Not a stylebook in the traditional sense, Dreyer’s English makes a good 21st-century follow-up to the somewhat outdated Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Like his predecessors, Dreyer’s goal was not to write an all-encompassing manual of style but rather a book to share his own experience and opinions. But where Strunk and White sought to concisely correct the wayward with absolute truths, Dreyer seeks to start a conversation to guide the reader gently away from bad English and questionable usage with humor, a casual style, and occasional anecdotes.
As a copyeditor, I was drawn to the book for obvious reasons. And while ostensibly aimed at people like me, the book is great for a general audience, especially self-professed grammar geeks and self-appointed arbiters of style. It addresses common errors and misconceptions as well as their remedies, along with pet peeves. And, more importantly, it distinguishes between them all. If you care about language and usage, you will love Dreyer’s English.
Jennifer Merchán | Editing 