Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer Summary

1. Clarity is writing's single most important goal.
2. The Oxford comma prevents dangerous ambiguity.
3. Split infinitives, dangling prepositions, and starting with "but" are perfectly fine.
4. Eliminate wan intensifiers like very, really, rather, quite, and just.
5. Punctuation breathes life into prose while words build its structure.
6. Distinguish between true grammar rules and outdated restrictive nonrules.
7. Reading your work aloud catches errors that silent reading misses.
8. Active voice delivers stronger, clearer writing than passive voice constructions.
9. Language evolves continuously, so writers should embrace contemporary usage thoughtfully.
10. Rewording beats wrestling with correctness.
11. Copyeditors must preserve each author's voice while ensuring technical precision.
12. The proximity principle governs verb agreement in complex relative clauses.

About the Author

Benjamin Dreyer is the bestselling author of Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style and a renowned authority on grammar, editing, and clear prose. Born in 1958 and raised in New York, Dreyer spent three decades as vice president, executive managing editor, and copy chief at Random House, where he oversaw hundreds of titles annually and copyedited works by literary luminaries including Elizabeth Strout, E.L. Doctorow, and Frank Rich. His expertise in language and style made him a cult figure among writers and editors, with The Washington Post dubbing him "the unofficial language guru on Twitter."

Dreyer's English debuted at number nine on The New York Times bestseller list and was named one of the year's best books by O: The Oprah Magazine.

The book began as an internal Random House memo that expanded into a comprehensive guide praised for making prose pleasurable. Dreyer shares ongoing insights through his newsletter, which reaches over 20,000 subscribers. He retired from Random House in 2023 and now lives in Santa Monica, California.

FAQs About This Book

What is Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer about?

Dreyer's English is a style guide and writing manual that combines practical grammar advice with entertaining prose on clarity and style. Originally an internal memo for Random House copy editors, the book covers everything from words to avoid and common writing mistakes to debunking outdated grammar myths. Benjamin Dreyer delivers authoritative guidance with wit and personality, making language rules accessible and enjoyable for writers at all levels.

Who is Benjamin Dreyer?

Benjamin Dreyer served as the copy chief and vice-president at Random House (now Penguin Random House) from 2008 until his retirement in 2023. He supervised the publication of hundreds of titles annually and personally copy-edited works by acclaimed authors including Elizabeth Strout, E.L. Doctorow, and Shirley Jackson. The Washington Post calls him "the unofficial language guru on Twitter," where he shares writing advice with a devoted following.

Who should read Dreyer's English?

Dreyer's English is essential for writers, editors, journalists, students, and anyone who wants to improve their writing skills. Fiction authors will particularly benefit from the dedicated chapter on novel editing, while professionals seeking clearer communication will appreciate the practical advice on eliminating wordiness. Even casual readers who "simply revel in language" will find the book entertaining and enlightening.

Is Dreyer's English worth reading?

Yes, Dreyer's English is worth reading for its combination of authoritative guidance and entertaining delivery. The book debuted at number nine on the New York Times bestseller list and received enthusiastic reviews from The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, and other major publications. Readers gain practical tools for improving their writing while enjoying Dreyer's witty observations and passion for language.

What are the main ideas in Dreyer's English?

Dreyer's English covers eliminating unnecessary words like "very" and "rather," understanding the difference between real grammar rules and arbitrary "nonrules," and mastering commonly confused words. The book emphasizes that copy editors should enhance rather than correct an author's voice, helping writers achieve their vision. Dreyer also provides specific guidance on fiction techniques, dialogue formatting, flashback integration, and maintaining consistency throughout manuscripts.

What words does Benjamin Dreyer say to avoid in Dreyer's English?

Benjamin Dreyer identifies meaningless modifiers to eliminate from writing, including:

• very
• rather
• really
• quite
• in fact
• just

He suggests writers avoid these words for one week to recognize how unnecessary they are in most contexts. The book also catalogs "trimmables"—redundant phrases like "hollow tube" where one word already implies the other. This pruning approach helps writers achieve clearer, more direct prose.

What are the "Great Nonrules" in Dreyer's English?

The "Great Nonrules of the English Language" are outdated writing prohibitions that Benjamin Dreyer systematically debunks in Dreyer's English. These include never splitting infinitives, never starting sentences with "and" or "but," and never ending sentences with prepositions. Dreyer calls these nonrules "largely unhelpful, pointlessly constricting, feckless, and useless," arguing they restrict writers unnecessarily. He provides evidence that accomplished authors regularly violate these so-called rules to create better prose.

How does Dreyer's English approach grammar rules differently?

Dreyer's English distinguishes between legitimate grammar rules and arbitrary prescriptions imposed by "some long dead dude who didn't understand the importance of bathing more than once a month." Rather than dictating rigid rules, Dreyer explains the principles behind effective writing and acknowledges that English "developed without codification" and "continues to evolve anarchically." He prioritizes what makes prose pleasurable and clear over pedantic correctness, giving writers freedom within informed guidelines.

What writing advice does Dreyer's English provide for fiction authors?

Dreyer's English includes a dedicated fiction chapter covering techniques the Chicago Manual of Style doesn't address. He explains how to handle character self-interruptions using em dash–space–capital letter combinations, seamlessly integrate flashbacks by strategically shifting from past perfect to simple past tense, and format dialogue consistently. The chapter also covers common consistency problems in novels and provides guidance that will be "illuminating for novelists" and essential for fiction editors.

What are "trimmables" in Dreyer's English?

Trimmables are redundant phrases where one word unnecessarily repeats what another already implies. Benjamin Dreyer's favorite example in Dreyer's English is "assless chaps"—since chaps are by definition assless garments worn by cowboys, the modifier is superfluous. Other examples include "hollow tube," "entirely eliminate," and similar doubled constructions. Identifying and removing trimmables makes writing tighter and more professional without losing meaning.

How does Dreyer's English compare to other writing style guides?

Dreyer's English stands out from traditional style guides like the Chicago Manual through its entertaining, personality-driven approach and focus on principles over prescriptions. While Chicago provides technical formatting rules, Dreyer emphasizes what makes prose pleasurable and addresses practical editing scenarios other guides ignore. The Wall Street Journal compared it favorably to Mary Norris's "Between You & Me," noting a trend of "copy editors' memoirs-cum-style guides" that blend authority with accessibility.

What is Benjamin Dreyer's philosophy on copy editing in Dreyer's English?

Benjamin Dreyer articulates that "the role of a copy editor is, above all else, to assist and enhance and advise rather than to correct." He emphasizes that editors should not transform books into their own vision but instead "help fulfill an author's vision and make each book into the ideal version of itself" with humility. This collaborative philosophy positions editors as allies working to elevate authors' voices rather than adversaries imposing external standards.