As a long-time devotee of Oxford publications, I carry a small reference book with me whenever I travel. The book "The Oxford Essential Writer's Reference" is neatly placed in a handbag or a medium wallet. With such a small size, the book's help to the writer is enormous.
The words in the preface "a useful way to think about this book is like a Swiss army knife in the literary world" is very real, because there are so many neatly arranged in this 368-page paperback book. A quick look at the chapter headings is enough to prove the usefulness of this book.
This book has nineteen chapters:
1 grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage guide
2. The most commonly used list of foreign words and phrases
3. 100 tricky usage problems and trap interpretation
4. 100 rare quintessions and their meanings
5. 125 Synonym Research
6. The proofreader's mark and its meaning
7. Common citation styles
8. List of clichés to avoid
9. Common rhetorical techniques, poetry tables and list of forms
10. A quick guide to Shakespeare's plays
11. Timetable for great works of English literature
12. Biblical quotes, characters and books in the Bible
13. Main mythical characters
14. Large print resource list
15. List of writers' advocacy organizations
16. How to work copyright
17. Common sense guide for manuscript formats
18. A large website for writers
19. Address form of letter writing
A few introductory paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter or one or two pages can read some delightful content yourself.
I find that every part of the book is indispensable, but synonym research is very useful for novice writers who may not be able to grasp the nuances of certain meanings. For example, on page 173, the difference between "acquisition, acquisition, acquisition, acquisition, acquisition, acquisition, security" is succinctly explained.
In the "Shakespeare Quick Guide" after Shakespeare's two-page introduction, the title, date and theme of each play, as well as one or two famous citations and a series of characters are given. This is not an in-depth study of Shakespeare, but it is a quick reference and one can see when heavier books cannot be reached.
Biblical citations are given in the form of books, chapters, and poems, and after several paragraphs point out the importance of the Bible as the reference material for the most famous writers.
Published by Berkeley, ISBN: 0425206890, "The Oxford Essential Writer's Reference" is also easy to get on the wallet. After the listing, it will be sold at the bookstore for $6.99. It can be purchased online for about $4.
Whether it is a student, a novice or an experienced writer, or a person interested in language and art, the Oxford Basic Writer Reference is a valuable book.
Orignal From: Oxford Basic Writer Reference Book (Book Review)
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