Sign-In
Cart
How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One
Paperback
General ReferenceWriting Instruction
Publisher Price: $16.99
ISBN13: 9780061840531
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Published: Aug 7 2012
Pages: 176
Weight: 0.30
Height: 0.40 Width: 5.30 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
New York Times Bestseller
Both deeper and more democratic than The Elements of Style --Adam Haslett, Financial Times
A guided tour through some of the most beautiful, arresting sentences in the English language. --Slate
In this entertaining and erudite gem, world-class professor and New York Times columnist Stanley Fish offers both sentence craft and sentence pleasure, skills invaluable to any writer (or reader).
Like a seasoned sportscaster, Fish marvels at the adeptness of finely crafted sentences and breaks them down into digestible morsels, giving readers an instant play-by-play. Drawing on a wide range of great writers, from Philip Roth to Antonin Scalia to Jane Austen, How to Write a Sentence is much more than a writing manual--it is a spirited love letter to the written word, and a key to understanding how great writing works. It is a book that will stand the test of time.
2 different editions
Also available
Also in
Writing Instruction
Publication Manual (Official) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Paperback
Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story
Le Guin, Ursula K.
Paperback
Paying for College, 2026: Everything You Need to Maximize Financial Aid and Afford College
Martz, Geoffrey
The Princeton Review
Chany, Kalman
Paperback
Scriptnotes: A Book about Screenwriting and Things That Are Interesting to Screenwriters
August, John
Mazin, Craig
Hardcover
Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less (Revised and Updated)
Vandehei, Jim
Allen, Mike
Schwartz, Roy
Hardcover
The Well-Spoken Thesaurus: The Most Powerful Ways to Say Everyday Words and Phrases
Heehler, Tom
Paperback
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need
Brody, Jessica
Paperback
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression (Second Edition)
Ackerman, Angela
Puglisi, Becca
Paperback
The Language of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction, and Fantasy
Le Guin, Ursula K.
Paperback
Read These Banned Books: A Journal and 52-Week Reading Challenge from the American Library Association
American Library Association (ALA)
Paperback
Publication Manual (Official) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Paperback
How to Write Romantasy: Blending Fantasy and Romance into One Heart-Stopping Adventure
Moreci, Jenna
Paperback
The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters
Hartmann, Ross
Paperback
Take It from Me: An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch
Habib, Alia Hanna
Hardcover
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Ninth Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers
Turabian, Kate L.
Paperback
Korean Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Korean and English (Free Online Audio)
You, Eunsun
Damron, Julie
Paperback
How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking
Ahrens, Sönke
Paperback
The Vocabulary Builder Workbook: Simple Lessons and Activities to Teach Yourself Over 1,400 Must-Know Words
Magoosh
Lele, Chris
Paperback
Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide to Narrative Craft
Stuckey-French, Elizabeth
Stuckey-French, Ned
Burroway, Janet
Paperback
Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories
Almond, Steve
Paperback
Help! My Kid Hates Writing: How to Turn Struggling Students Into Brave Writers
Bogart, Julie
Hardcover
AP English Language and Composition Premium, 2026: Prep Book with 8 Practice Tests + Online Practice
Schanhals, Michael
Paperback
Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology
Robertson, Terry Dwain
Vyhmeister, Nancy Jean
Paperback
The War Correspondents: The Incredible Stories of the Brave Men and Women Who Covered the Fight Against Hitler's Germany
Lloyd, Keith Warren
Hardcover
AP English Literature and Composition Premium, 2026: Prep Book with 8 Practice Tests + Online Practice
Schanhals, Michael
Paperback
Princeton Review AP English Language & Composition Premium Prep, 20th Edition: 8 Practice Tests + Digital Practice Online + Content Review
The Princeton Review
