Table Of ContentReader's Digest
WRITE
BETTER
SPEAK
BETTER
TheReader'sDigestAssociation, Inc.
Pleasantville, New York
TheReader'sDigestAssociationLtd.,
Montreal, Canada
The acknowledgments thatappearonpages 728-730
are herebymade a part ofthis copyrightpage.
©
1972The Reader's DigestAssociation, Inc.
©
1972 TheReader's DigestAssociation [Canada] Ltd.
Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in
English orin otherlanguages, is prohibited.
Allrights are reserved.
LibraryofCongress CatalogCard Number: 75-183859
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
Introduction
Your verbal ability is among the most important skills you pos-
sess. Throughout your life, in all kinds of situations from the classroom
to the board room, people form their opinions of you on the basis of
how you speak and how you write. Understanding how to use words
effectively can bring you increased confidence and pave your way to
—
success in school, in business, in your social life in every area where
communication is important.
Write Better, Speak Better is designed to help you achieve
this goal. Itbrings together in one place the most practical advice avail-
able from experts in the field of communications. Its fifty-nine chapters
havebeencarefullyselectedandorganizedbytheeditorsofthe Reader's
Digest to give you a complete course in the writing and speaking skills
that are essential in your everyday life, whether you are a housewife, a
businessman, a student, or simply a person who wants to say \\hat you
meanand getresults.
The book is divided into four parts. The first, "How to Write
Better," covers in detail the many writing situations you encounter,
from sending an invitation to preparing a business report or writing
your congressman. Sample letters and lists of tips make the material
clear and easy to understand. Part Two reviews the basic elements of
word power: vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Part
Three, "How to Speak Better," gives helpful, concrete ad\'ice on speak-
ing situations that include everyda)' conversation, what to sa)" on the
telephone, job interviews, running a meeting, how to use anecdotes in
a speech, and organizing a formal talk complete with visual aids. The
final section tells you how to detect and correct flaws in your \oice or
pronunciation. The special fifty-page feature, "A Dictionary of Usage,"
provides ready reference to common problems in writing and speaking.
Study the chapters, review the tips, take the progress tests, and
you'll soon find that words reallv can work wonders for you.
Contents
Part one
HOW TO WRITE BETTER
1. Good writing—a skill you can learn 3
2. Secrets of good letter writing 7
3. Handling your personal correspondence 17
4. Give your letters the right look 35
5. Social notes and invitations 47
6. How to write for information 82
7. How to complain and get action 89
8. Writing your public officials 104
9. Writing to newspapers, magazines, and TV 113
10. Applying to schools and colleges 128
11. Writing and your college career 143
12. How to write a research paper 147
13. Precis, book reports, and project reports 163
14. Taking written examinations 177
15. Applying for a job 193
16. Good writing is good business 206
17. Picture the people you are writing to 211
18. Plan your letters before you write 224
19. How to write sales letters 233
20. How to say No with a smile 251
21. How to handle delicate situations 263
22. How to write business reports 278
Part two
THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE
23. Good craftsmanship pays dividends 291
24. Seven modern steps to word power 293
25. Learning words by the 'unfolding process' 301
26. Quick vocabulary builder: words from Latin and Greek 309
27. Two keys to clarity: grammar and usage 320
28. Good grammar in a nutshell 326
29. Why spelling and punctuation are important 338
30. Punctuation pointers 341
31. How to become a good speller 357
32. The simple rules of spelling 361
33. Can you read what you write? 379
Part three
HOW TO SPEAK BETTER
34. Of cabbages and kings 385
35. The secrets of good conversation 391
36. The art of being a successful host 412
37. When you meet a famous person 419
38. Ten conversation problems and how to solve them 433
39. How you come across on the telephone 446
40. How to handle an interview 454
41. The five steps to successful selling 464
42. How to run a meeting 471
43. 'Me? Speak in front of a group?' 482
44. How to beat stage fright 486
45. How to pick your subject 492
46. How to prepare your speech 503
47. Start with a list of points 519
48. How to sell your idea 528
49. Use visuals to prove your point 537
50. Preparing yourself to speak 552
51. What makes a good speaker 564
52. The secret of good delivery 569
Part four
LEARN TO USE YOUR VOICE
53. Beware of these speech blemishes 581
54. How to improve your voice 593
55. Your child talks like you 615
56. That bugaboo: correct pronunciation 626
57. Three pronunciation pitfalls 628
58. Recent trends in American speech 636
59. Our wonderful, erratic language 641
A DICTIONARY OF USAGE 649
TEST YOUR SKILLS: ANSWERS 699
INDEX 709
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