The Elements of Expression

This is the second, much–updated edition of this funny and useful book. There are many grammar and usage books that give advice on correct English. This isn't one of them.The Elements of Expressiontargets expressiveness as a goal apart from getting it technically right. Imagine the yawns a sportscaster would induce by announcing, "His bat struck the ball and the ball went into the stands," instead of "He took that ball downtown!" And why say, "I'd prefer it if you didn't volunteer your opinions," if what you really mean is "When I want your advice, I'll beat it out of you" (Chuck Norris,Code of Silence)? Written with uncommon wit and humor,The Elements of Expressionoffers writers, speakers, and self–improvers a fresh look at how they express (or fail to express) their thoughts and feelings. Plotnik supplies many engaging examples of adventurous language to show the tremendous power of words to describe and enliven human experience. Want merely to write correctly? Turn to those shelf–loads of "proper" books. For people who care about language and want to write or speak forcefully, effectively—in a word, expressively—this is the book to crack open.