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Writing with Style: The Economist Guide
A brand-new edition of this classic guide on how to write with style—fromThe Economist'slanguagecolumnist, Lane Greene.
This new edition ofWriting with Styleoffers fresh, up-to-date insight into the principles and tools we can all deploy when it comes to expressing ourselves better when we write. The book's leaner, cleaner structure ranges widely—from grammar and punctuation to using numbers and how to edit.EconomistlanguagecolumnistLane Greene also tackles some of the key linguistic issues we face today, like balancing plain speech with sensitivity, and knowing when to use jargon.
The result is a clear guide to making the most of the written conversational but authoritative; accessible yet comprehensive—withits ideas always presented with clarity and style.
This new edition ofWriting with Styleoffers fresh, up-to-date insight into the principles and tools we can all deploy when it comes to expressing ourselves better when we write. The book's leaner, cleaner structure ranges widely—from grammar and punctuation to using numbers and how to edit.EconomistlanguagecolumnistLane Greene also tackles some of the key linguistic issues we face today, like balancing plain speech with sensitivity, and knowing when to use jargon.
The result is a clear guide to making the most of the written conversational but authoritative; accessible yet comprehensive—withits ideas always presented with clarity and style.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2023
83 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 14, 2023
Lane Greene gives clear, concise and practical advice on how to write well. Plenty of good tips on style are also provided. While many sections of the book are clearly intended as a reference, I nonetheless read it cover to cover � and thoroughly enjoyed it.
In particular I appreciated how the author’s advice is informed by the history of the English language. Mr Greene’s background in linguistics shows (and that’s a good thing).
You don’t need to be a writer or journalist to benefit from this book. If writing is a part of your daily life � as it is for anyone who is obliged to write emails � you’ll benefit from this book.
In particular I appreciated how the author’s advice is informed by the history of the English language. Mr Greene’s background in linguistics shows (and that’s a good thing).
You don’t need to be a writer or journalist to benefit from this book. If writing is a part of your daily life � as it is for anyone who is obliged to write emails � you’ll benefit from this book.
August 28, 2023
In a world where we often joke that Americans can barely manage their own language, Lane Greene stands as a beacon of multilingualism. This American journalist and language columnist for The Economist is a delightful exception in a country often painted with a monolingual brush. Based out of Madrid as a correspondent, Lane nimbly navigates between English and a rainbow of other languages: Arabic, Danish, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. With his impressive linguistic repertoire, he seems to playfully wink at the stereotype, saying, "Hold my IPA, I've got some linguistic acrobatics to perform!"
Greene's most recent book, "Writing with Style", is not the first time he's shared his linguistic prowess with the world. He's been painting the publishing landscape with his vibrant insights for years, penning both "You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity" in 2011 and "Talk on the Wild Side: Why Language Can't Be Tamed" in 2018. With each endeavor, Greene reinforces his standing as a linguistic tour de force.
"Writing with Style" is the latest incarnation of The Economist's Style Guide, an entity whose roots go back nearly two centuries. Greene, with his international perspective and clear love of language, was tasked with refreshing the publication's stylistic bible, bringing it up to speed with the linguistic landscape of the 2020s. The previous edition of The Style Guide has been around since the 1980s, and it went through 12 editions in its previous form.
The book is a succinct yet comprehensive distillation of The Economist's long-standing philosophy of language, best summarized by the wisdom of Winston Churchill: "Short words are best and old words when short are best of all." Through a delightful mix of guidelines and anecdotes. Greene proves himself an able guide, steering readers towards linguistic clarity, honesty, and readability.
Let me paint a picture for you - it's a sunny morning in Tuscany and we're sat down to breakfast at an ELIA Conference. Across from me is the man himself, Lane Greene, his curiosity and fascination for language apparent even as we munch on our croissants and sip our espressos. Now, as conversations tend to do, ours sways and meanders until we're discussing the necessity of redundancy in business. I share with him a little nugget from my mother tongue, a Portuguese saying, "quem tem um, não tem nenhum,� to illustrate my point.
