» advanced search
subscribe & win

Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win FREE books.

your e-mail address Send!

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Cover may not depict edition offered for sale

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

About this title: A beloved classic, this definitive volume on the art of nonfiction writing celebrates its 30th anniversary. Revised seven times, it has stood the test of time and remains a valued resource for writers.

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.

Page 1 of 4   change currency
sort by
On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: £5.61

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 6th Revised and Binding: Trade Paperback Publisher: HarperResource Date Published: 04/1998 ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Very Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 308 p. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Alibris, NV, USA

Reliability: Best

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: £5.61

Ships from RI, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 6th Revised and Updated ed. Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: HarperResource Date Published: 1998 ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 308 p. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: BearBooks, RI, USA

Reliability: Best

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from IN, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Better World Books, IN, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from DC, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Hardcover ISBN-13: 9780965647625 ISBN: 0965647625

Description: Good. Book is in good reading condition. Book shows little wear. Dust jacket has light wear/rounding at edges. Dust jacket included. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Thrift It, DC, USA

Reliability: Best

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 6th Revised and Updated ed. Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: HarperResource Date Published: 1998 ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 308 p. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Great Buy Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from GA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Hardcover Publisher: HarperPerennial ISBN-13: 9780965647625 ISBN: 0965647625

Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Atlanta Book Company, GA, USA

Reliability: High

used book

On Writing Well the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from GA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Hardcover Publisher: HarperPerennial ISBN-13: 9780965647625 ISBN: 0965647625

Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Atlanta Book Company, GA, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from TX, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: HarperResource ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Only lightly used. Book has minimal wear to cover and binding. A few pages may have small creases and minimal underlining. Book selection as BIG as Texas. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Blue Cloud Books, TX, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from TX, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: HarperResource ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Only lightly used. Book has minimal wear to cover and binding. A few pages may have small creases and minimal underlining. Book selection as BIG as Texas. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Blue Cloud Books, TX, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from TX, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: HarperResource ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Fair. Book selection as BIG as Texas. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Blue Cloud Books, TX, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by Zinsser, William Knowlton

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 6th Revised and Updated ed. Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: HarperResource Date Published: 1998 ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 308 p. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Discover Books Ltd., WA, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: HarperResource ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Minimal damage to cover and binding. Pages show light use. With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, Best Prices. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Motor City Books, WA, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: HarperResource ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Fair. With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, Best Prices. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Motor City Books, WA, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: HarperResource ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Light shelving wear with minimal damage to cover and bindings. Pages show minor use. Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read. Recycle and Reuse! read more

condition:

Book: Good

Available qty: 4

 

seller information:

Name: thriftbooks, WA, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from AZ, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: HarperResource Date Published: 1998 ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Bookmans, AZ, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. We here at Elistics have a 100% satisfacion guarantee. Thank you for your business. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Elistics, WA, USA

Reliability: High

used book

On Writing Well the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780965647625 ISBN: 0965647625

Description: Very Good. In great shape, may have light wear. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Goodwill Discount Books, NV, USA

Reliability: High

used book

On Writing Well the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Hardcover Publisher: HarperPerennial ISBN-13: 9780965647625 ISBN: 0965647625

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

On Writing Well the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: £5.61

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Hardcover Publisher: HarperPerennial ISBN-13: 9780965647625 ISBN: 0965647625

Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £5.92

Ships from CA, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Satisfaction Guaranteed. Shipped quickly. Paperback. 6th Ed. Used, very good. Very good overall with light to moderate wear. No dust jacket. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: QualityBargainBooks, CA, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well used book

On Writing Well

by Zinsser, William

price: £7.17

Ships from SD, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Trade Paperback. Publisher: Harper Date Published: 1998 ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good+ read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Brookings Book Company, SD, USA

Reliability: Best

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

price: £7.45

Ships from MD, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Good. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Premier Books, MD, USA

Reliability: High

used book

On Writing Well the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Zinsser

price: £7.45

Ships from TX, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Hardcover Publisher: HarperPerennial Date Published: 1998-01-01 ISBN-13: 9780965647625 ISBN: 0965647625

Description: Like New. Looks like it just came out of the bookstore. We usually ship within 24 hours. read more

condition:

Book: Fine/Like New

 

seller information:

Name: Ferbooks, TX, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction used book

On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

by William Knowlton Zinsser

price: £7.79

Ships from CO, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: HarperResource Date Published: 1998-04 ISBN-13: 9780062735232 ISBN: 0062735233

