Much of this book is about style in the journalistic style book sense, which is interesting if not necessarily applicable to writing fiction. Bill Walsh is a masterful, and humorously opinionated, writer/editor. The style of tourism here is much different though. ISBN 0071422684, US$14.95). Something went wrong. Because I copy edit for a living, I found that I was familiar with almost every topic (not 100 percent, of course), and I suppose that detracted just a little from satisfaction. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. If you like to write or if you plan to write, don't miss this gem. Please try again. Instead it was the most boring section of the book (save the math segment--yuck). Wouldn't expect everyone to enjoy it as much as I do. In the elephants of style he takes a step back and presents an in-depth look at the basics, including spelling, capitalization, abbreviations, subject-verb agreement, plurals and possessives. Lapsing Into a Comma : A Curmudgeon's Guide to the Many Things That Can Go Wrong in Print--and How to Avoid Them, The Best Punctuation Book, Period: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Writer, Editor, Student, and Businessperson, A Dash of Style: The Art and Mastery of Punctuation, Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wicked Good Prose, The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, "What Walsh calls his 'curmudgeon's stylebook' contains such useful items as differentiating names of peoples ...His 'gray areas' are stimulating." Now, picking up where he left off in Lapsing, Walsh addresses the dozen or so biggest issues that every writer or editor must master. Currently reading and rereading this book, desperately trying to suck less at editing. Elephant Style is a popular song by The Dum Dum Project | Create your own TikTok videos with the Elephant Style song and explore 0 videos made by new and popular creators. (A historic or an historic? It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Bill Walsh is the copy chief for national news at the Washington Post and the creator of the popular Web site The Slot: A Spot for Copy Editors (www.theslot.com). The content is aimed for journalists and news-editors. Les Éléphants est une huile sur toile peinte par Salvador Dalí en 1948.. McGraw Hill. March 25th 2004 I expect a bit more wit and a lot more descriptive thinking in an editing book, so I was disappointed that Walsh was so hung up on his own personal brand of descriptivism. Male elephants, however, usually leave their family between the age of eight and 15. Some of his advice is primarily targeted to journalists (he is, after all, a journalist, so it's the world he knows), but despite his phrasing the info is good for anyone. And all those other ridiculous rules that no good writer adheres to. It's a surprisingly easy read for a book about grammar, and I actually read the whole thing, cover to cover. The Elephants of Style : A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English, The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, McGraw-Hill Education; 1st edition (March 12, 2004), Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2017. (Is it Texas or Tex. Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant - the only harmless great thing. What do writers and editors mean when they talk about style? Each herd is led by an old female who is followed by her young offspring and her adult daughters and their families. I added this to my to-read list based on the catchy title, and the promise to clear up some of those pesky grammar problems that always seem to confuse me. The Elephants of Style / Edition 1 available in Paperback, NOOK Book. But then again, the author writes for the Washington Post, so I don't know why I expected a volume free of presuppositions. Elephants are also regarded as gods and are symbols of fortune in certain cultures. I'll say the same thing I said for Bill Walsh's other book: I Could Care Less. Sure, Walsh is curmudgeonly as he'd be the first to admit (in one or two places he's downright and oddly mean), but it's mostly pretty good advice. by. I picked up "The Elephants of Style" because it was recommended in an article I was reading about editing. Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2015. There is a clear hierarchy usually based on age and experience, so the older the elephant is, the stronger their influence is in the herd. Le tableau représente, à gauche et à droite, deux éléphants, aux longues et fines pattes, se faisant face. Welcome back. It's a surprisingly easy read for a book about grammar, and I actually read the whole thing, cover to cover. This book is a fantastic resource for anyone who cares that what they write (even if it’s only book reviews for Goodreads!) The elephants in a herd remain together for many years. with sometimes acerbic wit, the author also addresses: The lies your English teacher told you. With sometimes acerbic wit, the author also addresses: The Elephants of Style includes a continuation of The Curmudgeon's Stylebook, Walsh's A-to-Z glossary of style matters big and small, guaranteed to address questions that no other usage manuals cover. They are found most often in the savannas, grasslands, and … An elephant calf is usually born into an extended family, headed by an older female elephant who serves as matriarch. Featuring all the elements that made Lapsing such a fun read, including Walsh's trademark acerbic wit and fascinating digressions on language and its discontents, The Elephants of Style provides: Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Publisher. “Our elephants are roaming the forests with their mahouts, but not in the fields where there are pesticides and fertilizers because it isn’t safe for them. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. While I read widely in my own genera, sometimes I have to step out of my regular fare and read something else. