Current usage of vocabulary and style is explained clearly and. Mar 27, 2014 the complete plain words followed in 1954 and has never been out of print. Both these, as i explained in the prefaces to them, were written at the invitation of the treasury as a contribution to what they were doing to improve official english. The complete plain words sir ernest gowers, sidney greenbaum, janet whitcut download bok. New edition of the complete plain words will delight fans of nofrills. File type pdf complete plain words 3rd edition ernest a gowers servant and it is to fellow civil servants that his book is primarily addressed. Gowers was a civil servant and it is to fellow civil servants that his book is primarily addressed. Buy the complete plain words 3rd rev ed by sir ernest gowers, sidney greenbaum, janet whitcut isbn. 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. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
When in cambridge, we always visit the amnesty bookshop in mill road, a treasure house of secondhand books. Whether you are working on paper or on a computer, this invaluable reference work will lead you through the intricacies, problems and pleasures of the english language with wit, common sense and authority. Gowers, ernest sir, greenbaum, sidney, whitcut, janet. His final fulltime appointment was as senior regional commissioner for civil defence. Sir ernest gowers book, the complete plain words, remains a superb guide to clear communication nearly 60 years after it was first published. 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. Mar 26, 2015 buy plain words by gowers, rebecca, gowers, ernest isbn. This was revised in 1973 by sir bruce fraser, and then in 1986 by sidney greenbaum and janet whitcut. 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 elements from the complete plain words by sir gowers page 5 of 6 per to its own language e.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The book was based on two slimmer books that he wrote at the invitation of the british treasury, plain words 1948 and the abc of plain words 1951, which gave advice to civil servants on the writing of. The complete plain words project gutenberg selfpublishing. Gowerss second ambition in the book was to rid english writing of barnacular style a term deriving from the tite barnacle family, who run the. The complete plain words 9780117003408 by gowers, ernest and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The complete plain words download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. Mar 02, 2004 the complete plain words is an excellent resource for people who write as part of their occupation. The complete plain words, titled simply plain words in its 2014 revision, is a style guide written by sir ernest gowers, published in 1954. New edition of the complete plain words will delight fans. 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. Gowers plain words is a fascinating book, full of good although sometimes dated advice, and a great pleasure to dip into both for its sensible, and never pedantic, advice, and for the glimpses it gives of another time and another language. Before making his name as an author he had a long career in the british civil service, which he entered in 1903. 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. The complete plain words sir ernest gowers, sidney.
It has been well revised and updated by his granddaughter, rebecca gowers. 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. The complete plain words is an excellent resource for people who write as part of their occupation. The first was by way of an introduction to the subject. A book written by sir ernest gowers, a senior british civil servant, the 1st edition published in 1954 by her majestys stationery office. It was followed by the abc of plain words 1951, and the two books were combined in 1954 and published by her majestys stationery office as the complete plain words. By 1951 gowers had two short books, here combined in one, and revised in 1986 by sidney greenbaum, director of the survey of english usage and quain. Most of the book, as its title implies, deals with word choice, with one chapter each on sentence structure and punctuation. In march 2014, a new revision, by gowers s greatgranddaughter rebecca. Gowers the complete plain words is the essential guide for anyone who needs to express themselves clearly, fluently and accurately in writing.
Ernest gowers, sidney greenbaum, janet whitcut the. The complete plain words sir ernest gowers, sir bruce fraser download bok. The aim of the book is to help officials in their use of. This book is a classic guide to writing english clearly, by ernest gowers, a leading civil servant of his day the original edition was published in 1948. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The complete plain words reference books september 24.
