The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers

Like a good dictionary, a good handbook for writers of term papers, research articles, bibliographies, etc. will serve one well for a lifetime. This particular edition (a required purchase for a course in college) provided me with critical information on using the now ubiquitous MLA and APA parenthetical citation styles. My undergraduate days are behind me, but I employ this book today in the workplace. While there are now a number of excellent online sources for style citations, information literacy (especially how to avoid accidental plagiarism and suggestions for intelligent research strategies on and off the campus), and there is plenty of help embedded in (for example) Microsoft products for spelling and grammar checking, a well organized handbook on the desk is still an important tool for well written letters, notes and memos around the office.

The Longman Publishing Co. has been in the publishing business for many years. And it is a well respected company. My understanding is that it has roots in the UK and then migrated across the pond to the US. There approach to the subject of writing, grammar, et cetera, adds a fresh look to writing.

Incredibly easy to use! Plainly explains concepts I was never taught in High School. I appreciated its emphasis on different types of speech and writing, from the most familiar to the most formal.

I bought this book for an English class last winter. Now, I'm a music major and I have tons of music books, but I must say that this is the most useful book I have ever bought. Everything is explained in a concise and direct manner, and is easy to find. Whenever I'm in doubt of how to use a punctuation mark, or how to phrase something correctly I always come to this book. Whenever I have to write a paper, this book is right next to me. I love that its relatively small, too. Great book. Highly recomended.

I absolutely loved this book. Although I am not a writer, I know I will defineatly use this book when I am writing technical papers. This book is so nifty. It has examples and an easy table of contents. It's like a bible for writing. :)