Well, would you believe it? The very next day, Lane is tweeting to a friend about this phrase, his excitement palpable as he unveils that he has discovered an expression that contains seven nasal sounds. I mean, who else could take a relaxed chat over breakfast pastries and turn it into an unexpected deep dive into the rich tapestry of phonetics? It's just one of those moments that really underscore Greene's delightful curiosity and his ability to find linguistic wonders in the most unexpected situations.
The book isn't just a repository of grammatical rules, but a journey through the etymological evolution, quirks, and traps of the English language. Aspiring and seasoned writers alike will find their own writing enriched through lessons ranging from the often confusing layers of English vocabulary to the efficient use of punctuation.
But "Writing with Style" isn't just a guide for writers; it's an indispensable tool for any individual seeking to refine their communication skills. For years, I've been a fan of style guides, treating them as my personal writing coaches. This latest guide from The Economist is no exception.
Lighthearted, insightful, and sometimes downright funny, Greene presents a style guide that is as enjoyable to read as it is instructional. He addresses 'confusables and cuttables', discusses words that irk editors, and teaches us nuances between the British and American meaning of certain words, proving that even the most seasoned of us can benefit from a little linguistic assistance.
In conclusion, "Writing with Style" is a valuable companion for anyone who handles language, which, when you think about it, is all of us. Its approachable style, comprehensive coverage, and witty commentary make it a must-have on every desk, whether you're penning your next novel, translating a document, or simply drafting an email. In the end, you don't have to be a polyglot to appreciate the beauty of language, but under Greene's guidance, you might just start sounding like one.
"Writing with Style� is published by Economist Books and is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle editions.
Greene's most recent book, "Writing with Style", is not the first time he's shared his linguistic prowess with the world. He's been painting the publishing landscape with his vibrant insights for years, penning both "You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity" in 2011 and "Talk on the Wild Side: Why Language Can't Be Tamed" in 2018. With each endeavor, Greene reinforces his standing as a linguistic tour de force.
"Writing with Style" is the latest incarnation of The Economist's Style Guide, an entity whose roots go back nearly two centuries. Greene, with his international perspective and clear love of language, was tasked with refreshing the publication's stylistic bible, bringing it up to speed with the linguistic landscape of the 2020s. The previous edition of The Style Guide has been around since the 1980s, and it went through 12 editions in its previous form.
The book is a succinct yet comprehensive distillation of The Economist's long-standing philosophy of language, best summarized by the wisdom of Winston Churchill: "Short words are best and old words when short are best of all." Through a delightful mix of guidelines and anecdotes. Greene proves himself an able guide, steering readers towards linguistic clarity, honesty, and readability.
Let me paint a picture for you - it's a sunny morning in Tuscany and we're sat down to breakfast at an ELIA Conference. Across from me is the man himself, Lane Greene, his curiosity and fascination for language apparent even as we munch on our croissants and sip our espressos. Now, as conversations tend to do, ours sways and meanders until we're discussing the necessity of redundancy in business. I share with him a little nugget from my mother tongue, a Portuguese saying, "quem tem um, não tem nenhum,� to illustrate my point.
Well, would you believe it? The very next day, Lane is tweeting to a friend about this phrase, his excitement palpable as he unveils that he has discovered an expression that contains seven nasal sounds. I mean, who else could take a relaxed chat over breakfast pastries and turn it into an unexpected deep dive into the rich tapestry of phonetics? It's just one of those moments that really underscore Greene's delightful curiosity and his ability to find linguistic wonders in the most unexpected situations.
The book isn't just a repository of grammatical rules, but a journey through the etymological evolution, quirks, and traps of the English language. Aspiring and seasoned writers alike will find their own writing enriched through lessons ranging from the often confusing layers of English vocabulary to the efficient use of punctuation.
