The Sense Of Style

The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century

Plot

Why is so much writing so bad, and how can we make it better? Is the English language being corrupted by texting and social media? Do the kids today even care about good writing—and why should any of us care? In this entertaining and eminently practical book, the bestselling cognitive scientist Steven Pinker rethinks the usage guide for today's writers. Using examples of great and gruesome modern prose while avoiding the scolding tone of the classic manuals, he shows how the art of writing can be a form of pleasurably mastery and intellectually fascinating. The Sense of Style is for writers of all kinds, and for readers who are interested in how the sciences of mind can illuminate how language works at its best.