The Accidents of Style: Good Advice on How Not to Write Badly
Language expert Elster, the author of What in the Word? (2005), among many other titles, returns to the scene with this guide to common writing mistakes. Comparing auto crashes to accidents of style, Elster aims to make writers “wreckless” by providing a “crash course” in careful usage. The 350 mistakes he cites, which he labels “accidents,” run the gamut from traditional grammatical errors (when to use who and whom) to common mistakes (confusion between i.e. and e.g.) to welcome advice (avoid please be advised that, especially at the beginning of a letter). Although Elster tends to run his automotive metaphors into the ground, his explanations of usage errors are clear and frequently entertaining (see there is no ex- in espresso). Because the entries are not arranged alphabetically, the guide seems best suited to browsers, although destination-oriented language seekers can use the index to track solutions. Sensible advice for both aspiring writers and word lovers. --Joanne Wilkinson