But "Writing with Style" isn't just a guide for writers; it's an indispensable tool for any individual seeking to refine their communication skills. For years, I've been a fan of style guides, treating them as my personal writing coaches. This latest guide from The Economist is no exception.
Lighthearted, insightful, and sometimes downright funny, Greene presents a style guide that is as enjoyable to read as it is instructional. He addresses 'confusables and cuttables', discusses words that irk editors, and teaches us nuances between the British and American meaning of certain words, proving that even the most seasoned of us can benefit from a little linguistic assistance.
In conclusion, "Writing with Style" is a valuable companion for anyone who handles language, which, when you think about it, is all of us. Its approachable style, comprehensive coverage, and witty commentary make it a must-have on every desk, whether you're penning your next novel, translating a document, or simply drafting an email. In the end, you don't have to be a polyglot to appreciate the beauty of language, but under Greene's guidance, you might just start sounding like one.
"Writing with Style� is published by Economist Books and is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle editions.
April 26, 2024
Wow! I'm so blown away by this edition of the Economist Style Guide. Originally, I picked this book up at Skylight Books in Los Feliz on a whim, simply because I was doing more writing for my own projects lately and decided it couldn't hurt. I had no idea it would change my whole relationship with language itself. Analyzing English words from their historic roots and using this to shape your choice of words was a new concept for me, but one that I found endlessly fascinating. I learned so much about history and etymology from this book on top of writing style.
I even read through the whole reference sections and found them to be full of little easter eggs. Like the difference between lama and llama--"Lama: priest. Llama: beast." or "Do not DEAL drugs, horses, weapons, etc; DEAL IN them." Thank you Mr. Greene I will now deal in weapons. Anyway, you can just tell that he had fun writing this, and that a ton of love and care and effort went into it.
There were a couple British-centric rules that I found a little silly as an American but I guess I'll give 'em a pass.
I'll probably have to reread this one a few times to really absorb all the lessons. I've already recommended it to a couple friends who write a lot. Amazing book.
I even read through the whole reference sections and found them to be full of little easter eggs. Like the difference between lama and llama--"Lama: priest. Llama: beast." or "Do not DEAL drugs, horses, weapons, etc; DEAL IN them." Thank you Mr. Greene I will now deal in weapons. Anyway, you can just tell that he had fun writing this, and that a ton of love and care and effort went into it.
There were a couple British-centric rules that I found a little silly as an American but I guess I'll give 'em a pass.
I'll probably have to reread this one a few times to really absorb all the lessons. I've already recommended it to a couple friends who write a lot. Amazing book.
November 29, 2024
The proper way of word art
The Economist is a global publication. They must retire for the masses with regional terms and distinctions in mind even though they are based in Great Britain. An excellent reference for writing style.
The Economist is a global publication. They must retire for the masses with regional terms and distinctions in mind even though they are based in Great Britain. An excellent reference for writing style.
August 15, 2023
Use old and short words. Keep sentences short. Write as if you are speaking to a friend. Excellent book.
July 16, 2024
I could read style guides for a living. I just enjoy them so much. This one is among the best I've read. Full of insights and good material. Recommended.
August 9, 2024
An infuriating, invaluable, and incomplete writing guide for writers who write (or want to write) for The Economist. In other words, every writer should read, own, and reread this book.
October 9, 2023
Books on writing well usually are, as they should be, well written. Which is why I enjoy them, and why I enjoyed Lane Greene’s Writing with Style: The Economist Style Guide. There isn’t much of anything at the macro level to consider—no narrative, no character arc, nary an anecdote—but it is sheer joy to read about well constructed sentences in well constructed sentences. And even though you will not uncover the meaning of life here, there are plenty of philosophical points to ponder. If you accept, as I do, that communication is culture, then any guide on the written word is also a peek into the author’s thoughts on more than a few cultural topics.
