Arthur Plotnik (1937–2020)

I got this as a Christmas gift and thought the title was witty. Unfortunately, the title was the best part of the book. Originally published in 2005 and reprinted in 2007, I have to wonder whether the author didn't realise that at some point the members of Generation Y, about whom he was not particularly kind, would potentially pick up the book in hope of some new insights.

I was at a loss to find any new insights in this book. It seemed that the book rehashed advice I've read time and again in other style guides and how-to manuals, sometimes to the point where Plotnik directly quoted them (for example, his quotes from Lynne Truss and Stephen King). I may be personally biased here as I find [b:Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation|8600|Eats, Shoots & Leaves The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation|Lynne Truss|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309285488s/8600.jpg|854886] and [b:On Writing|10569|On Writing|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166254200s/10569.jpg|150292] to be two of the most invaluable books in my reference library. In fact, I would suggest that instead of Plotnik's book, which quotes from these and then picks them apart, to just go straight to the source.

The final jarring note was that there were so many spelling errors in the book. 'Black Horse' instead of 'Black House', by Stephen King, or 'Annie E. Proulx' instead of 'E. Annie Proulx' (in fact, this appeared as 'Annie E. Proulx', 'Annie Proulx', and 'E. Annie Proulx' at different points in the text). I realise proofreaders can miss things at times, but Plotnik lists amongst his other works 'The Elements of Editing'. I don't think I'll read it if this finished product is anything to judge its advice by.… (meer)

Arthur Plotnik is an arch stylist, which made this book at least partly worth reading.

Originally published in 1982 and apparently never revised in subsequent editions (like its namesake, The Elements of Style, which is now in its fourth edition), this book, needless to say, has become quite dated. It's hard to imagine, for example, in the era of digital cameras and laser printers, that an excursus on half-tones remains necessary for editors. Likewise the relatively lengthy exposition on 35mm cameras. I'd hoped for something different.

Still, I enjoyed the use of some forgotten editorial terms from my high school years (does anyone ever need or use a non-reproducing blue pencil these days?). And, as I said, Mr. Plotnik's style is a pleasure to read. In the final analysis, I suppose, the most succinct thing I can think of to say about The Elements of Editing is that it is of historical interest.… (meer)