» advanced search
subscribe & win

Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win FREE books.

your e-mail address Send!

On Writing Well

Cover may not depict edition offered for sale

On Writing Well

by William Knowlton Zinsser

About this title: Stressing the importance of strong, clear prose that expresses the writer's personality, this text encourages students to develop their individual voices as writers. Part 1 covers such general principles as clarity, simplicity, and unit, while part 2 applies these principles to different forms of non-fiction writing such as: writing about people ... read more

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.

Page 1 of 6   change currency
sort by
used book

On Writing Well

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: $1.99

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24. Eligible for Super Value Shipping

Edition: 3rd ed. Binding: Trade Paperback Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Date Published: 1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Very Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Alibris, NV, USA
Eligible for free shipping

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: $1.99

Ships from FL, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 3 Rev Exp Binding: Paperback Publisher: Harpercollins College Div Date Published: 4/1/1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Very Good. 0060473975 We value your satisfaction and our feedback! Thanks 23J. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Nangsuer, FL, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: $1.99

Ships from AZ, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 3rd ed. Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Date Published: 1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: SuperFlyBooks, AZ, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by Zinsser, William

price: $1.99

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: Longman Higher Education Date Published: 1991 ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Very Good. 0062720279 Text free of underlining, writing and highlighting. On Writing Well, praised for the helpfulness of its advice and the warmth of its style, . is widely used in America's homes, colleges, schools and offices. It teaches the principles of good writing in a wide variety of forms (the interview, travel, science, business, sports, criticism, humor, memoir, etc. ) and also deals with such crucial attitudes toward language as tone, individuality, confidence, and self-esteem. ... read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Wombat Book Company, LLC, NV, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from AR, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: Harpercollins College Div Date Published: 1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Good. Revised, enlarged 3rd edition. Used paperback in good condition. May show some signs of use or wear. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Once Upon A Time Books, AR, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: $1.99

Ships from RI, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 3rd ed. Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Date Published: 1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: BearBooks, RI, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: $1.99

Ships from RI, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 4th ed. Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Date Published: 1991 ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: BearBooks, RI, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from FL, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harpercollins College Div Date Published: 1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: A wonderful copy with some minor edgewear to the cover. -, Trade PaperBack, Very Good / read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Sea Shell Books, FL, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from FL, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Longman Higher Education Date Published: 1991 ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: A good reading copy only. Small pink stain to top front cover and first few pages. -, Trade PaperBack, Good / read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Sea Shell Books, FL, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harpercollins College Div ISBN-13: 9780673993083 ISBN: 0673993086

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Longman Higher Education ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harpercollins College Div ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Longman Higher Education ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harpercollins College Div ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Very good. Book has appearance of light use with no easily noticeable wear. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Longman Higher Education ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Longman Higher Education ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from PA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: Harpercollins College Div Date Published: 1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Good. MAY HAVE COVER WEAR, SPINE CREASES, HIGHLIGHTING, UNDERLINING & PAGES YELLOWED FROM AGE. FASTER SERVICE FROM US! ! ! read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: BOOKS_AT_HALF, PA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from PA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: Longman Higher Education Date Published: 1991 ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Acceptable. MAY HAVE COVER WEAR, SPINE CREASES, HIGHLIGHTING, UNDERLINING & PAGES YELLOWED FROM AGE. FASTER SERVICE FROM US! ! ! read more

condition:

see description

 

seller information:

Name: BOOKS_AT_HALF, PA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from OK, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: Harpercollins College Div Date Published: 1985 ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Very Good. Publisher, PublishPlace. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Twice Read Books, OK, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from MD, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Good. Good condition. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB, MD, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from MD, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780673993083 ISBN: 0673993086

Description: Very Good. Very Good condition. 5th edition. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB, MD, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from IN, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Acceptable. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more

condition:

see description

 

seller information:

Name: Better World Books, IN, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well

by William Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from IN, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780062720276 ISBN: 0062720279

Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more

condition:

Book: Good

Available qty: 3

 

seller information:

Name: Better World Books, IN, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from IN, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780060473976 ISBN: 0060473975

Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Better World Books, IN, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well: an Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: $1.99

Ships from IN, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780673993083 ISBN: 0673993086

Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more

condition:

Book: Good

Available qty: 3

 

seller information:

Name: Better World Books, IN, USA

Reliability: Best


Page 1 of 6: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next>

*What is a Wishlist?

