People read and write a range of English every day, yet what counts as 'correct' English has been narrowly defined and tested for 150 years. This book is written for educators, students, employers and scholars who are seeking a more just and knowledgeable perspective on English writing. It brings together history, headlines, and research with accessible visuals and examples, to provide an engaging overview of the complex nature of written English, and to offer a new approach for our diverse and digital writing world. Each chapter addresses a particular 'myth' of “correct” writing, such as 'students today can't write' or 'the internet is ruining academic writing', and presents the myth's context and consequences. By the end of the book, readers will know how to go from hunting errors to seeking (and finding) patterns in English writing today. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
By:
Laura Aull (University of Michigan Ann Arbor)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 228mm,
Width: 151mm,
Spine: 14mm
Weight: 360g
ISBN: 9781009231282
ISBN 10: 1009231286
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 23 November 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction: When writing means correct writing; 1. Myth 1: You can't write that; 2. Myth 2: You can't write that in school; 3. Myth 3: You can't write that and be smart; 4. Myth 4: You can't write that on the test; 5. Myth 5: Chances are, you can't write; 6. Myth 6: You can't write if you didn't write well in high school; 7. Myth 7: You can't get a job if you didn't write well in college; 8. Myth 8: You can't write that because internet; Conclusion: Writing continuum, language exploration.
Laura Aull is an Associate Professor and Writing Program Director at the University of Michigan, USA, where she teaches English linguistics and trains university writing instructors. Her previous books include How Students Write: A Linguistic Analysis (2020) and First-Year University Writing (2015).
Reviews for You Can't Write That: 8 Myths About Correct English
'A timely text that all readers can enjoy, and a refreshing counterpart to the many prescriptive writing/grammar texts being published … Recommended.' P. J. Kurtz, CHOICE
