THE FACTS ON FILE GUIDE TO STYLE MARTIN H. MANSER CONTENTS Introduction xi PART I. WRITING WITH STYLE Introduction 3 1.

What Is Style? 5 The Concept of Style 5 What Is Style? An Overview 19 2. Beyond Correctness 21 Introduction 21 Style and Grammatical Correctness 22 A Feeling for Language 26 Aesthetic Values 33 Beyond Correctness: An Overview 35 3. The Qualities of Style 37 Introduction 37 Clarity 38 Simplicity 52 Elegance 53 Vigor 55 Variety 63 The Qualities of Style: An Overview 69 4. Choosing Words 71 Introduction 71 Use Words You Know 71 The Origins of English Vocabulary 74 Simple versus Complex 76 Use Fewer Nouns 82 Use Longer Words Carefully 87 Enlarging Your Vocabulary 88 Choosing Words: An Overview 91 5. Constructing Sentences 93 Introduction 93 Sentencesthe Basics 93 The Logic of the Sentence 105 The Rhythm of the Sentence 115 Constructing Sentences: An Overview 121 6. Constructing Paragraphs 123 Introduction 123 Paragraphsthe Basics 124 Making Paragraphs 133 Unifying Paragraphs 141 Connecting Paragraphs 149 Constructing Paragraphs: An Overview 152 7. Using Figurative Language 153 Introduction 153 The Nature of Figurative Language 154 The Function of Figurative Language 155 Using Figurative Language 156 Figurative Devices 157 The Place for Figurative Language 158 Comic Imagery 160

 The Perils of Figurative Language 161 Using Figurative Language: An Overview 163 8. Choosing a Style 165 Introduction 165 Finding the Appropriate Tone 169 Choosing a Style: An Overview 183 9. Expressing Tone through Words 185 Introduction 185 The Power of Language 185 Language and Pictures 186 Formality and Informality 189 Informal English 190 Formal English 195 Neutrality 197 Register 199 Emotiveness and Objectivity 204 Expressing Tone through Words: An Overview 210 PART II. STYLE IN PRACTICE Introduction 213 10. Letters and E-mails 215 Introduction 215 The Structure and Conventions of a Business Letter or Formal E-mail 217 Letter-Writing Tactics 223 Delivering Bad News 231 Cover Letters 233 Job Applications 236 Letters of Recommendation 239 Informal E-mails 242 Letters and E-mails: An Overview 243 11. Memorandums and Rsums 245 Memorandums 245 Rsums 247 Memorandums and Rsums: An Overview 249 12. Essays and Theses 251 Introduction 251 Essays 252 Theses 265 Essays and Theses: An Overview 268 13. Business Reports and Presentations 269 Business Reports 269 Presentations 271 Business Reports and Presentations: An Overview 277 14. Promotional Writing 279 Introduction 279 Effective Promotion 279 Emphasizing the Positive 281 Promotional Writing: An Overview 283 15. Keeping to Style 285 Introduction 285 Style and Publishing 285 Fonts 291 Numbers 295 Quotations 299 Lists and Tables 302 Illustrations 306

 Keeping to Style: An Overview 308 Index 309