Here are some recommended books about writing (mathematics) stylishly.
Leonard Gillman, Writing Mathematics Well: A Manual for Authors, Mathematical Association of America, 1987 (QA42 .G45 1987). This is a short pamphlet of rules for good exposition. It is on reserve for fall 1996 in the Evans Library.
Nicholas J. Higham, Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Philadelphia, 1993. This book should be available in the reference section of the Evans Library (call number QA42.H54 1993). It has lots of good advice, including a section titled: ``When English is a foreign language.''
Donald E. Knuth, Tracy Larrabee, and Paul M. Roberts, Mathematical Writing, Mathematical Association of America, 1989. This is transcripts of lectures from Knuth's 1987 course ``Mathematical Writing'' at Stanford University. Yes, this is THE Knuth, grand wizard and creator of TeX.
Steven G. Krantz, A Primer of Mathematical Writing, American Mathematical Society, 1996.
William Strunk and E. B. White, The Elements of Style, third revised edition, Macmillan, 1979 (PE1408 .S772 1979). This is a classic little book of advice on good writing. It is on reserve for fall 1996 in the Evans Library. The original 1918 edition is in the public domain and is available in hypertext format.
Mary-Claire van Leunen, A Handbook for Scholars, revised edition, New York and Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1992. This is essential reading if you are writing a research paper, a dissertation, or a vita.
Here are some of my favorite rules about writing, expressed in oxymoronic (self-contradictory) style.
Eschew obfuscation.
Check to see if you any word out.
Don't abbrev.
When dangling, don't use participles.
What is wrong with the following examples of mathematical prose?
Rewrite the examples with good style.
Created Oct 23, 1996.
Last modified Oct 25, 1996
by boas@tamu.edu.
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Copyright © 1996 by Harold P. Boas.
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