The Harper Handbook of College Composition

This present fifth edition offers a major reworking of previous versions but remains a comprehensive and incisive reference work for the individual teacher and student, as well as a text for classroom use. Some of the changes in this volume are that treatments of grammar and usage have been separated. The number of sections has been reduced from 100 to 80 almost completely modernized and updated. A conscious effort has been made to remove all traces of “sexist” language. And additional emphasis has been given to the spoken words. The handbooks fundamental objective is to provide training in clear, effective, and appropriate writing and rewriting. It states the facts about usage of English language that educated people should know whether or not they wish to adopt and follow them in whole or in part. Throughout it this handbook tries to make clear the many distinctions that exist between grammar and usage. A systematic description of words and their structures, patterns, and relationships differs markedly from a description of the ways in which people actually use language in various situations. The author writes in his Preface that this edition has been thoroughly revised, rearranged, and updated. But it does preserve the virtues that have attracted loyal users of previous editions while offering a radically new version that may continue to encourage, give insight, and inspire confidence.