Writing is a skill that allows one to communicate with another person. Generally, writing tends to have a theme. If you are writing a treatise on philosophy or law you would use different language, tone, and standards than if you were writing a children’s book or a letter to a friend. Now, letters aren’t really in vogue anymore, but it can also be applied to emails or texts.

The Longman Handbook for Readers and Writers is a guide to effective writing. It is organized in chapters and has exercises that can be done if you are using it for a class. The book is not really something that you should read cover to cover, rather it would be better as a reference guide. For example, if you are bad with commas like I am there is a section on punctuation. Are your sentences too wordy? There is a section on that as well.

The book is quite exhaustive. Since it is a textbook meant for college-level classes this is an excellent thing. On the other hand, it does get a bit ridiculous with trying to foster politically correct papers. I mean, why would you call a young person of the female persuasion a girl when you can call her a pre-woman? Even my spell checker dislikes that word. In any case, I understand that you shouldn’t call someone a derogatory term, but vertically challenged replacing short is a bit much. Perhaps it is meant to pad someone's paper.

Other than that, the book is perfectly serviceable. ( )