How to Write and Speak Effective English

"How to Write and Speak Effective English" does not carry the same cachet as "The Elements of Style" or weigh of say "Hodges' Harbrace College Handbook." In some ways, though, it's a useful precursor to some of the more recent books on English usage such as Joseph Williams' excellent "Style" or the rather staid "Elements of Grammar."The layout and design of this book work against it: small type, tight margins, and unimaginative design. But you might want a copy for your reference shelf if you are starting to gain experience as a writer, if you instruct others about writing, or if you wish to challenge yourself to improve your prose. The author, Edward F. Allen, referring to Abraham Lincoln, contends that "If an unschooled railsplitter could learn to write effective English, you can." Mr. Allen takes the reader through a number of exercises intended to sharpen one's skills and expand one's knowledge of English. In essence, this book is a six-part course in the art of writing, common errors, pitfalls in usage, spelling, pronunciation, and punctuation and capitalization. It's all very "old school" and precise---as one would expect from a primer first copyrighted in 1938. Clearly, a number of causes for which Mr. Allen waves the battle have been lost for years, but many have not, and his historical perspective offers value for those who feel that writing and speaking proper English is a skill worth developing.