Paperback
Learn & Retain Spanish with Spaced Repetition: 5,000+ Vocabulary, Grammar, & Audio Pronunciation with Anki
Adros Verse Education S R L
Paperback
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary
Masclef, Jean-Pierre
Janes, Michael
Carillet, Jean-Bernard
Paperback
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round
Attenberg, Jami
Paperback
The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects
Sedita, Joan
Paperback
The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need, Updated Edition: Your One-Stop Source for Mastering English Grammar
Thurman, Susan
Paperback
The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Stress and Volatility (Second Edition)
Ackerman, Angela
Puglisi, Becca
Paperback
Word Smart, 6th Edition: 1400+ Words That Belong in Every Savvy Student's Vocabulary
The Princeton Review
Paperback
Quack This Way: David Foster Wallace & Bryan A. Garner Talk Language and Writing
Wallace, David Foster
Garner, Bryan
Paperback
Conversational Japanese: A Practical Communication Guide for Visitors to Japan
Kaneko, Anne
Paperback
Marble Composition Notebook College Ruled: Pink Marble Notebooks, School Supplies, Notebooks for School
Young Dreamers Press
Paperback
Powerful College Admission Essays: A Guide to Telling Your Story
Herndon-Brown, Shereem
Barnard, Brennan
Paperback
Publication Manual (Official) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Hardcover
Writing Tools for the College Admissions Essay: Write Your Way Into the School of Your Dreams
Clark, Roy Peter
Paperback
Word Power Made Easy: The Complete Handbook for Building a Superior Vocabulary
Lewis, Norman
Paperback
The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma
Ackerman, Angela
Puglisi, Becca
Paperback
Poetry as Spellcasting: Poems, Essays, and Prompts for Manifesting Liberation and Reclaiming Power
White, Lisbeth
Beyer, Tamiko
Hemphill, Destiny
Paperback
The Elements of Journalism, Revised and Updated 4th Edition: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect
Kovach, Bill
Rosenstiel, Tom
Paperback
Writing for Busy Readers: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World
Lasky-Fink, Jessica
Rogers, Todd
Paperback
Woordzoeker Boek voor Volwassenen 100 Groot-Letterboek Puzzels 3000 Woorden: Ervaar het plezier van klassieke woordzoekers
Dierolf, Henning
Paperback
French Made Easy Level 1: An Easy Step-By-Step Approach To Learn French for Beginners (Textbook + Workbook Included)
Lingo Mastery
Paperback
The Author's Success Code: 9 Secrets to Write and Publish a Book That Will Change Your Life
Mansour, Ashley
Paperback
Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories
Anders, Charlie Jane
Paperback
Learning Japanese Kanji Practice Book Volume 1: (Jlpt Level N5 & AP Exam) the Quick and Easy Way to Learn the Basic Japanese Kanji
Ph D. Sato, Eriko
Paperback
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
King, Dave
Browne, Renni
Paperback
Thinking Through Writing: A Guide to Becoming a Better Writer and Thinker
Kaag, John
Van Belle, Jonathan
Paperback
The Ultimate RPG Game Master's Worldbuilding Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create and Customize Your Own Game World
D'Amato, James
Paperback
How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses
Sweeney, Dennis James
Paperback
The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life
Fallon, Allison
Paperback
The Vocabulary Workbook for 7th Grade: Weekly Activities to Boost Your Word Power
McLellan, Kelly Anne
Paperback
1100 Words You Need to Know + Online Practice: Build Your Vocabulary in Just 15 Minutes a Day!
Gordon, Melvin
Carriero, Rich
Bromberg, Murray
Paperback
Reading and Writing Korean: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Hangeul Writing System (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Cards)
Driggs, Derek
Kiaer, Jieun
Paperback
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller
Brody, Jessica
Paperback
Writing Tools (10th Anniversary Edition): 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
Clark, Roy Peter
Paperback
Print and Cursive Handwriting Workbook: 35 Lessons to Improve Your Penmanship
Sanders, Sally
Paperback
The Lexicon: A Cornucopia of Wonderful Words for the Inquisitive Word Lover
Buckley, William F., Jr.
Paperback
The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry
Addonizio, Kim
Laux, Dorianne
Paperback