The Economist Style Guide
The tenth edition of this bestselling guide to style is based on the house style manual ofThe Economistnewspaper. It is an invaluable companion for everyone who wants to communicate with the clarity, style and precision for whichThe Economistis famous. The first section, which has been revised and updated to reflect current usage (or misusage), gives general advice on writing, points out common errors and clichés, offers guidance on the proper use of punctuation and grammar, helps with spelling and hyphens, and much more.The second section highlights the important differences between American and British English syntax and punctuation, spelling and usage and has been thoroughly revised and updated.The third section contains a range of useful reference material, which has been checked and revised, covering everything from business ratios and stock market indices to chemical elements, US presidents and British prime ministers. Some new additions are the Greek alphabet, mathematical symbols, the winter Olympic games and the solar system.An essential book for anyone who writes reports, articles, books, letters or memoranda— or even shopping lists—The Economist Style Guidewill enlighten, educate and amuse.Aggravatemeansmake worsenotirritateorannoy.AlibiAnalibiis the fact of being elsewhere, not a false explanation.Anticipatedoes not meanexpect. Jack and Jill expected to marry; if they anticipated marriage, only Jill might find herself expectant.Born, borneare both past participles of the verbbear.Bornis used in the sense of giving birth:She was born in April.Borneis used forsupportingorputting up with (The victims has borne enough pain)and for giving birth in active constructions(She had already borne six children).CompareA is comparedwithB when you draw attention to the difference. A is comparedtoB only when you want to stress their similarity, as inShall I compare thee to a summer's day?Continuousdescribes something uninterrupted.Continualadmits of a break. If your neighbours play load music every night, it is acontinualnuisance; it is not acontinuousone unless the music is never turned off.Council, counselAcouncil is a body of people,elected or appointed, that advises, administers, organizes, legislates, etc.Counsel(noun) meansadviceorconsultant,orlawyers who give legal advice and fight cases in court.Discreet, discreteDiscreetmeanscircumspectorprudent.Discretemeansseparateordistinct.Forgo, foregoForgomeans do without; it forgoes the e.Foregomeans go before.HealthyIf you think something isdesirableorgood, say so. Do not call ithealthy.JargonAvoid it.Journalese and slangSlang, like metaphors, should be used only occasionally of it is to have effect. Avoid expressions used only by journalists, such as giving peoplethe thumbs up, the thumbs downorthe green light.Political correctnessAvoid, if you can, giving gratuitous offence: you risk losing your readers or at least their goodwill, and therefore your arguments. But pandering to every plea for politically correct terminology may make your prose unreadable, and therefore unread.ProactiveNot a pretty word: tryactiveorenergetic.Ring, wring(verbs) bells are rung, hands are wrung. Both may be seen at weddings.Short wordsUse them.