Description: Fair. Light edge and corner wear. Light creases to cover. Writing and underlining to pages. Page sstill readable and tight. Great reading copy. All U.S. orders shipped with tracking numbers and e-mail confirmations. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Colorado's Used Bookstore, Inc, CO, USA

Reliability: High

On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (on Writing Well) used book

On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: the Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (on Writing Well)

by William K. Zinsser

price: £8.07

Ships from ID, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to any address by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780060891541 ISBN: 0060891548

Description: Good. Normal wear--cover corners bent, page edges slightly dirty 100% Money Back Guarantee. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Idaho Youth Ranch Books, ID, USA

Reliability: High


Page 1 of 4: 1 2 3 4 Next>

*What is a Wishlist?

Reviews of {0} by {1}
goodreads rating 4 out of 5 4 out of 5
Oct 13, 2009
By Christine, Lansing, MI

"This is a classic for all writers, no matter the genre. It reminds us to take time with out writing and create good writing, not just pound out the sentences to get the job done. Writing is a craft that takes time, patience, experience and imagination. After reading this, I went back over some of my own recent writing and noticed several places where it could be improved. I keep this on my bookshelf in the "do not give away" section!"

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
goodreads rating 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Sep 9, 2009
By M.C., The United States

"William Zinsser did not sell more than a million copies of On Writing Well by writing for the APA only. Zinsser was successful because he wrote for the average reader by writing for himself. He conveyed his identity in his work by writing from his perspective. The uniqueness of Zinsser's voice and ideas are fresh to the reader, who wants to read anything but a 300-paged address about grammar's conventional rules. Zinsser also avoided condescension in his tone by writing for himself. Who would condescend himself? The average reader can recognize when he is belittled regardless of how plain he is. According to Zinsser, the reader wants to figure out the meaning of the text by himself. The clarity in Zinsser's writing, which has few words with more than syllables but many contractions, is clear enough. Zinsser's writing is clear because Zinsser must understand his own writing when he writes for himself. Clarity and brevity are among Zinsser's treasured virtues in writing because the reader is human and impatient.

Another piece of advice conveyed in this book is that writers should write about what they like. If one were to write about his interests, he would know his subjects and have the drive to write about them.

Although On Writing Well probably offends every one who strictly condemns the placement of "But" at the beginning of a sentence or the casual usage of contractions, it yet offers invaluable advice to those who wants to write but is confined by the fear of writing, which is everyone."

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
goodreads rating 4 out of 5 4 out of 5
Aug 28, 2009
By april violet, Nashville, TN

"Of all books I have read about writing, this one is the most accessible and useful. It's a practical guide on how to be clear and concise in nonfiction writing. William Zinsser's tone is conversational and his sense of humor made me chuckle.

It's good to know that Zinsser thinks that a sentence is a fine thing for a preposition to be put at the end of. And it's ok to begin a sentence with a conjunction. I don't agree with everything he says, but he makes good points about what works with nonfiction writing and what doesn't.

I would give the book 5 stars for the sections on technique. The rest of the book covers styles of nonfiction writing and gets 3 stars. I plan to buy a copy for my collection of reference books."

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
goodreads rating 3 out of 5 3 out of 5
Jun 27, 2009
By Will, Grand Isle, VT

"These are just part of the notes I have to take for school
1. Simplicity - What does it mean to have simplicity in your writing? What are some steps to attaining it?
2. Clutter - What does it look like not to have clutter in your writing? Give some examples.
3. Style - According to Zinsser, where does style come from?
4. Audience - Who does Zinsser say is your most important audience? Which of his 3 example excerpts
do you like best and why?
5. Words - What is a cliché? What are some that you've heard today?
6. Usage - What does Zinsser say about using the same verb tense throughout a piece? What should
every successful piece of nonfiction leave the reader with?
7. The Lead and The Ending - What is the importance of a good lead? What does it mean to bring a story
full circle?
8. Bits and Pieces
Define these terms in your own words or Zinsser's. (Please DO NOT look them up in the dictionary:

Verbs:
Exclamation Point:
Adverbs:
Dash:
Adjectives:
Semicolon:
Little Qualifiers:
Overstatement:
Paragraphs:
Rewriting:
Sexism (as relates to pronouns):"

Share this review Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
  1-4 of 18    Next page  

 

 
Overall customer rating:
3.9 out of 5 3.9 out of 5
17 of 18 (94%) customers said they would recommend this book to a friend.

Our Money-Back Guarantee

We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.