Writing world loses a gem: Bill Zinsser

He was as wonderful and helpful in person as he was on the page.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/a...n-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

 

He worked at the New York Herald Tribune during Red Smith's heyday there, and mentored Roger Kahn and many others.

"On Writing Well" was required reading when I was breaking into journalism, along with "The Elements of Style" and "The Careful Writer."

 

In Zinsser's honor, I bought a fresh copy of "On Writing Well" yesterday to replace the dog-eared and tattered copy I've kept for decades on my desk, right next to "Elements" and "When Words Collide." Also a fan of "Lapsing into a Comma" as well.

These books and others are always great when dealing with corporate clients — and even some colleagues — who impress themselves with jargon and verbosity and written gymnastics, as I turn to the relevant chapters and tell them, "Sorry, but no." </wordgeek>