Sir Ernest Gowers Books

This edition of H.W. Fowler's "Modern English Usage" is taken from the 1926 publication and provides a guide to the expression with clarity and precision of both the spoken and written word.

'Be short, be simple, be human.' When Sir Ernest Gowers first wrote Plain Words, it was intended simply as a guide to the proper use of English for the Civil Service. Within a year, however, its humour, charm and authority had made it a bestseller. Since then it has never been out of print. Six decades on, writer Rebecca Gowers has created a new edition of this now-classic work that both revises and celebrates her great-grandfather's original. Plain Words has been updated to reflect numerous changes in English usage, yet Sir Ernest's distinctive, witty voice is undimmed. And his message remains vital: our writing should be as clear and comprehensible as possible, avoiding superfluous words and clichés - from the jargon of 'commercialese' to the murky euphemisms of politicians. In a new preface, this edition draws on an extensive private archive, previously hidden away in family cupboards and attics, to tell the story behind a book that has become an institution: the essential guide to making yourself understood.

Current usage of vocabulary and style is explained clearly and sections included cover: jargon, cliches, spelling and punctuation; ground rules of grammar; superfluous words, overuse or misuse; sexist language, the influence of science and technology, American English and exemplary clarity.

Current usage of vocabulary and style is explained clearly and sections included cover: jargon, cliches, spelling and punctuation; ground rules of grammar; superfluous words, overuse or misuse; sexist language, the influence of science and technology, American English and exemplary clarity.