Footnote:
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description:
A pedant' s apology, or why I wrote this book -- The ape that writes sentences, or why word order is (almost) everything -- Nouns versus verbs, or how to bring a sentence to life, but not too much -- Nothing like a windowpane, or how to say wondrous things with plain words -- The high-wire act, or how to write long and legato without running out of breath -- Foolish like a trout, or how to join sentences together with invisible thread -- A small, good thing, or why a sentence should be a gift to the world.
"The sentence is the common ground where every writer walks. A good sentence can be written (and read) by anyone if we simply give it the gift of our time, and it is as close as most of us will get to making something truly beautiful. Using minimal technical terms and sources ranging from the Bible and Shakespeare to George Orwell and Maggie Nelson, as well as scientific studies of what can best fire the reader's mind, author Joe Moran shows how we can all write in a way that is clear, compelling and alive. Whether dealing with finding the ideal word, building a sentence, or constructing a paragraph, First You Write a Sentence informs by light example: much richer than a style guide, it can be read not only for instruction but for pleasure and delight. And along the way, it shows how good writing can help us notice the world, make ourselves known to others, and live more meaningful lives. It's an elegant gem in praise of the English sentence."--