Media Writer's Handbook: A Guide to Common Editing and Writing Problems

Rating:
Summary: Indispensable reference tool for any mass media writer.
Review: Dr. Arnold's book should sit next to any journalist's AP Stylebook. That says a lot about the number of times I've pulled it off my shelf to double-check the use of a verb or just to make sure I'm using the correct word or punctuation for the writing situation at hand.

It's quick, it's easy and it's also a reminder that despite the number of years I've been writing in journalistic style, there's an awful lot of ways to foul up. This book helps make sure I don't embarrass myself.

Rating:
Summary: A must-have for students and professionals alike
Review: I was a student of Dr. Arnold's at Marshall University, so I'm not completely unbiased. With that said, however, this book, the author aside, is always the first or second book I consult for journalism problems, questions or concerns. Completely different than the AP Stylebook, which focuses more on getting names/places/things correctly identified (read: how to correctly spell and hyphenate "Band-Aid"), this book is a wonderful source for basic English refreshers, such as noun-pronoun agreement, prepositions and sentences and syntax; punctuation, including how and when to use and not use periods, question marks, etc.; and, it includes a terrific "Quick Reference" section detaiing words that are frequently confused and misspelled, such as "over" and "more than," and a section on wordiness and trite expressions, such as not using "first annual." I am still working out of my 1996 edition, and find there are many days I wouldn't make it through without it! Thank you, Dr. Arnold, for your instruction and this wonderful book I'll carry with me throughout my career. (I may even have to update to a more current version?)

Rating:
Summary: Who would have thought?
Review: I've used Arnold's book since 1997, when I purchased it for a journalism course at Marshall University. If I had known what a valuable resource this book would prove to be, I would have bought several. As a writer, I turn to this book on a regular basis. The pages are worn, the metal binding is bent, but I will never stop using this book. Media Writer's Handbook is a great source for writers and editors in all genres.