"The
Writer's FAQs: The Ultimate Quick Reference Guide for Writers"
Review by
Erica Ueland
Muriel Harris
Prentice Hall, 2000, 232 pages
If you leaf
through The Writer's FAQs, your first impression might be that
this is a little book suitable for beginners only. Muriel Harris, author
of this portable gem, provides novice writers and other interested parties
with compact sections on grammar, punctuation, and word usage.
The tidy
little FAQs book, which measures eight inches by four inches and is just
one-half inch thick, slips conveniently into your briefcase or handbag.
This reference book is handy to have around when you, expert that you
are, have one of those frequently asked questions about abbreviations,
modifiers, or active and passive verbs. In fact, a whole host of questions
are answered in this pocket handbook.
Elementary,
you say. Who needs this? The person who needs this is anybody who would
like a reference guide with the basics complemented by a few more bonuses.
In addition to the standard fare on grammar and punctuation, you will
find sections on multilingual applications, research, and online sources.
You will also read about styles and formats such as MLA (Modern Language
Association) and APA (American Psychological Association) style.
HINT boxes
throughout the book answer any budding author's or seasoned writer's FAQs
with advice on how to escape the horror of committing common errors. For
example, incorrect uses of reflexive pronouns, capitalization, and nonessential
clauses are displayed in the HINT boxes.
Two glossaries,
the "Glossary of Usage" and the "Glossary of Grammatical
Terms," provide increased insights into the language we know and
love. If you are one of those rare birds who struggles with correct usage
of bad and badly, the "Glossary of Usage" will
show you the way.
I will appreciate
having this book at my side whenever I need to choose between lie
or lay. The lie-lay-lain-laid verbs have always seemed like
a barbed hoop for me to jump through. Did you cringe when I mentioned
"a barbed hoop for me to jump through"? The "Glossary of
Grammatical Terms" states "Prepositions usually precede their
objects but may follow the objects and appear at the end of the sentence."
Whew!
You will find answers to many questions, including:
- What are
some style manuals with formats for writing in other fields (such as
chemistry, journalism, or political science)?
- How and
when do I use the two Council of Biology Editors (CBE) styles for notes
and the reference list?
- What is
Chicago Manual of Style format, and how and when do I use that?
- How do
I cite Web sites in bibliographies?
- Am I overusing
commas?
The Writer's FAQs can probably answer some of your questions. This concise reference guide is helpful to have near your computer while you are writing either a brief report or your big masterpiece.
