Writing sounds simple - you start with an attention-grabbing first sentence, then you move on to some really interesting stuff in the middle, and then you bring it all together at the end. The trouble is, how do you think up that attention-grabbing first sentence? Where do you go to find that really interesting stuff? What do you do if your mind is as blank as the paper you’re staring at?

Whether you’re composing a letter, writing a school thesis, or starting a novel, The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing offers expert advice on how to think more creatively how to conjure up ideas from scratch, and how to express those ideas clearly and elegantly. No matter where you find yourself in the writing process - from the daunting blank page to the rough draft that needs shaping to the small but important questions of punctuation - you’ll find what you need in this one handy, all-inclusive volume.

An icon to those who write and think about words, Fowler's has not been updated since 1965. Burchfield, the chief editor of The Oxford English Dictionary and its four-volume supplement, is perhaps the best equipped to tackle this monument. His revision pulls a much-loved and slightly eccentric work out of the charm of the past and into the whirlwind of today's language. In a simple, alphabetical arrangement, the third edition covers grammar, syntax, style, word choice, and advice on usage. Some of the contents have been changed completely: there are explanations of the differences between British and American usage, new pronunciation guidelines, and new entries reflecting the politicizing of speech.

This comprehensive book covers syntax, punctuation, style, organization, and tone. Johnson does more than dictate the rules; he gives examples, exceptions, and, more important, clear, easily understood explanations of why grammar has the rules it does. He also gives full attention to styling, the important matter of giving consistent treatment to numbers, abbreviations, generic terms, forms of address, foreign terms, etc. , in good writing.

The attention-getting, humorous story starters in this book will surely spark the imagination of the most reluctant story writer. The antics of characters with unusual names will motivate young writers to complete the stories and even create their own stories about the subjects.

The purpose of this book is to help doctors and other health professionals with their writing problems. It consists of several hundred topics, from the process of writing to authorship, and from the use of semi-colons to the law of late literals. These are arranged alphabetically, with extensive cross referencing and, where appropriate, lists of books that the author has read and recommends. The book will provide concise, practical information about how to tackle any form of writing required of health care professionals.

The SAT writing exam consists of 49 multiple-choice questions and an essay. SAT Writing Essentials mirrors the real test with 35 minutes devoted to the questions, followed by 25 minutes for the essay. Incorporating the SAT's most recent changes, these questions emphasize grammar and usage and the most effective way to revise a sentence or passage. The book covers specific strategies for writing a timed essay and includes four different practice writing tests to effectively prepare students for the essay.

This American English edition of English Grammar in Use can be used both as a classroom text and as a grammar reference for students. Each unit deals with a particular grammar point (or points), providing clear explanations and examples on the left-hand page, with exercises to check understanding on the facing right-hand page. The book covers many of the problems intermediate students of American English encounter, including tense usage, modals, conditionals, the subjunctive and prepositions. A separate answer key is available for self-study, individual work in the language laboratory and as an easy reference for teachers.

Grammar and Usage for Better Writing is a basic workbook that can provide a foundation for further study in English grammar and usage. It will benefit students who are learning the essentials for the first time as well as those who wish to review concepts they have previously learned. The premise of this book is that understanding how language works enables us to use it more effectively. This skill can enhance our personal communications, schoolwork, and professional lives.

Combining rich illustrations and authentic exercises, How English Works makes the learning and practising of grammar both a pleasure and a challenge. The author's imaginative and wholly original approach to the presentation and organisation of their text offers students a lively, purposeful package to give them a confident command of English forms and their uses. Designed for students working on their own, but also ideal for use in class, How English Works covers all the key elements in the standard EFL grammar syllabus, and many other topics which are often ignored.