Engaging and direct, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace is the guidebook for anyone who wants to write well.

Williams’ own clear, accessible style models the kind of writing that audiences–both in college and after–will admire. The principles offered here help writers understand what readers expect and encourage writers to revise to meet those expectations more effectively.   This book is all you need to understand the principles of effective writing.

Lesson One:  Understanding Style

Lesson Two:  Correctness

Lesson Three:  Actions

Lesson Four:  Characters

Lesson Five:  Cohesion and Coherence

Lesson Six:  Emphasis

Lesson Seven:  Concision

Lesson Eight:  Shape

Lesson Nine:  Elegance

Lesson Ten:  Motivating Coherence

Lesson Eleven:  Global Coherence

PART FIVE:  Ethics

Lesson Twelve:  The Ethics of Style

Appendix I: Punctuation

Appendix II: Using Sources

Glossary

Suggested Answers

• In Lesson 1, a brief description of how the principles in this book can help readers understand difficult texts.
• In Lesson 2, more on helping writers decide questions of usage (and less on quarreling with other grammar mavens!)
• In Lessons 5 and 6, more attention to the need to push grammatical complexity to the end of sentences.
• A new appendix on using sources consolidates material on plagiarism and integrating quotations.
• New Quick Tips offer more practical advice on writing, as well as a new tip on reading difficult texts.

• Clear, accessible prose provides model for good writing in any context.
• Quick Tips throughout provide brief summaries of important information.
• An ethical analysis, using the Declaration of Independence as its focus, demonstrates how good writers manipulate language and, as a result, our responses to their writing.
• A list of “common errors” in Lesson 2 offers an easy quick reference.
• “Here’s the Point” summaries provide quick and easy reviews of important material.
• Exercises throughout encourage readers to work and learn with others.  
• A wealth of epigrams provide witty support for the lessons themselves.