ニューヨーカー誌が誇るカンマ・クイーンの重箱の隅をつつく栄光

H. W. Fowler is a purist, which is not a bad thing. He is an amusing writer on all subjects, and offers deep background on conservative language use that has come down to us, to accept or reject.

Now in its fourth edition, this volume speaks volumes about usage in our time. Bryan Garner is a national treasure. His legal background makes his judgments seem eminently rational. Examples galore. A system of ranking things on a scale of correctness that anyone can take comfort in.

Brief and still timely, Strunk and White is the single most practical — and portable — compendium of classic usage tips.

This is the best of all The New Yorker memoirs, for its policies on editing and biographical background, and strong opinions (which I happen to agree with).