What's your "Writer's Bible"?
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:40 pm
I only think I'm perfect where grammar, spelling, punctuation, et cetera are concerned. In reality, though, I have problems. I still can't remember how to spell "niece," for example. I've only written it about, oh, eighteen zillion times in my life, but the spell check gives my version the red-line treatment every time.
But, hey, every writer has at least one problem.
So: what's your "Writer's Bible"? What reference book (or books) do you use the most often? If you were asked to recommend something to a new(er) writer, what would you suggest?
Here's my list.
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition). It's big and bulky, just like a dictionary should be. Yeah, yeah. I can accomplish the same thing at dictionary.com, but I like having the actual book on hand. (Besides: when my Internet's down, I have to go with the book!)
Strunk & White's The Elements of Style (3rd edition). Yes, the 3rd edition is old and all, but it's my favorite. I dare say that, despite being a very small book, this is the best grammar reference guide out there.
Robert Hartwell Fiske's Dictionary Of Disagreeable English: A Curmudgeon's Compendium of Excruciatingly Correct Grammar. Slightly sarcastic but extremely helpful.
But, hey, every writer has at least one problem.
So: what's your "Writer's Bible"? What reference book (or books) do you use the most often? If you were asked to recommend something to a new(er) writer, what would you suggest?
Here's my list.
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition). It's big and bulky, just like a dictionary should be. Yeah, yeah. I can accomplish the same thing at dictionary.com, but I like having the actual book on hand. (Besides: when my Internet's down, I have to go with the book!)
Strunk & White's The Elements of Style (3rd edition). Yes, the 3rd edition is old and all, but it's my favorite. I dare say that, despite being a very small book, this is the best grammar reference guide out there.
Robert Hartwell Fiske's Dictionary Of Disagreeable English: A Curmudgeon's Compendium of Excruciatingly Correct Grammar. Slightly sarcastic but extremely helpful.