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Title details for The Elements of Expression by Arthur Plotnik - Available

The Elements of Expression

Putting Thoughts into Words

by Arthur Plotnik
Jessica Page Morrell
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
A funny and useful grammar book! There are many grammar and usage books that give advice on correct English. This isn't one of them. The Elements of Expression targets expressiveness as a goal apart from getting it technically right. Imagine the yawns a sportscaster would induce by announcing, "His bat struck the ball and the ball went into the stands," instead of "He took that ball downtown!" And why say, "I'd prefer it if you didn't volunteer your opinions," if what you really mean is "When I want your advice, I'll beat it out of you" (Chuck Norris, Code of Silence)? Written with uncommon wit and humor, The Elements of Expression offers writers, speakers, and self-improvers a fresh look at how they express (or fail to express) their thoughts and feelings. Plotnik supplies many engaging examples of adventurous language to show the tremendous power of words to describe and enliven human experience. For people who care about language and want to write or speak forcefully, effectively—in a word, expressively—this is the audiobook to turn on!

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 10, 2012

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780792788003
      • File size: 200466 KB
      • Duration: 06:57:38

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      As a narrator, Richard Waterhouse meets the challenge of narrating a book about a topic many consider to be utterly boring: grammar. He does admirably well with Plotnik's writing, charts, and lists, trying to infuse them with personality and energy as much as possible. It's not so much that Plotnik's writing is not up to par but that but explaining grammar in any format is not easy. Plotnik's insights about language early in the book guide the listener while his later chapters about word usage are less engaging. Waterhouse's use of emphasis helps make most things clear, but the helpful charts are lost in the transition to audio. L.E. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 1, 1996
      This entertaining potpourri of thoughts about words by the associate publisher of the American Library Association touches on a variety of philological concerns. Plotnik (Elements of Editing) fails to lead with his strength: not a trained linguist, he does draw a distinction between prescriptive and descriptive grammar, coming down heavily in favor of the latter and ignoring possibilities of compromise. But he gets into trouble when he classifies all expressions as either standard or substandard, allowing for no distinction between formal and informal usage and accusing "authorities" of giving slang, jargon, argot and the like roughly equal status But once he turns to the steps leading to expressiveness, he is most effective, demonstrating a fine ability to choose quotations from writers past and present that really sing. He deals with verbal power, cliches, borrowing apt phrases from others, jargon and even public speaking. A helpful little compendium for writers and speakers wishing to brush up on their prose.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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