On Writing Well William Zinsser Analysis

If one day, someone ever decided to pick up a book to learn how to write, On Writing Well, by William Zinsser would most definitely be a wise choice. In this book, Zinsser basically gives the reader a manual on how to write effectively by giving the reader a set of techniques they should take into account. His book would without a doubt would be a good example of the effectiveness of how his writing tips are in use. Zinsser’s book is a great writing starter for anyone. Zinsser demonstrated his points and tries to convey his reader with examples his reading. Effectively, one can strongly argue that Zinsser clearly achieved his goal in communicating his point to the reader by, using many of his own tips; simplicity, words, and voice. Simplicity

However, by doing so you can get an opposite reaction. Zinsser is clearly a very intellectual man and if he wished too, he can write a book in which one could be completely lost by his word choice and usage. Which brings us to two more of his principles in writing, words and usage, which are fairly similar to one another. However, when choosing techniques under one of these two principle, Zinsser states, that one should not write something if they would not say it. Regretfully, I have to admit I am quite guilty of making this mistake. However, if one pays close attention to Zinsser’s writing, although very intellectual does not put out big words which can throw the reader off. Instead he is quite reasonable with his word choices. He does not just go around putting big words that many would not understand for the purpose of making an essay sound and look better. Proving that if you want to keep the reader intrigued with your writing you do not have to make it sound fancy you can complicate the text and eventually lose their attention. Throughout the book, he keeps it quite simple and uses text which many can clearly understand proving that although he has a much broader word choices, one can effectively make a text seem interesting and convey the reader 's attention without a “fancier” word which they might not even

As Zinsser states, “Develop one voice that readers will recognize when they hear it on the page,” (Zinsser 231). When it comes to writing he believes one should not try to sound casual, one should not breezy write. When a writer tries to breezy write Zinsser states, that instead of making the reading more of an ease to read the writer is putting up obstacles; cheap slang, cliches, windy philosophizing etc. which can just complicated the reading. They also take from one 's originality, one 's mark on a paper. Zinsser believes one should start to form their own writing style by looking at other authors or someone whose writing techniques they would like to mimick. In his case, Zinsser explains how he developed his writing style by imitating those of who he looked up too, and considers effortless writers such as, James Thunder, V.S Pritchett, and Lewis Thomas. Zinsser demonstrates sympathy with the reader showing them how he did this and it is fine if they do as well. Zinsser therefore claims, “Don’t worry that by imitating them you’ll lose your own identity. Soon enough you’ll shed those skins and become who you are suppose to become.”(Zinsser 236) One example of a “casual” writing piece he brings up is from a famed newsmagazine, full of cliches and dreary phases. When one reads this he explains, it is plainly predictable a predictable writer, a hack is not an interesting writer. When a reader