The joy of text
US book publisher Random House's copy chief says we should look beyond pomp and pedantry to enjoy writing.
'%3e%3cpath%20d='M20.7725%2026.9924C20.9555%2026.9924%2021.1297%2026.953%2021.2951%2026.8741C21.4604%2026.7953%2021.6346%2026.6694%2021.8177%2026.4965L27.8373%2020.8125C27.9848%2020.6752%2028.0865%2020.5353%2028.1425%2020.3929C28.1985%2020.2505%2028.2264%2020.1183%2028.2264%2019.9962C28.2264%2019.869%2028.1985%2019.7343%2028.1425%2019.5918C28.0865%2019.4494%2027.9848%2019.3095%2027.8373%2019.1722L21.8177%2013.5417C21.6142%2013.3484%2021.4375%2013.2098%2021.2875%2013.1259C21.1374%2013.042%2020.9708%2013%2020.7877%2013C20.5181%2013%2020.2981%2013.0916%2020.1278%2013.2747C19.9574%2013.4578%2019.8722%2013.6765%2019.8722%2013.9308V16.8147H19.6509C18.2827%2016.8147%2017.1014%2017.0258%2016.107%2017.448C15.1127%2017.8701%2014.2963%2018.4805%2013.658%2019.279C13.0197%2020.0776%2012.5466%2021.0402%2012.2389%2022.1668C11.9312%2023.2934%2011.7773%2024.5612%2011.7773%2025.9701C11.7773%2026.3006%2011.8575%2026.5537%2012.0177%2026.7291C12.1779%2026.9047%2012.3597%2026.9924%2012.5632%2026.9924C12.7259%2026.9924%2012.89%2026.9593%2013.0553%2026.8932C13.2206%2026.8271%2013.3693%2026.6719%2013.5016%2026.4278C13.9441%2025.5936%2014.4553%2024.9413%2015.0351%2024.4708C15.6149%2024.0004%2016.2838%2023.6685%2017.0417%2023.4752C17.7995%2023.2819%2018.6693%2023.1853%2019.6509%2023.1853H19.8722V26.0998C19.8722%2026.3591%2019.9574%2026.5728%2020.1278%2026.7406C20.2981%2026.9085%2020.513%2026.9924%2020.7725%2026.9924Z'%20fill='black'%20fill-opacity='0.85'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3crect%20x='0.5'%20y='0.5'%20width='39'%20height='39'%20rx='19.5'%20stroke='%23F2F2F2'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_715_28555'%3e%3crect%20width='16.4491'%20height='14'%20fill='white'%20transform='translate(11.7773%2013)'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
BOOK REVIEW
Dreyer's English - An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Random House, 2019) By Benjamin Dreyer Available at Books Kinokuniya S$29.91 (Hardback; includes GST)
HOW many times have you tripped on your own writing and screeched to a halt at the keyboard with these head-scratchers: "Is it anymore or any more?"; "What in heaven's name is an Oxford comma?"; "Should I use like or such as?"
Thankfully, there's help. And yes, all the above befuddlements are addressed.
Benjamin Dreyer, the veteran Copy Chief Sitting Bull of US publishers Random House has distilled hi…
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M35.1847%2014.0422L9.37867%2024.1703C8.88772%2024.363%208.86989%2025.051%209.35015%2025.2688L15.0551%2027.8567C15.2097%2027.9269%2015.327%2028.0594%2015.3778%2028.2212L17.8255%2036.0078C17.9491%2036.4009%2018.4247%2036.5534%2018.7539%2036.3054L23.0143%2033.0968C23.2178%2032.9435%2023.4961%2032.9364%2023.7072%2033.0787L30.8526%2037.8975C31.2091%2038.1378%2031.6951%2037.9339%2031.7732%2037.5114L35.9896%2014.7059C36.0747%2014.2456%2035.6206%2013.8712%2035.1847%2014.0422Z'%20fill='%23FDFEFF'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M15.3125%2027.9998L30.4162%2018.627L19.3691%2029.3628L19.548%2033.3966L18.9531%2036.1248C18.3783%2036.7236%2017.9297%2036.2772%2017.8477%2036.0662L15.3681%2028.178L15.2734%2028.0233L15.3125%2027.9998Z'%20fill='%23C8DAEA'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M18.3594%2036.4259L19.3511%2029.3447L23.519%2032.9856C23.303%2032.9612%2023.1588%2032.9863%2023.0268%2033.0859L19.0712%2036.0718C18.6289%2036.4572%2018.4297%2036.4455%2018.3594%2036.4259Z'%20fill='%23A9C9DD'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear'%20x1='33'%20y1='7.5'%20x2='19'%20y2='36.5'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%231E96C8'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%2337AEE2'%20stop-opacity='0'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Lifestyle
Former Zouk morphs into mod-Asian Jiak Kim House, serving laksa pasta and mushroom bak kut teh
Massimo Bottura lends star power to pizza and pasta at Torno Subito
Victor Liong pairs Aussie and Asian food with mixed results at Artyzen’s Quenino restaurant
If Jay Chou likes Ju Xing’s zi char, you might too
Mod-Sin cooking izakaya style at Focal
What the fish? Diving for flavour at Fysh – Aussie chef Josh Niland’s Singapore debut
