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I came across the following in RISKS Digest. I plan to look it over
the next time I'm at Border's or Barnes & Noble. Sounds like good
information served with a splash of entertainment - a good accompanyment
to a cup of steaming mochaccino.
Thought you might be interested, too.
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Date: Wed, 22 Feb 1995 18:01:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Bob Donegan <bobd -at- aw -dot- com>
Subject: *BUGS in Writing: A Guide to Debugging Your Prose*, by Lyn Dupre
*BUGS in Writing: A Guide to Debugging Your Prose*, by Lyn Dupre
ISBN: 0-201-60019-6 $19.95 (price subject to change), 649 pp., paperback
[And WHAT, might you ask, does this have to do with RISKS? Well, can you
think of any bugs in computer systems that have resulted from bugs in
writing? We've seen quite a few in RISKS. Ane besides, this is a
terrific book. [PGN]
*BUGS in Writing*, written with verve and wit, may be the first book on
writing that people read for sheer fun. Unlike traditional style manuals,
which present huge hierarchical rules bases (and which hardly make for
amusing reading), *BUGS* presents an alternative, intuitive way of looking
at written language that is based on the concept of ear: the ability to
hear, without analysis, whether a given work order, sentence, or term is
correct. *BUGS* explores problems that writers face, and explains how to
rid your prose of these bugs.
Designed for easy browsing, *BUGS* comprises 150 independent and easily
digestible segments, resembling a daily newspaper column and presented
with an unusual, appealing, inviting design. Dupre not only tells you
about good writing -- she also demonstrates it for you, conveying simple
principles for lucid writing by numerous, intriguing, and frequently
hilarious examples that are classified with the bugs system: Bad, Ugly,
Good, or Splendid.
*BUGS* was developed for anyone who writes and who works with computers,
including computer and other scientists, students, professors, business
people, programmers, and technical writers. Rather than subjecting
yourself to the pain and tedium of wading through a reference book on
English grammar, you can pick up *BUGS*; you will immediately find
yourself browsing interesting and amusing material. While you are
enjoying yourself, you will be tuning your ear. As a result, you will
write lucid prose that communicates your ideas.
