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The Least You Should Know About English: Writing Skills, Enhanced Edition, 14th Edition

Paige Wilson

  • Copyright 2028
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Available 1 March 2027', '2027-03-01T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $162.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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The Least You Should Know About English: Writing Skills, Enhanced Edition 14th Edition by Paige Wilson
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Overview

For decades, "The Least You Should Know About English: Writing Skills" has helped students master the basics of writing.

With clear explanations, real-world examples, over 200 exercises, and detailed feedback, the 13th Enhanced Edition reinforces writing fundamentals while providing students with a deeper understanding of them.

Parts One through Three build essential skills in word use, sentence structure, and punctuation, while Part Four provides concise, easy-to-follow instruction in paragraph and essay writing, including foundational reading-based writing skills. Each numbered section pairs brief explanations with engaging exercises and answers that guide students through practice and application.

Exercises drawn from a variety of disciplines, including science, art, history, film, literature, social studies, business, and the media, help broaden students' knowledge while strengthening their writing skills. Long after the course ends, students can rely on this resource for support in future writing tasks.

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Meet the Authors

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Paige Wilson

PAIGE WILSON, Associate Professor of English, is now primary author of Teresa Ferster Glazier's THE LEAST YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ENGLISH classic textbook series (currently in its 13th edition) and a new co-author of Pamela Altman's SENTENCE-COMBINING WORKBOOK (5th edition). Wilson has enthusiastically taught grammar, writing, and literature at Pasadena City College since 1986 and also works as a Writing Consultant/Grammar Expert for international and local companies.

Table of Contents

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Preface
Acknowledgments
Getting the Most from The Least You Should Know about English
Part I: Word Use
What Is the Least You Should Know about Word Use?
Word Use Preview Test
1. Words Often Confused (Set 1)
2. Words Often Confused (Set 2)
3. The Eight Parts of Speech
4. Adjectives and Adverbs
5. Contractions
6. Possessives
7. Consulting a Dictionary
Word Use Progress Test. Word Use Practice
Part I: Sentence Structure
What Is the Least You Should Know about Sentence Structure?
Sentence Structure Preview Test
8. Locating Prepositional Phrases
9. Finding Subjects and Verbs
10. Understanding Dependent Clauses
11. Correcting Fragments
12. Correcting Run-on Sentences
13. Identifying Verb Phrases
14. Using Standard English Verbs
15. Using Regular and Irregular Verbs
16. Maintaining Subject-Verb Agreement
17. Avoiding Shifts in Tense
18. Recognizing Verbal Phrases
19. Correcting Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers
20. Following Sentence Patterns
21. Avoiding Clichés, Awkward Phrasing, and Wordiness
22. Correcting for Parallel Structure
23. Using Pronouns
24. Avoiding Shifts in Person
Sentence Structure Progress Test. Sentence Structure Practice
Part III: Punctuation
What Is the Least You Should Know about Punctuation?
Punctuation Preview Test
25. Periods, Question Marks, Exclamation Points, Semicolons, Colons, Dashes
26. Commas Used to Separate Elements
27. Commas Used to Enclose Elements
28. Quotation Marks and Italics/Underlines
29. Capital Letters
Punctuation Progress Test. Punctuation Practice
Part IV: Writing
What Is the Least You Should Know about Writing?
Writing as Structure
First, Second, and Third-Person Approaches
Basic Structures
30. The Paragraph
31. The Essay. Writing Skills
32. Writing in Your Own Voice
33. Finding a Topic
34. Organizing Ideas. Organizing an Essay
35. Supporting with Details
36. Choosing and Using Quotations
37. Writing in Response to a Reading
38. Writing an Argument
39. Writing Summaries
40. Revising, Proofreading, and Presenting Your Work
Answers
Index
Appendix: The Uses of Generative AI from a “Least You Should Know” Perspective

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  • ISBN-10: 8214635314
  • ISBN-13: 9798214635316
  • RETAIL $162.95
Instructor Next Steps
Students: Buy now