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Add to Wishlist. I've already had the opportunity to polish my first historical novel with bits and pieces the author provided. I admit, I was prepared to be annoyed when I first picked up. Great read. I can live with that. Balancing the traditional ("Once wrong, always wrong") with the progressive ("Everybody does it") as language continues to evolve. a parody of other stylebooks, a fun guide, Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2015, Bill Walsh's stylebook, a parody of other stylebooks, is a fun guide to sensible writing. I'm not sure the average person would enjoy it. Featuring all the elements that made Lapsing such a fun read, including Walsh's trademark acerbic wit and fascinating digressions on language and its discontents, The Elephants of Style provides: Tips on how to tame the "elephants of style"--the most important, frequently confused elements of good writing Various style books do not always agree--the goal is consistency. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Elephants of Style : A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English by Bill Walsh (2004, Trade Paperback) at the best online prices at eBay! by McGraw-Hill Education, The Elephants of Style : A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English. The elephants of style : a trunkload of tips on the big issues and gray areas of contemporary American English. Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018. 238 pp. But I love it. English language, English language, English language, English language. While he admits that any style guide is merely a snapshot of the current state of affairs, there's already some anachronistic stuff when it comes to the web, or as he'd call it, the Web, which I'm sure even he's not doing anymore. However, it would be a good place to start getting ideas for making your own style sheet, particularly if you are publishing independently and don't have a publishing house guide to follow. Here's Walsh's rule for beginning sentences with conjunctions: "Starting a sentence with a conjunction is a literary device that can be overused. We've been hearing about it for years, but you know us. Start by marking “The Elephants of Style: A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Liking the chat, I went and bought his best reviewed book, The Elephants of Style. Topics. Tips on how to tame the "elephants of style"--the most important, frequently confused elements of good writing; More of Walsh's popular "Curmudgeon's Stylebook"--includes entries such as Snarky Specificity, Metaphors, Near and Far, Actually is the New Like, and other uses and misuses of language; Expert advice for writers and editors on how to work together for best results . illus, bibliog, index. JSA Walsh is the copy chief for national news at the Washington Post, and in this book he provides real help for all students and anyone else who needs to write. Date: 03/04/2004 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing. As an editor with a descriptivist bent, I expected to be annoyed by this book, but it was actually incredibly pragmatic. ISBN-10: 0071422684 ISBN-13: 9780071422680 Pub. Everything you ever wanted to know about writing as a professional in the English language. This is a fun read. (McGraw-Hill, 2004. In the word-nerd classic Lapsing Into a Comma, Bill Walsh of the Washington Post entertained, educated and enlightened writers, editors, students and language lovers with commonsense guidelines and opinionated commentary on American English in the computer age. I find it refreshing that someone is paying attention to details and is not afraid to express a strong opinion on small things. The elephants of style; a trunkload of tips on the big issues and gray areas of contemporary American English. Bill Walsh was born in Pottsville, Pa., and grew up in Madison Heights, Mich., and Mesa, Ariz. Walsh has a way of driving home a point without the material feeling like a textbook. We’d love your help. (That's "lawyer" and not "attorney," as Walsh points out on page 54.). It's informative and fun. Families are cohesive groups of females and their young. At a certain point I wondered who this book was for, and what was its point—a "real" writer (or I suppose a real editor), I thought, would just pick a styleguide (AP, Chicago, NYT(?)) A fun book for English language nerds and writers. An easy and interesting read, with some subtle, tongue-in-cheek humor tucked into corners. The data is or the data are?) © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. And, like Dr. O'Conner, the author does not fall into the traps of absolutely ridiculous rules that are perpetuated by so many writing teachers and so many textbooks. There was a problem loading your book clubs. His curmudgeon's style book could have been teasing and witty and amusing. I read a few pages every day. But I'm adding. However, I would recommend this book--to anyone over the age of eighteen who's looking for a humorous manual with a vulgar reference sprinkled here or there to keep you awake. It's a surprisingly easy read for a book about grammar, and I actually read the whole thing, cover to cover. In other words for those who get easily intimidated by the Chicago style manual, this is much more "user friendly." Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2016. Please try again. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He also offers a trunkload of good advice on the many little things that add up to good writing. I have several other good reference books, but they do not always address my questions, and they are not nearly as much fun to read. John Donne. Read an excerpt of this book! There's a problem loading this menu right now. Nothing fantastic, but probably worth reading if you're me or similar. It combines the vivid dreamlike atmosphere of Surrealism with the collage aspects of Dada I find it refreshing that someone is paying attention to details and is not afraid to express a strong opinion on small things. Goodreads Members Suggest: Favorite Winter Reads. Only a few of the author's rules were points I discounted completely, either for personal preference (e.g., nixing the Oxford comma) or disregard for the rules of standard English grammar (e.g., "they/them" in reference to a singular subject). I've always believed there's a right way and a wrong way to do practically anything. This was a required read for my nephew's English class, and I was able to borrow it and breeze through in one night. 