Style Guide

 
　　經濟學人暢銷經典《Style Guide》第十一版隆重登場。正如本書序言所說，「簡明易懂的寫作源自於清晰的思路。」經濟學人《Style Guide》特有的清新、簡潔寫作風格，對於要求書寫流暢、精準的寫作者來說，絕對是不可多得的寫作良伴。
 
　　從會計、股市到法律及科學用語，《Style Guide》一書包含了詳盡的參考資料，除了針對一般寫作給予實用建議、點出寫作時最容易犯的謬誤與陳腔濫調外，還指導寫作者如何正確使用標點符號、縮寫、大小寫。
 
　　本書羅列出實用寫作準則及常見錯誤，包括：
　　1.區別which 與that用法。如：This is the house that Jack built.但This house, which Jack built, is now falling down.
　　2.分辨混淆字：discreet表示謹慎，discrete代表分離的。例句：”Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.”（出自作家王爾德：「天底下無愚蠢問題，但有愚蠢回答。」）
　　3.forgo意指放棄，forego則為在……之前。
　　4.小心times的用法。Three times more than X is four times as much as X.（比X多三倍，表示是四倍的X）【文/ 博客來編譯】
 
　　This expanded eleventh edition of the bestselling guide to style is based on the Economist's own updated house style manual, and is an invaluable companion for everyone who wants to communicate with the clarity, style and precision for which the Economist is renowned. As the introduction says, 'clarity of writing usually follows clarity of thought.'

　　The Economist Style Guide gives general advice on writing, points out common errors and clichés, offers guidance on consistent use of punctuation, abbreviations and capital letters, and contains an exhaustive range of reference material - covering everything from accountancy ratios and stock market indices to laws of nature and science.

　　Some of the numerous useful rules and common mistakes pointed out in the guide include:
　　*Which informs, that defines. This is the house that Jack built. But: This house, which Jack built, is now falling down.
　　•Discreet means circumspect or prudent; discrete means separate or distinct. Remember that "Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are" (Oscar Wilde).
　　•Flaunt means display, flout means disdain. If you flout this distinction you will flaunt your ignorance
　　•Forgo means do without; forego means go before.
　　•Fortuitous means accidental, not fortunate or well-timed.
　　•Times: Take care. Three times more than X is four times as much as X.
　　•Full stops: Use plenty. They keep sentences short. This helps the reader.