Tired of scratching your head over "advice" and "advise"? Do the words "assure", "ensure" and "insure" drive you crazy? Do you get confused by "its" and it's"? If so, you need this book. Practical Writing is a no-frills, no-nonsense book about how to write well, from content to flow to the final bits of polishing. It has no long-winded explanations of gerunds or past participles. It just offers straightforward summaries of writing rules with real-life examples of good and bad writing and incorrect and correct usage. Written by the former commissioner of education in Connecticut and a retired director of communications for the Connecticut State Department of Education, the guide begins with five principles of good writing (Clarity Counts, Quantity Counts, Passion Counts, Sequence Counts and Grammar Counts). It presents 25 mistakes most frequently made (including why they're mistakes and how to fix them), plus tips for proofreading and exercises based on real-world writing to help you hone your skills. There's even a fun, yet helpful, set of Final Thoughts. Whether you're writing your first college or graduate school paper; a letter to students, parents and staff at your school; a notice to the patients in your medical or dental practice; a memo to your clients or employees; or even your fifth book, Practical Writing is an indispensable resource. Keep it next to you on your desk or workstation or carry it in your computer bag. Make it your go-to reference whenever you write.
About the Author: Betty J. Sternberg is executive director of the Duke Academy for Educational Leadership at Duke University and a professor of educational leadership at Central Connecticut State University. She is former commissioner of education for the State of Connecticut and superintendent of schools in Greenwich, Connecticut. She holds a Ph.D. in education and psychology from Stanford University, an MA in mathematics education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BA in philosophy from Brandeis University. Her writing has appeared in EdWeek, Harvard Educational Review and The Education Digest. Marsha J. Howland is a writer, editor and writing consultant. After a 20-year career in the communications office of the Connecticut State Department of Education, she retired as director of communications. Previously she had been an administrator at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, and a reporter and award-winning columnist for The Salem Evening News in Salem, Massachusetts. She holds a BA in English from Wellesley College, Massachusetts. An active member of a long-standing writing group, she is an avid poet and writer.