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for Random House copy editors, the book covers everything from words to avoid and common writing mistakes to debunking outdated grammar myths.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.

Dreyer's English Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

Dreyer's English

Benjamin Dreyer

Education Communication skill Creativity

Обзор

Ключевые Выводы

Автор

Часто Задаваемые Вопросы

Dreyer's English transforms grammar from tedious to thrilling. This New York Times bestseller - endorsed by George Saunders, Elizabeth Strout, and even Sting - makes language rules genuinely entertaining. Why has this style guide become the rare grammar book people actually read cover-to-cover?

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Once you've learned the rules, you can break them.

Исследуйте Свой Способ Обучения

Dreyer's English — это не просто книга, это мастер-класс по теме Education. Чтобы помочь вам усвоить уроки наиболее удобным способом, мы предлагаем пять уникальных режимов обучения. Независимо от того, глубоко ли вы мыслите, быстро учитесь или любите истории, для вас найдётся подходящий режим.

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Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Dreyer's English

Benjamin Dreyer

Education Communication skill Creativity

Обзор

Ключевые Выводы

Автор

Часто Задаваемые Вопросы

Исследуйте Свой Способ Обучения

Краткое резюме9мин

Почувствуйте книгу через голос автора

Глубокое погружение42мин

Превратите знания в увлекательные, богатые примерами идеи

Карточки10 идей

Захватите ключевые идеи мгновенно для быстрого обучения

Развлекательно23мин

Наслаждайтесь книгой в весёлой и увлекательной форме

Лучшая цитата из «Dreyer's English»

Once you've learned the rules, you can break them.

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The Language Whisperer's Handbook

00:00

Grammar rules are like speed limits on a winding mountain road - they exist for good reason, but sometimes you need to accelerate through a curve to feel the true joy of driving. Benjamin Dreyer, Random House's copy chief for over thirty years, has crafted a style guide that manages to be both authoritative and wickedly funny. English evolved anarchically, absorbing vocabulary with each foreigner who set foot on British soil, to say nothing of American mischief. It has no enforceable laws, much less someone to enforce the laws it doesn't have. This anarchic evolution is precisely what makes our language both frustrating and beautiful.

Breaking Rules with Style and Purpose

Punctuation: The Breath Between Your Words

Numbers, Formatting, and Practical Matters

Fiction's Special Challenges and Considerations

Words That Trip Us Up and How to Avoid Them

The Art of Precision and Fluidity

Исследуйте Свой Способ Обучения

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Познакомьтесь с Dreyer's English по-своему.

Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

BeFreed объединяет глобальное сообщество из 200 000+ любознательных умов

Узнайте больше о том, как обсуждают BeFreed в интернете

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

BeFreed объединяет глобальное сообщество из 200 000+ любознательных умов

Узнайте больше о том, как обсуждают BeFreed в интернете

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

Начните своё обучение прямо сейчас

Скачать это резюме

Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer Summary

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Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer Summary

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Ключевые выводы

The Language Whisperer's Handbook

Breaking Rules with Style and Purpose

Punctuation: The Breath Between Your Words

Numbers, Formatting, and Practical Matters

Fiction's Special Challenges and Considerations

Words That Trip Us Up and How to Avoid Them

The Art of Precision and Fluidity

Режим Краткое резюме - Прочитайте или прослушайте краткое содержание Dreyer's English за 9 минут

Режим Карточки - Топ-10 идей из Dreyer's English кратко

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Скачать Dreyer's English PDF

Скачать Dreyer's English EPUB

Похожее

Ключевые выводы

The Language Whisperer's Handbook

Breaking Rules with Style and Purpose

Punctuation: The Breath Between Your Words

Numbers, Formatting, and Practical Matters

Fiction's Special Challenges and Considerations

Words That Trip Us Up and How to Avoid Them

The Art of Precision and Fluidity