Greene is not always as strong as he could be on such issues. His book is by its nature more prescriptive than descriptive, which I embrace; clarity and consistency breed comprehension, not to mention are nice on the senses. But rules are best when they have a purpose, and too often Greene does not explain that purpose. When he dismisses the serial comma, effectively “just because,� I downgraded this book to three stars.*
But where Greene explains himself, he shines. I instinctively bristle at any preference for one culture over another—in Greene’s case, Germanic words over French ones. But Greene’s argument is reasonable, and it is not motivated by ethnic animus: English is a Germanic language, and French-derived words tend to be longer and less accessible to an English reader than German-derived words. I’m not entirely convinced, but he gives me pause, and I respect that.+ His best moment is his chapter on respect and clarity. I’ve heard other linguists describe the same phenomenon, but not as well as Lane does:
Before you panic, let me say that Lane is not advocating we return to calling people bums. His subsequent discussion demonstrates that you cannot write with respect, an attitude expressed through socially defined conventions, by flouting social convention. But he is calling out the source of the trouble, which is the prejudice of society more than it is the hapless individual who missed the latest attempt at “linguistic reshuffling.� He is also telling us to be weary of mere fads and not afraid to call something what it is.
All in all, while not the best book of its kind, I read it with great pleasure.
* For some reason—perhaps because I have never seen any defense of it beyond “convention”—I am particularly sensitive to this topic. If you want to get on my linguistic bad side, then avoid using the serial comma, and refuse to give me a reason.
+ It is also difficult to argue with results; The Economist is an exceptionally written periodical, even if I did not know and do not particularly like (now that I do know) that it purposefully avoids the words brought over by our Norman ancestors.
Greene is not always as strong as he could be on such issues. His book is by its nature more prescriptive than descriptive, which I embrace; clarity and consistency breed comprehension, not to mention are nice on the senses. But rules are best when they have a purpose, and too often Greene does not explain that purpose. When he dismisses the serial comma, effectively “just because,� I downgraded this book to three stars.*
But where Greene explains himself, he shines. I instinctively bristle at any preference for one culture over another—in Greene’s case, Germanic words over French ones. But Greene’s argument is reasonable, and it is not motivated by ethnic animus: English is a Germanic language, and French-derived words tend to be longer and less accessible to an English reader than German-derived words. I’m not entirely convinced, but he gives me pause, and I respect that.+ His best moment is his chapter on respect and clarity. I’ve heard other linguists describe the same phenomenon, but not as well as Lane does:
There are simple ways to show respect for the people you are writing about . . . . Foremost is to write with thoughtfulness. . . . [P]eriodic efforts arise to talk about enslaved people and people experiencing homelessness rather than slaves or homeless people. These linguistic pushes are meant to make readers reconsider the people being described and highlight their plight. But before long, the stigma attached to the old term attaches to the new one (homeless people were once called tramps, vagrants, beggars or bums). If the world around them doesn’t change, the stigma around vagrant soon attaches to homeless person until it too is pejorative. Renaming the group involved does little. Good writing about their lives, using ordinary language, does more to help than linguistic reshuffling does.
Before you panic, let me say that Lane is not advocating we return to calling people bums. His subsequent discussion demonstrates that you cannot write with respect, an attitude expressed through socially defined conventions, by flouting social convention. But he is calling out the source of the trouble, which is the prejudice of society more than it is the hapless individual who missed the latest attempt at “linguistic reshuffling.� He is also telling us to be weary of mere fads and not afraid to call something what it is.
All in all, while not the best book of its kind, I read it with great pleasure.
* For some reason—perhaps because I have never seen any defense of it beyond “convention”—I am particularly sensitive to this topic. If you want to get on my linguistic bad side, then avoid using the serial comma, and refuse to give me a reason.
+ It is also difficult to argue with results; The Economist is an exceptionally written periodical, even if I did not know and do not particularly like (now that I do know) that it purposefully avoids the words brought over by our Norman ancestors.
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