This should be on everyones bookshelf and be well used. Oct 22, 20 when in cambridge, we always visit the amnesty bookshop in mill road, a treasure house of secondhand books. The complete plain words by janet whitcut, sir ernest. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The complete plain words is the essential guide for anyone who needs to express themselves clearly, fluently and accurately in writing whether you are working on paper or on a computer, this invaluable reference work will lead you through the intricacies, problems and pleasures of the english language with wit, common sense and authority. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. If you wish to know who gowers was, read all about. This book was written at the invitation of the treasury, with a view to help officials in their use of written english, first published in 1948, it has since run into more than a dozen reprints. The book was based on two slimmer books that he wrote at the invitation of the british treasury, plain words 1948 and the abc of plain words 1951, which gave advice to civil servants on the writing of official english. She is also the most recent editor of plain words, the classic guide to the use of english by her greatgrandfather sir ernest gowers. Fowlers classic dictionary of modern english usage.
I stumbled upon the two books that together came to be published as sir ernest gowerss the complete plain words 1954, of which carmen ebner found a copy this summer. The complete plain words hardcover january 1, 1954 by gowers sir ermest author 4. I stumbled upon the two books that together came to be published as sir ernest gowers s the complete plain words 1954, of which carmen ebner found a copy this summer. The complete plain words download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Click download or read online button to get the complete plain words book now. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The complete plain words by janet whitcut, sir ernest gowers. Ernest gowers, sidney greenbaum, janet whitcut the complete.
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. New edition of the complete plain words will delight fans of. The prologue to the complete plain words by sir ernest gowers page 2 of 3 which, as a description of what the rising sun does to meadows and rivers on a glorious morning, must be as effective a use of thirteen words as could be found in all english literature. In 1948 plain words came out and sold 150,000 copies in eight months. The complete plain words by ernest gowers waterstones. The complete plain words reference books by sir ernest gowers, september 24, 1987, penguin books ltd edition. The book has been modernized but preserves all its original charm. The complete plain words by gowers, ernest, 18801966. Gowers explained the purpose of the new book in his preface, we must have something that can be kept on the desk.
Mar 27, 2014 sir ernest gowers was born in 1880, and became a leading civil servant. This book is in the main a reconstruction of my two previous books, plain words and abc of plain words. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Gowers the complete plain words is established as the classic guide for anyone who needs to express themselves clearly, fluently and accurately in writing. Full text of complete plain words internet archive. Buy complete plain words 3rd edition book online at best prices in india on. The complete plain words sir ernest gower national. Buy complete plain words 3rd edition book online at low. 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. The complete plain words is the essential guide for anyone who needs to express themselves clearly, fluently and accurately in writing. Rebecca gowers is the author of the swamp of death, shortlisted for the cwa nonfiction golden dagger award, and of two novels. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
Covers the issues in the choice and handling of words will energise anyone with a writing job to do. Sir ernest gowers own style shows the elegance that plain language can achieve. 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. 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 twisted heart, both longlisted for the orange prize. The book is, it seems to me, an important document of its era.
Whether you are working on a paper or on a computer, this invaluable reference work will lead you through the intricacies, problems and pleasures of the english language with wit, common sense and authority. The aim of the book is to help officials in their use of english as a tool of their trade. 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. To celebrate its 60th birthday, the authors greatgranddaughter, rebecca gowers, has revised and updated the book for a. The complete plain words by gowers, ernest and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The complete plain words by ernest gowers goodreads.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Sir ernest gowers was born in 1880, and became a leading civil servant. The complete plain words sir ernest gowers, sir bruce. The complete plain words, revised by others in 1973 and 1986, has never yet gone out of print. The complete plain words by gowers and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Ernest gowers, sidney greenbaum, janet whitcut the complete plain words 1st edition 1st printing hardcover boston, massachusetts david r godine pub 1988 near fine in a very good dust jacket. The complete plain words sir ernest gower penguin harmondsworth middlesex 1973.
Whether you are working on paper or on a computer, this essential reference work will lead you through the intricacies of the english language with wit, common sense and authority. But dont imagine the complete plain words will work as a modern business writing manual. The complete plain words followed in 1954 and has never been out of print. The complete plain words and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Pereira gray and others published the complete plain words find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.