Reviews of {0} by {1}
goodreads rating 4 out of 5 4 out of 5
Oct 13, 2009
By Christine, Lansing, MI

"This is a classic for all writers, no matter the genre. It reminds us to take time with out writing and create good writing, not just pound out the sentences to get the job done. Writing is a craft that takes time, patience, experience and imagination. After reading this, I went back over some of my own recent writing and noticed several places where it could be improved. I keep this on my bookshelf in the "do not give away" section!"

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
goodreads rating 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Sep 9, 2009
By M.C., The United States

"William Zinsser did not sell more than a million copies of On Writing Well by writing for the APA only. Zinsser was successful because he wrote for the average reader by writing for himself. He conveyed his identity in his work by writing from his perspective. The uniqueness of Zinsser's voice and ideas are fresh to the reader, who wants to read anything but a 300-paged address about grammar's conventional rules. Zinsser also avoided condescension in his tone by writing for himself. Who would condescend himself? The average reader can recognize when he is belittled regardless of how plain he is. According to Zinsser, the reader wants to figure out the meaning of the text by himself. The clarity in Zinsser's writing, which has few words with more than syllables but many contractions, is clear enough. Zinsser's writing is clear because Zinsser must understand his own writing when he writes for himself. Clarity and brevity are among Zinsser's treasured virtues in writing because the reader is human and impatient.

Another piece of advice conveyed in this book is that writers should write about what they like. If one were to write about his interests, he would know his subjects and have the drive to write about them.

Although On Writing Well probably offends every one who strictly condemns the placement of "But" at the beginning of a sentence or the casual usage of contractions, it yet offers invaluable advice to those who wants to write but is confined by the fear of writing, which is everyone."

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
goodreads rating 4 out of 5 4 out of 5
Aug 28, 2009
By april violet, Nashville, TN

"Of all books I have read about writing, this one is the most accessible and useful. It's a practical guide on how to be clear and concise in nonfiction writing. William Zinsser's tone is conversational and his sense of humor made me chuckle.

It's good to know that Zinsser thinks that a sentence is a fine thing for a preposition to be put at the end of. And it's ok to begin a sentence with a conjunction. I don't agree with everything he says, but he makes good points about what works with nonfiction writing and what doesn't.

I would give the book 5 stars for the sections on technique. The rest of the book covers styles of nonfiction writing and gets 3 stars. I plan to buy a copy for my collection of reference books."

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
goodreads rating 3 out of 5 3 out of 5
Jun 27, 2009
By Will, Grand Isle, VT

"These are just part of the notes I have to take for school
1. Simplicity - What does it mean to have simplicity in your writing? What are some steps to attaining it?
2. Clutter - What does it look like not to have clutter in your writing? Give some examples.
3. Style - According to Zinsser, where does style come from?
4. Audience - Who does Zinsser say is your most important audience? Which of his 3 example excerpts
do you like best and why?
5. Words - What is a cliché? What are some that you've heard today?
6. Usage - What does Zinsser say about using the same verb tense throughout a piece? What should
every successful piece of nonfiction leave the reader with?
7. The Lead and The Ending - What is the importance of a good lead? What does it mean to bring a story
full circle?
8. Bits and Pieces
Define these terms in your own words or Zinsser's. (Please DO NOT look them up in the dictionary:

Verbs:
Exclamation Point:
Adverbs:
Dash:
Adjectives:
Semicolon:
Little Qualifiers:
Overstatement:
Paragraphs:
Rewriting:
Sexism (as relates to pronouns):"

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
  1-4 of 17    Next page  
See all reviews of On Writing Well by William Knowlton Zinsser

 

 
Overall customer rating:
3.9 out of 5 3.9 out of 5
16 of 17 (94%) customers said they would recommend this book to a friend.

Our Money-Back Guarantee

We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.