Table Of ContentPraise for the previous edition:
‘How Writing Works is the opposite of a dry writing bible. For those
who take the time to read and follow the strategies, good writer or
bad, you will be rewarded with the ultimate writing resource’.
Writing Queensland
‘What Roslyn Petelin doesn’t know about clear, precise writing is not
worth knowing’.
Leigh Sales, ABC TV
‘A superb guide to great writing in the modern media era’.
Phil Harding, journalist and broadcaster, London
‘Whether you’re a CEO or an intern, the ability to communicate is
your biggest asset. Petelin’s expert advice in this book will accelerate
your career’.
Damian Kington, Investor, Brand Consultant, and
Strategy Adviser, New York
‘It’s time for a new President for the Republic of Writing: Petelin’s
book will win her subjects from students to experienced professionals
electing to learn why writing is so vital and to follow her lively learning
pathways on how to do it elegantly, vividly, and with precision.’
David McKie, Professor, Waikato Management School
‘How Writing Works will be invaluable for all students from
undergraduate to doctoral level, especially as a guide to the
construction of robust and coherent argument.’
Margo Blythman, Former Director of Teaching and
Learning, University of the Arts, London
‘How Writing Works will be an enormous support for undergraduates
and postgraduates who want to be the best writers possible. It
will also help to prepare them for success in the communication
industries, whether as author, editor, publicist or publisher.’
Jeri Kroll, Professor of English and Creative
Writing, Flinders University
‘Roslyn Petelin is the best of the best in teaching clear, readable
writing. This book will improve the writing of everyone who reads it.’
Lelia Green, Professor of Communications,
Edith Cowan University
How Writing
Works
This is an engaging and broad-ranging introduction to the elements
of grammar, sentence structure, and style that will help you to write
well across a range of academic, creative, and professional contexts,
deftly combining practical strategies with scholarly principles.
The second edition includes updated material based on a
longstanding commitment to writing and to best international
practice. It includes advice on reading; language; grammar and style;
structuring; designing; paragraphing; punctuation; workplace and
academic documents; digital writing for social media; and revising,
editing, and proofreading.
How Writing Works should be on the desk of everyone who needs
to write: students, professionals in all fields, and creative writers. It
is an essential handbook for working writers and writing workers in
the contemporary writing-reliant workplace.
The accompanying companion website includes links to video
interviews and presentations from leading grammarians including
Professor David Crystal and Professor Geoff Pullum, in addition to
online quizzes and activities to support readers’ learning.
Roslyn Petelin designed and initiated the award-winning
postgraduate Program in Writing, Editing, and Publishing at the
University of Queensland, Australia, and developed the hugely
successful international online course WRITE101X English Grammar
and Style. She is co-author of The Professional Writing Guide and
Professional Communication, and consults extensively to government
and other organisations on writing, editing, and information design.
How Writing
Works
A Field Guide to
Effective
Writing
Second Edition
Roslyn Petelin
Second edition published 2022
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Roslyn Petelin
The right of Roslyn Petelin to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Allen & Unwin 2016
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-1-032-01630-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-01628-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-17934-4 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003179344
Typeset in ITC Giovanni Std
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Access the companion website: www.routledge.com/cw/petelin
This book is dedicated to my dear friend Professor Linda K.
Fuller of Worcester State University, Massachusetts, whom I can
always rely on to produce perfect prose.
And to Robbie and Claudia of Henley, whom I can always rely
on to produce perfect handwriting.
Contents
Prefacexii
CHAPTER 1 How writing works1
Writing in our contemporary information societ1y
What is writing?2
Vocation or avocation?3
Writing in the workplace4
The writing-thinking-learning connection5
Keeping a journal7
Inspiration for journalling9
Writing as a problem-solving process 10
Getting started 12
Producing writing worth reading 12
What characterises good writers? 13ix
The last word 14
Activities 14
Further reading 17
CHAPTER 2 How reading works 18
Why read? 18
How does reading help writing? 19
Writing for your readers 20
Reading in the workplace 24
Structuring writing for reading 29
Reading critically 30
The last word 32
Activities 34
Further reading 36
CHAPTER 3 How words work 37
Using words well 37
Taking words seriously: Style, voice, and tone 41
Choosing words wisely 45
Spoken communication 64
The last word 65
Activities 65
Further reading 67
