Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors

March 15, 2008
The publisher information indicates that this dictionary for writers and editors is a companion volume to "Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words" (Broadway, 2004). In his preface, though, best-selling creative nonfiction author Bryson ("A Walk in the Woods") refers to his book as an updated and new edition, implying that he has dropped the "troublesome" and gotten down to business. However you bill it, it features enough new, relevant material and allows for quick checks on a wide variety of matters: dates for political figures' terms in office, when to use "lie" and "lay", how to make first and subsequent references for tricky names and titles, when to capitalize "stilton", etc. A concise appendix puts forth lucid punctuation guidelines, and also included are lists of commonly misspelled words, temperature-conversion tables, and units of currency. While some British guidelines and spellings are noted, this is a primarily Americanized guide. BOTTOM LINE Readers can find similar information online, but Bryson's is a complete and idiosyncratic style guide for writers, journalists, and students. What sets it apart from something like an AP handbook is Bryson himself, who can give even a straightforward reference work some personality; this is a style guide "with" style. It will be a well-thumbed reference on any writer's desk and an indispensable volume on any library shelf. [Ebk. ISBN 978-0-7679-2911-0. $17.95.]Audrey Snowden, Cleveland P.L.

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