For anyone who works with words - especially journalists, writers and editors - this book belongs next to the dictionary and style manual on your reference shelf.

Working With Words is a concise, thorough and up-to-date guide to grammar and usage that addresses the problems professional writers encounter every day. First, the authors review the basics of grammar and answer common questions about subjects and objects, verbs, modifiers, connecting words, sentences and punctuation.

The book then covers the fundamentals of usage, with sound advice on issues of particular concern to writers and editors: tightening your prose, eliminating muddled language, avoiding linguistic bias and avoiding unintentional racism and sexism in your writing.

For easy reference, the book includes time-saving lists of commonly misspelled and misused words, cliches and other problems with usage, diction, style and spelling, along with a summary of wire service style, a useful appendix that lists the most common usage mistakes and a full index.

This practical, informative handbook synthesizes information from more than forty reference sources to help writers master both the essentials and the more sophisticated rules necessary for clear, effective communication in print.