are often gotten wrong. Not as entertaining as the first part, but full of useful information.
If you love to write or appreciate good writing Dryer’s English is well worth your time.
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