0-07-142268-4. Inside, you'll find answers that will add polish and sparkle to your writing. I adore Bill Walsh's snarky sense of humor. I read this back when it came out eight or so years ago and some of the rules have stuck with me pretty strongly (e-mail versus email, parallel structure, a few others). ;) Here's an example: Strunk and White beware, Walsh has a sense of humor. I'm only giving this book three stars because the humor of the author kept me reading. Maybe this explains why I've chosen to become a lawyer. Dali made use of elephants on several occasions, with their inclusion in this painting best known for their elongated limbs. Save up to 80% by choosing the eTextbook option for ISBN: 9780071442756, 0071442758. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Sometimes they mean correctness in spelling, grammar, word usage and punctuation. Maybe a George Carlin effect, when the author states a grammar rule I adhere to he is reasonable, when he doesn't he is fussy. This is a must-own for professionals with "communications" or "writing" anywhere in their job descriptions. While I read widely in my own genera, sometimes I have to step out of my regular fare and read something else. A JBCStyle Insider made a visit to Thailand to see if the elephants really were painting by themselves. Elephants gained importance through various influential rulers in Europe. There are various cultural depictions of elephants, where they are often viewed as symbols of strength, dominance and power due to their bulk and weight. The Elephants of Style Responding To A Promotion? Sometimes they mean formatting for consistency and clarity. Did the editors fall into … I normally really look forward to each entertaining segment of these types of books, but this book is one I could have done without. Elephants are grayish to brown in color, and their body hair is sparse and coarse. For example, you will learn to avoid making everything generic or you If you write as part of an organization, you will have to deal with some kind of style book which describes how you should write, and Walsh's Elephants of Style book will help you understand some of the big issues you will have to deal with. Description. Nothing fantastic, but probably worth reading if you're me or similar. Hold everything! Unable to add item to List. Alexander The Great defeated King Porus of India, and the elephants captured thus came to be known as a symbol of imperial power. $14.95. September 4, 2009: 6:11 AM ET (Fortune Magazine) -- … Just finished reading this highly useful book for writers. I thought this might be similar to Patricia O'Conner's wonder Woe Is I which I use with my college writing students. And this is a fantastic book. The female elephants live in a family unit, also called a herd, of up to 25 elephants with a female elephant in the lead. I've always believed there's a right way, As you might guess from the terrible pun in the title, this was a fun one to read. I picked up "The Elephants of Style" because it was recommended in an article I was reading about editing. Elephants are the world's largest terrestrial animals, and male African elephants, the biggest species, grow up to be over nine feet tall, weighing anywhere from 9,000 to 16,500 pounds, National Geographic reports. I picked up "The Elephants of Style" because it was recommended in an article I was reading about editing. Kind of a dry read. He tells you where he is stating fact, opinion, and also his way of viewing things. Be the first to ask a question about The Elephants of Style. Tourists pay to spend the day (or days) there, preparing the elephants’ food, cutting fruits and veggies, cleaning the accommodations, and sometimes even playing with the elephants in the river. One space or two after a period?) But both of these notions are pretty much false. It is a great book. Amazon.fr: elephant decoration. Essentially, the book is meant to cover the gray areas of grammar, which Walsh calls the “elephants.” His goal is not to settle the ambiguity, but instead to “find a consensus on what doesn’t look stupid—at least for now” (xiv). --. Persnickety, cantankerous, opinionated, entertaining, hilarious, wise...these are a few of the adjectives reviewers used to describe good-writing maven Bill Walsh's previous book, Lapsing Into a Comma. I picked up The Elephants of Style by Bill Walsh because I liked the title, a silly little pun on The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., E.B. Finished this now to get it off my still reading list before the year's ends. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Addressing old-fashioned grammar advice, emerging changes in writing rules and avoiding (or not) writing cliches, Walsh delivers a useful and often entertaining book. How empathy between writers and editors can make writing better. Minus the occasional sacrilegious remark or profane comment, this book was pretty decent with regard to style. New York : McGraw-Hill. However, it would be a good place to start getting ideas for making your own style sheet, particularly if you are publishing independently and don't have a publishing house guide to follow. Advice on good writing from everybody's favorite editorial curmudgeon. The Elephants of Style / Edition 1 by Bill Walsh... Bill Walsh: The Elephants of Style Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Most of the famous quotes about consistency firmly dismiss the concept. Additionally, the author seems pretty biased toward more l. I'm only giving this book three stars because the humor of the author kept me reading. Bill Walsh is a professional editor at the Washington Post who has a monthly online chat where he regularly refers to his books. Worth the time, I'd say. But it is not. A Promo Code is an alpha-numeric code that is attached to select promotions or advertisements that you may receive because you are a McGraw-Hill Professional customer or e-mail alert subscriber. Please try again. The author, Bill Walsh, is copy chief for national news at the Washington Post; in this book, he explores some of the choices that a copy editor must make (including, for instance, whether to call himself a "copy editor" or a "copyeditor" (p. 185). c2004. He is a 1984 journalism graduate of the University of Arizona and has worked as a reporter and editor at the Phoenix Gazette and an editor at the Washington Times and the Washington Post. Additionally, the author seems pretty biased toward more liberal ideology. Knowing that I'm doing freelance editing work, a good friend gave me Bill Walsh's The Elephants of Style : A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English as a Christmas gift. 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