Table of Contents
Preface
Words
- Verbs and Verb Tense Difficulties
Dangling Constructions
Sequence of Tenses
Irregular or Difficult Verbs
Infinitives, Gerunds, Objects: “To Be or Not To Be?”
Preposition Problems: “Up With Which I Will Not Put”
Singular and Plural Difficulties
Pronoun Problems: Who Cares About Whom?
Part of Speech Conversions: A Question of Principle?
Word Meanings: Are Cars Ever Stationery?
Word Order Problems
Too Many Words, Too Few Words
One Word or Two?
Usage: Word Conventions
Style, Structure, and Substance
- Putting Ideas Together
Punctuation
Direct and Indirect Speech
Paragraphing
Generalization, Abstraction, Jargon, and Doublespeak
Bias-Free Language
Metaphor and Meaning
Slang and Informal English
Form
- The Writing Process
Writing by Computer
Format and Spelling
Vocabulary: Some National Variations
Special Writing Situations: - Academic Writing
- Business Writing
- Writing About Literature
- Documentation
For Those Whose Native Language Is Not English
Appendix 1: A Reference Guide to Basic Grammar
Appendix 2: Correction Key
Exercises
Index