Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 108
•
Trim: 7 x 10
978-1-4422-5342-1 • Hardback • June 2015 • $59.00 • (£45.00)
978-1-4422-5343-8 • Paperback • June 2015 • $24.00 • (£17.99)
978-1-4422-5344-5 • eBook • June 2015 • $22.50 • (£16.99)
Marda Dunsky, an editor, educator and editorial consultant, teaches at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.
Getting Text Right
Punctuation
Rules and Guidelines
Conjunction Junction: Comma Rules for and, but and or
Nonessential vs. Essential: That vs. Which
Punctuation Self-Test
Grammar
Basic Terms and Concepts
Grammar Terms and Concepts Exercise
Mapping Who vs. Whom
Making the Right Choice
Practice Sentences: Who vs. Whom
Other Rules and Guidelines
Grammar Self-Tests
Usage
Rules and Guidelines
Usage Self-Test
RECAP: Comprehensive Self-Test
AP Stylebook Study Guide
AP Style Self-Tests
Spelling
Homonyms and Other Sound-Alikes Exercise
Spelltraps
Copy-Editing Symbols
Copy-Editing Symbols Self-Test
Basic Symbolism
Quality-Control Guide to Writing and Editing
Supplementary Self-Tests
Punctuation/AP Style Test
Grammar/AP Style Test
Usage/AP Style Test
Final Language-Skills Test
Answer Key
Punctuation Self-Test
Grammar Terms and Concepts Exercise
Grammar Self-Test I
Grammar Self-Test II
Usage Self-Test
RECAP: Comprehensive Self-Test7
AP Style Self-Test I
AP Style Self-Test II
AP Style Self-Test III
Homonyms and Other Sound-Alikes
Copy-Editing Symbols Self-Test
Punctuation/AP Style Test
Grammar/AP Style Test
Usage/AP Style Test
Final Language-Skills Test
Exercise: Fact-Checking
Exercise: Tightening
Exercise: Clarity
Exercise: Quotes and Attribution
Index
About the Author
Watch Your Words is an affordably priced reference that succinctly covers the basics without a lot of extraneous nonsense. The self-tests and exercises are particularly useful.
— William Huntzicker, St. Cloud State University
The brevity, layout and ease of use make Watch Your Words an ideal reference guide. It presents important information in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner that will help students solve their issues quickly.
— Brad Schultz, University of Mississippi
I’ve used this handbook for the past several years because it simply gets the job done in preparing students for the changing media industry. Watch Your Words explains the finer points of grammar in a clear and concise manner, equipping journalists with the essential tools to produce carefully written and edited content. (Previous Edition Praise)
— Michael A. Deas, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University
Watch Your Words is a practical review of grammar, punctuation and language usage for both students and working journalists. It's a handy resource no matter what you're writing. I look forward to recommending this essential guide to my students. (Previous Edition Praise)
— Sandy Ellis, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
A versatile, valuable teaching tool that concentrates a large number of language lessons in a small number of pages. The self-tests are especially helpful as they allow students to work at their own pace to improve their skills. (Previous Edition Praise)
— Miles Maguire, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
Watch Your Words offers complete, concise, and cogent explanations and examples of grammar and punctuation as well as Associated Press style rules; both instructors and students will value it as a resource. It should be recommended, if not required, reading for students in English, speech, mass communications, and other communications classes. (Previous Edition Praise)
— Marijane Wernsman, Texas Tech University
A concise, focused and useful text that potentially replaces a shelf full of grammar books not aimed at journalists. (Previous Edition Praise)
— Rosanne V. Pagano, University of Alaska, Anchorage
A brief, accessible handbook suitable for journalism students, for students of public relations/marketing communications, and also for working journalists and PR/marketing professionals.
Provides baseline knowledge of punctuation, grammar, usage and Associated Press style.
Incorporates extensive and clear examples of standard grammar (including when to use who or whom) as well as editing techniques.
Still includes a sections on spelling (featuring a list of commonly misspelled words and a homonym review) and copy-editing symbols.
Offers self-tests with answer keys to sharpen language skills.
Dunsky’s straightforward presentation of basic rules and guidelines exemplifies precision and tight writing.
An authoritative reference whose author has 20 years of experience as a journalist, professor and media consultant.
New features
New in the fourth edition is a quality-control guide for honing writing and editing techniques. The guide covers accuracy and fact-checking; brevity and tightening; clarity; use of quotes and attribution; and basic editing principles.
This new edition also incorporates current AP style.