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Harry Evans has edited everything from the urgent files of battlefield reporters to the complex thought processes of Henry Kissinger, and he has been knighted for his services to journalism. In Do I Make Myself Clear?,his definitive guide to writing well, Evans brings his indispensable insight to the art of clear communication.
The right words are oxygen to our ideas, but the digital era, with all of its TTYL, LMK and WTF, has been cutting off that oxygen flow. The compulsion to be precise has vanished from our culture, and in writing of all kinds we see a trend towards more – more speed and more information, but far less clarity. Evans provides practical examples of how editing and rewriting can make for better communication, even in the digital age.
DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR? is an essential text, and one that will provide every reader an editor at their shoulder.
The right words are oxygen to our ideas, but the digital era, with all of its TTYL, LMK and WTF, has been cutting off that oxygen flow. The compulsion to be precise has vanished from our culture, and in writing of all kinds we see a trend towards more – more speed and more information, but far less clarity. Evans provides practical examples of how editing and rewriting can make for better communication, even in the digital age.
DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR? is an essential text, and one that will provide every reader an editor at their shoulder.
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Reviews
Full of enthusiasm for words and sound advice
A masterclass in succinct writing . . . As a master editor and distinguished author, Evans is well qualified to instruct us on how to write well. But can he delight us in the process? After reading this book, I can affirm that the answer is yes
Evans has a lifetime's experience of the power of words to enlighten, inspire or harm. [A] trenchant and entertaining guide to clear expression
It is refreshing to read Do I Make Myself Clear?, which is both a master class on English usage and a call for clarity of expression
The book is more than simply a guide to clear writing. It is a powerful argument for the importance of language, and a signal warning of the consequences of its abuse
In the tradition of George Orwell, who said that political language is designed to make lies sound truthful, Harry Evans reminds us how important it is to write clearly. Then he shows how. Those of us who have been edited by Harry marvel at his dexterity in unclogging dense prose, and in this book he reveals his secrets