The aim of writing, he said, should be to affect your readers in its probably fair to say that we now spend more time writing than ever before, in emails, text messages, powerpoint presentations. The complete plain words is one of some halfdozen books on my shelves which i dip into in the vain hope of improving my prose style. The complete plain words followed in 1954 and has never been out of print. To celebrate its 60th birthday, the authors greatgranddaughter, rebecca gowers, has revised and updated the book. Unlike the three earlier revisers, rebecca gowers generally. This guide reflects numerous changes that took place in english usage. This new edition has seen gowers greatgranddaughter rebecca gowers take. Six decades on, writer rebecca gowers has created a new edition of this nowclassic work that both revises and celebrates her greatgrandfathers original.
But in their rush to condemn such terms, are the naysayers missing something. Be short, be simple, be human rebecca gowers talks. New edition of the complete plain words will delight fans of nofrills. Mar 27, 2014 six decades on, writer rebecca gowers has created a new edition of this nowclassic work that both revises and celebrates her greatgrandfathers original. Sir ernest arthur gowers gcb gbe 2 june 1880 16 april 1966 is best remembered for his book plain words, first published in 1948, and for his revision of fowlers modern english usage. When sir ernest gowers first wrote plain words, it was intended simply as a guide to the proper use of english for the civil service. Rebecca gowers ernest gowers be short, be simple, be human. Vastly informative and indispensable bill bryson the great sir ernest gowers. Be short, be simple, be human rebecca gowers talks plain. In this provocative and hugely entertaining book, rebecca gowers throws light on a great array of horrible words, and shows how the diktats of the pedants are repeatedly based on misinformation, false. His final fulltime appointment was as senior regional commissioner for civil defence, london.
Six decades on, writer rebecca gowers has created a new edition of this nowclassic work that both. Rebecca gowers was born in the west country and brought up, south of the river, in london. Plain words ebook by rebecca gowers 9780241960356 rakuten. When sir ernest gowers first wrote plain words, it was intended simply. Read plain words by rebecca gowers available from rakuten kobo. But the later revisions look increasingly unsympathetic, so in 2014 rebecca gowers, the authors greatgranddaughter, agreed to update the book working directly from the 1954 edition. She has revised her greatgrandfather ernest gowers guide to english usage plain words for a new edition for particular books. Mar 26, 2015 buy plain words by gowers, rebecca, gowers, ernest isbn. Though plain words first appeared in 1948, it has since been revised and updated a number of times.
To celebrate its 60th birthday, the authors greatgranddaughter, rebecca gowers, has revised and updated the book for a new generation. She is also the most recent editor of plain words, the classic guide to the use of english by her greatgrandfather sir ernest gowers. The complete plain words, titled simply plain words in its 2014 revision, is a style guide written by sir ernest gowers, published in 1954. The complete plain words is one of some halfdozen books on my shelves which i dip. Sir ernest gowers 18801966 was a leading civil servant who ran the civil defense of london during world war ii and is best remembered for plain words, and for being the first editor of h. Writing horrible words english today cambridge core. We need to talk about indeterminate masculine pronouns. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading plain words. To purists these are howlers and nonwords, fit only for scorn. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read plain words. Plain words by rebecca gowers, ernest gowers waterstones.
The complete plain words, revised by others in 1973 and 1986, has never yet gone out of print. Plain words, rebecca gowers ernest gowers shop online for. A guide to the misuse of english, by rebecca gowers, particular books, rrp. Plain words by rebecca gowers overdrive rakuten overdrive. The aim of the book is to help officials in their use of english as a. Rebecca gowers is the author of the swamp of death, shortlisted for the cwa nonfiction golden dagger award, and of two novels, when to walk and the. Plain words, a guide to the use of english by rebecca gowers. Plain words has been updated to reflect numerous changes in english usage, yet sir ernests distinctive, witty voice is undimmed. Prices including delivery for complete plain words the by rebecca gowers, ernest gowers. This book draws on an extensive private archive, previously hidden away in family cupboards and attics, to tell the story behind a book that has become an. About the authors sir ernest gowers was born in 1880, and became a leading civil servant. The complete plain words project gutenberg selfpublishing.
