This introduction to the simple and direct writing style from the legendary scholar jacques barzun wait. Have a point and make it by means of the best word. Regal though barzun may be in his manner, he has long advocated simple and direct. Michael murrays jacques barzun is the story of the career and ideas of one of the twentieth centurys leading intellectuals. Aug 05, 2019 barzun simple and direct pdf jacques barzun offers 20 principles for good writing in simple and direct. Download from dawn to decadence jacques barzun ebook. Hard to read straight through i suggest doing it lesson tip at a time but overall a good guide to writing well. This howto manual contains a classic bit of barzun s own pithy prose. I taught newswriting as an adjunct in the journalism department of a state university for a couple of years, and barzuns simple and direct was on a list of books and essays i strongly recommended to all my. A rhetoric for writers, barzun stuff you already know, phrased lean and tough. If you depart from the conventions, you run the risk of not being taken seriously your readers may even turn hostile toward what you write. His discussions of diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision guide the. Consult your second thoughts about slang, euphemisms, and what everybody says, so as. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Dec 18, 2001 simple and direct has a well deserved reputation for anyone wanting to improve their writing skills. Resources on writing well pablos miscellany pablo stafforini. I feel somewhat abashed giving a book by baezun superb jacques barzun only two stars, but according to the authoritative site goodreads or goodreads as it wants to be known on its own pagetwo stars equates to it was okay, and since simple and direct was okay. Barzun simple and direct pdf jacques barzun offers 20 principles for good writing in simple and direct.
This classic introduction to the techniques of research and the art of expression is used widely in history courses, but is also appropriate for writing and research methods courses in other departments. In chapters on diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision, barzun describes and prescribes the techniques to correct even the most ponderous style. His discussions of diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision guide the reader through the technique of making the written word clear and agreeable to read. He became a full professor inwas dean of graduate faculties from toand dean of faculties from to if there is any gate to the left or right, the readers will most certainly go into it. Simple direct available for download and read online in other formats.
Barzuns bestknown books include berlioz and the romantic century, teacher in america, a stroll with william james, and simple and direct, a guide to writing. Read online simple direct and download simple direct book full in pdf formats. Jacques barzuns 20 principles for simple and direct writing. Jacques barzun american teacher, historian, and author. Barzun was also the author of books on literary style simple and direct, 1975, on the. The phrasethe house of intellectstuck, perhaps better than his diagnosis of its plight. Jacques barzun, historian and critic, well known not only as a scholar but as a fluent and pleasing writer, has had vast experience in editing. Jacques barzun was the author of some thirty books of. The core of his work was the importance of studying history to understand the present and a fundamental respect for intellect. A rhetoric for writers jacques barzun after a lifetime of writing and editing prose, jacques barzun has set down his view of. In chapters on diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision, barzun.
November 30, 1907 october 25, 2012 was a frenchamerican historian known for his studies of the history of ideas and cultural history. Jacques barzun has set down his view of the best ways to improve. I taught newswriting as an adjunct in the journalism department of a state university for a couple of years, and barzun s simple and direct was on a list of books and essays i strongly recommended to all my students. Among historians, writing conventionswhich are neither laws nor strict rules, but rather simply customary practicesare important. Barzun was provost of columbia university, a cultural historian of great stature who could address a wide range of topicsfrom baseball and crime stories to berlioz and all aspects of western cultureto an. Remember what barzun says, that ideas slip into the mind most easily when the verbal noise is least. I feel somewhat abashed giving a book by the superb jacques barzun only two stars, but according to the authoritative site goodreads or goodreads as it wants to be known on its own page, two stars equates to it was okay, and since simple and direct was okay, two stars it gets. Each of the seven chapters in this book covers a particular subject such as the one on diction, which informs the reader of the true. Barzun was also the author of books on literary style simple and direct, 1975, on the crafts of editing and publishing on writing, editing, and publishing, 1971, and on research methods in history and the other humanities the modern researcher, which has seen at least six editions, and is one of the thousand most widely held library items. Barzun was provost of columbia university, a cultural historian of great stature who could address a wide range of topicsfrom baseball and crime stories to berlioz and all aspects of western cultureto an extensive, nonspecialized audience.
Sep 05, 2019 barzun simple and direct pdf jacques barzun offers 20 principles for good writing in simple and direct. The modern researcher jacques barzun, henry franklin. Jacques barzun offers 20 principles for good writing in simple and direct. Barzun was also the author of books on literary style simple and direct, 1975, on the crafts of editing and publishing on writing, editing, and publishing, 1971, and on research methods in history and the other humanities the modern researcher, which has seen at least six editions. Here, though, he has a few problems with the biographers art. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Exercises, model passages both literary and unorthodox and hundreds. Jacques barzun has set down his view of the best ways to improve ones style. After a lifetime of writing and editing prose, jacques barzun has. Professor barzun wishes any scholar requesting access to write him a letter describing the nature of his or her project.
A rhetoric for writers jacques barzun after a lifetime of writing and editing prose, jacques barzun has set down his view of the best ways to improve ones style. His discussions of diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision guide. Simple and direct a rhetoric for writers pdf jacques barzun offers 20 principles for good writing in simple and direct. Rhetoric, anglais langue, problems, exercises, english.
Jacques barzun project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. A fter a lifetime of writing and editing prose, jacques barzun has set down his view of the best ways to improve ones style. Unlike the sculptor, the writer can start carving and enjoying himself only after he has dug the marble out of his own head. Pain language protecting your writing from law practice. But ive always thought that a catalogue of crime, written with his lifelong friend wendell hertig taylor, could be his most lasting masterpiece. Simple and direct 1975 is a rhetoric for writers, and the modern researcher 1962 serves as a primer for historical researchers. Jacques barzun, frenchborn american teacher, historian, and author who influenced higher education in the united states by his insistence that undergraduates avoid early specialization and instead be given.
Readers must use microfilm of materials specified above. Make sure you know not only the meaning but also the bearing of the words you use. I feel somewhat abashed giving a book by the superb jacques barzun only two stars, but according to the authoritative site goodreads or goodreads as it wants to be known on its own page, two stars. Jacques martin barzun november 30, 1907 october 25, 2012 was a. His discussions of diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision. In print for a quarter of a century updated with a fourth edition in 2001, the book is a handbook for whoever wants to conquer some of the permanent difficulties of writing prose.