Writing - General & Miscellaneous, Rhetoric

The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words

Name: The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words
Author: Arthur Plotnik
ISBN: 9781936740147

by Arthur Plotnik, Jessica Morell (Foreword by)

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Overview

Don't Just Say Something—Have an Adventure with Words

If a word falls in today's impenetrable forest of words, does anyone hear it? Now, in this updated and expanded edition, Plotnik treats expressiveness in a world of texts, tweets, rap, apps and joyful diversity. Embracing both the new and classic forms, with hundreds of vivid examples, he leads word-users from the dull generic to the fissionable—language that blasts thoughts and feelings into expression of the first intensity.

About the Author, Arthur Plotnik

Arthur Plotnik is a versatile author with a distinguished background in editing and publishing. Among his seven previous books (not to mention 22 pseudonymous potboilers early in his career) are The Elements of Editing and The Elements of Expression, both Book-of-the-Month Club selections, and the best-selling Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style. His articles, op-eds, and literary pieces have been published widely, including his columns in The Writer magazine, on whose editorial board he serves.

Plotnik studied under Philip Roth in the Iowa Writers Workshop, was a reporter for the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union, and after earning a second graduate degree, worked as a Library of Congress staffer in Washington and magazine editor in New York. He received numerous honors and awards as a long-time editor and publisher with the American Library Association in Chicago. He lives in that city with his wife and an avalanchine tumble of jottings for Better than Great.

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Editorials

Diane Brandley

[G]enuinely funny. Mr. Plotnik seeks to enlighten but also to entertain, making the skill of quality expressiveness a goal, rather than some elusive daydream. . . . The strongest parts of the book contrast insipid or ordinary modes of expression with clear, powerful methods.
—New York Journal of Books (6/12/12 www.nyjournalofbooks.com/review/elements-expression-putting-thoughts-words-2nd-edition)

Lisa Romero

Plotnik is concerned about—no, make that fervent, ardent, zealous, even fanatical about—making the language of the written word as interesting and precise as possible. . . . This book roots for language that is not just right but bright, which communicates the truest tone and shading and the finest distinctions . . . . work that is irresistible, engrossing, unpredictably original...
—ForeWord (6/27/12 www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-elements-of-expression/)

Publishers Weekly

This entertaining potpourri of thoughts about words by the associate publisher of the American Library Association touches on a variety of philological concerns. Plotnik (Elements of Editing) fails to lead with his strength: not a trained linguist, he does draw a distinction between prescriptive and descriptive grammar, coming down heavily in favor of the latter and ignoring possibilities of compromise. But he gets into trouble when he classifies all expressions as either standard or substandard, allowing for no distinction between formal and informal usage and accusing "authorities" of giving slang, jargon, argot and the like roughly equal status But once he turns to the steps leading to expressiveness, he is most effective, demonstrating a fine ability to choose quotations from writers past and present that really sing. He deals with verbal power, clichs, borrowing apt phrases from others, jargon and even public speaking. A helpful little compendium for writers and speakers wishing to brush up on their prose. (Apr.)