Writing Tools 1, 2, & 3

The three writing tools you need close at hand when writing are all made of paper:

Well, the answer for many reasons is a huge BECAUSE.

Because:

1. Spell check is not infallible.
2. Switching screens to an online dictionary or thesaurus can be more time consuming than quickly thumbing through a paper copy.
3. The computer crashed.
4. I am writing by hand and the computer is turned off.
5. I am unsure of the word I am looking for, but it starts with ‘de', I think.
6. I’ll know the right word when I see it.
7. I don’t get distracted by Facebook when looking at a real book.
8. I can go on, and will.

You have a second question?

What is a Strunk and White?

Strunk wrote and White edited the quintessential style guide ‘The Elements of Style’ which is perhaps the most important of the three writing tools. This style guide is one of the oldest, yet smallest, and most efficient style guides of English Composition.

Did I also mention it was very user friendly? My favourite is the edition illustrated by Maira Kalman.

Strunk and White is an ideal resource book for seasoned as well as novice writers. This small book addresses all sorts of quandaries, such as:

• how to punctuate dialogue,
• when to list items in a sentence and when to use point form, and
• whether to to say something is 'not important' or is 'trifling' a better word choice?

What I am certain about is that it is no trifling matter when the term paper is due, the online search is baffling, and I am not too sure if the word I am looking for is 'aggravate' or 'irritate'? This is when it is most reassuring to reach into my box of writing tools for the Strunk and White.

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