Two useful books (1949)

Book Reviews from the November 1949 issue of the Socialist Standard

“Plain Words.” Sir Ernest Gowers. (H.M.S.O., 1948. 2/-.)

“Straightforward English.” (N. L. Clay. MacDonald & Co., 1949. 4/6.)

Among the more recent books on the English language are Sir Ernest Gowers’ “Plain Words” and “Straightforward English” by N. L. Clay. The former was written for civil servants concerned with official English, but has interested a much wider public. It presumes a knowledge of the language, and is a very fine corrective for those whose habits of speech and writing have become slovenly. The latter is “designed to help an ordinary person to write a clear message.”

Prepared by a schoolmaster, it is laid out along the lines of a school text-book, with examples and exercises on each section. It covers all the necessary ground, and the exposition is clear without being tedious. The examples are well chosen, up to date and of adult interest.

The use of jargon, probably the most certain pitfall for the political propagandist, is dealt with in both books. Thinking clearly and writing clearly are so intertwined that it is difficult to separate them. In “Lectures on Rhetoric” Blair said, “They who are learning to compose and arrange sentences with accuracy and order are learning at the same time to think with accuracy and order.”

As a political party committed to a programme of propaganda, we know what a handicap muddled thinking is. Our case is strong and clear. It is up to us to put it lucidly. There is nothing ambiguous in ‘'Workers of the World, Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains; you have a world to win.”

That is the clear thinking we need, and the straightforward English for expressing it. Those who wish to infuse that quality into their propaganda would be well advised to take a fireside refresher course with either of these books this winter.

K. D.