May 27, 2015 sir ernest gowers was born in 1880, and became a leading civil servant. Gowers was a civil servant and it is to fellow civil servants that his book is primarily addressed. Plain words, a guide to the use of english by rebecca. Apr 29, 2014 sir ernest gowers was born in 1880, and became a leading civil servant. Plain words by rebecca gowers, 9780241960349, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The last direct link between plain words and the public service was. Writing horrible words volume 34 special issue rebecca gowers. Her first book, the swamp of death, was shortlisted in 2004 for a cwa nonfiction golden dagger award. Fowlers classic dictionary of modern english usage. Before making his name as an author he had a long career in the british civil service, which he entered in 1903. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. His enemy is officialise and, to a lesser extent, commercialese. Mar 25, 2014 when i set about revising plain words, the guide to english usage by my greatgrandfather, ernest gowers, i soon realised that applying the book s own principles to the job would require me to. Mar 27, 2014 the complete plain words followed in 1954 and has never been out of print.
It comprises expanded and revised versions of two pamphlets that he wrote at the request of hm treasury, plain words 1948 and abc of plain words 1951. To celebrate its 60th birthday, the authors greatgranddaughter, rebecca gowers, has revised and updated the book for a. Plain words by rebecca gowers penguin books australia. A guide to the use of english by rebecca gowers ernest gowersbuy. When i set about revising plain words, the guide to english usage by my greatgrandfather, ernest gowers, i soon realised that applying the book s own principles to the job would require me to.
Plain words kindle edition by gowers, rebecca, gowers. It comprises expanded and revised versions of two pamphlets that he wrote at the request of hm treasury, plain words 1948 and abc of plain words 195. When sir ernest gowers first wrote plain words, it was intended simply as a guide to the proper use of english. Plain words by rebecca gowers, ernest gowers books on. Plain words by rebecca gowers, 9780141975535, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
New edition of the complete plain words will delight fans. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 27, 2014 plain words by rebecca gowers, 9780141975535, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. When to walk is her first novel and was longlisted for the orange broadband prize for fiction 2007. Plain words ebook written by rebecca gowers, ernest gowers. Horrible words by rebecca gowers overdrive rakuten. Mar 26, 2014 i am afraid, however, that this is an idle dream and the districts auditors will still be trying to find out if the circulars meant what they said, or said what they meant, in 1953. Six decades on, writer rebecca gowers has created a new edition of this nowclassic work that both revises. He ran the civil defence of london during the second world war, chaired the royal commission into capital punishment whose 1953 report contributed significantly to ending the death penalty in britain, wrote the bestseller, plain words, and later became the first editor of h. New edition of the complete plain words will delight fans of.
Prices for complete plain words the by rebecca gowers. May 27, 2015 six decades on, writer rebecca gowers has created a new edition of this nowclassic work that both revises and celebrates her greatgrandfathers original. Buy plain words by gowers, rebecca, gowers, ernest isbn. Plain words, rebecca gowers ernest gowers shop online.
Six decades on, writer rebecca gowers has created a new edition of. Mar 26, 2014 plain words, by sir ernest gowers, revised and updated by rebecca gowers penguin, rrp. Sir ernest gowers book, the complete plain words, remains a superb guide to clear communication nearly 60 years after it was first published. Be short, be simple, be human rebecca gowers talks plain words. Within a year, however, its humour, charm and authority had made it a bestseller. He ran the civil defence of london during the second world war, chaired the royal commission into capital punishment, wrote the bestseller, plain words, and became the first editor of h. Plain words kindle edition by gowers, rebecca, gowers, ernest. When sir ernest gowers first wrote plain words, it was intended simply as a.