Working With Words
Eleventh Edition ©2025 Brian S. Brooks; James L. Pinson; Jean Gaddy Wilson; Jennifer L. Rowe Formats: E-book, Print
As low as $39.99
As low as $39.99
The best grammar and writing handbook for today’s journalists and media writers.
Regardless of the medium, from print to broadcast to PR to digital, Working with Words has you covered. With a focus on improving skills in both grammar and style, this book serves as an invaluable reference for students throughout their academic and professional careers. Helping students become better journalists and media writers, the text combines news writing acumen with good, journalistic form, covering the full spectrum of writing skills from understanding basic methods of style and writing to mastering English grammar and mechanics.
Authors
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Brian S. Brooks
Brian S. Brooks is associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In addition to coauthoring News Reporting and Writing for Bedford/St. Martin’s, he is coauthor of Telling the Story, Third Edition (2007), Working with Words, Sixth Edition (2006), and The Art of Editing (2009).
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James L. Pinson
James L. Pinson has taught journalism for about twenty-five years at the Missouri School of Journalism and at Eastern Michigan University,and has addressed various press groups on the subjects of grammar and other editing skills. He has also worked for newspapers in Colorado, Missouri, and Michigan, and has a doctorate in journalism and a masters in creative writing.
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Jean Gaddy Wilson
Jean Gaddy Wilson leads executives worldwide in creating successful strategies for the future. While on the Missouri School of Journalism faculty, she founded three national journalism organizations: New Directions for News, Journalism and Womens Symposium, and the National Women and Media Collection. She was a founding member of the Council of Presidents, an organization of the leading editorial organizations in newspapers, and of the International Womens Media Foundation. She has served as a Pulitzer Prize Nominating Juror for Journalism and currently serves as a consultant to international organizations.
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Jennifer Rowe
Table of Contents
Preface
Useful Lists at a Glance
Part One: Writing for the Media
1 Understanding Journalism and the News
2 The Basics of Writing for Journalism
3 Writing News That’s Fit for Print
4 Writing News for Radio and Television
5 Writing News for Digital Media
6 Writing News for Strategic Communication
7 Sexism, Racism and Other Isms
Part Two: Grammar and Usage
8 Choosing Your Words
9 Grammar Basics
10 Phrases, Clauses and Sentences
11 Subjects and Objects
12 Verbs
13 Making the Parts Agree
14 Modifiers and Connecting Words
15 Word Order and Punctuation
Part Three: Reference Lists
One Word, Two Words or Hyphenated?
Spelling
Tightening
Trademarks and Generics
Usage
Appendix: Associated Press Print and Online Style Summary
Online Resources
Index
Copy-Editing Marks
Overcome These 20 Common Errors
Product Updates
Working With Words reflects the complexities of the media landscape and our changing world with new coverage that explores how artificial intelligence is affecting journalism.
The fully revised Chapter 7 addresses ongoing discussions about language in the 2020s and provides the latest guidance on matters of appropriate, sensitive and fair language in our increasingly connected world. A new section offers specific advice on how to access trusted sources for legitimate facts and information.
Grammar and style coverage has been carefully revised to provide the most concise, complete and up-to-date source of journalism advice on these topics.
A fully revised online exercise book gives students the opportunity to practice the writing and editing skills covered in the main text, including implementing grammar and mechanics guidelines, practicing proper copy-editing symbols, and rewriting sentences for clarity and conciseness. The workbook is available on the Macmillan catalog.
Instructor Resources
Instructor Resources
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Authors
-
Brian S. Brooks
Brian S. Brooks is associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In addition to coauthoring News Reporting and Writing for Bedford/St. Martin’s, he is coauthor of Telling the Story, Third Edition (2007), Working with Words, Sixth Edition (2006), and The Art of Editing (2009).
-
James L. Pinson
James L. Pinson has taught journalism for about twenty-five years at the Missouri School of Journalism and at Eastern Michigan University,and has addressed various press groups on the subjects of grammar and other editing skills. He has also worked for newspapers in Colorado, Missouri, and Michigan, and has a doctorate in journalism and a masters in creative writing.
-
Jean Gaddy Wilson
Jean Gaddy Wilson leads executives worldwide in creating successful strategies for the future. While on the Missouri School of Journalism faculty, she founded three national journalism organizations: New Directions for News, Journalism and Womens Symposium, and the National Women and Media Collection. She was a founding member of the Council of Presidents, an organization of the leading editorial organizations in newspapers, and of the International Womens Media Foundation. She has served as a Pulitzer Prize Nominating Juror for Journalism and currently serves as a consultant to international organizations.
-
Jennifer Rowe
Table of Contents
Preface
Useful Lists at a Glance
Part One: Writing for the Media
1 Understanding Journalism and the News
2 The Basics of Writing for Journalism
3 Writing News That’s Fit for Print
4 Writing News for Radio and Television
5 Writing News for Digital Media
6 Writing News for Strategic Communication
7 Sexism, Racism and Other Isms
Part Two: Grammar and Usage
8 Choosing Your Words
9 Grammar Basics
10 Phrases, Clauses and Sentences
11 Subjects and Objects
12 Verbs
13 Making the Parts Agree
14 Modifiers and Connecting Words
15 Word Order and Punctuation
Part Three: Reference Lists
One Word, Two Words or Hyphenated?
Spelling
Tightening
Trademarks and Generics
Usage
Appendix: Associated Press Print and Online Style Summary
Online Resources
Index
Copy-Editing Marks
Overcome These 20 Common Errors
Product Updates
Working With Words reflects the complexities of the media landscape and our changing world with new coverage that explores how artificial intelligence is affecting journalism.
The fully revised Chapter 7 addresses ongoing discussions about language in the 2020s and provides the latest guidance on matters of appropriate, sensitive and fair language in our increasingly connected world. A new section offers specific advice on how to access trusted sources for legitimate facts and information.
Grammar and style coverage has been carefully revised to provide the most concise, complete and up-to-date source of journalism advice on these topics.
A fully revised online exercise book gives students the opportunity to practice the writing and editing skills covered in the main text, including implementing grammar and mechanics guidelines, practicing proper copy-editing symbols, and rewriting sentences for clarity and conciseness. The workbook is available on the Macmillan catalog.
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FAQs
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Are you a campus bookstore looking for ordering information?
MPS Order Search Tool (MOST) is a web-based purchase order tracking program that allows customers to view and track their purchases. No registration or special codes needed! Just enter your BILL-TO ACCT # and your ZIP CODE to track orders.
Canadian Stores: Please use only the first five digits/letters in your zip code on MOST.
Visit MOST, our online ordering system for booksellers: https://tracking.mpsvirginia.com/Login.aspx
Learn more about our Bookstore programs here: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/contact-us/booksellers
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Our courses currently integrate with Canvas, Blackboard (Learn and Ultra), Brightspace, D2L, and Moodle. Click on the support documentation below to find out more details about the integration with each LMS.
Integrate Macmillan courses with Blackboard
Integrate Macmillan courses with Canvas
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If you’re a verified instructor, you can request a free sample of our courseware, e-book, or print textbook to consider for use in your courses. Only registered and verified instructors can receive free print and digital samples, and they should not be sold to bookstores or book resellers. If you don't yet have an existing account with Macmillan Learning, it can take up to two business days to verify your status as an instructor. You can request a free sample from the right side of this product page by clicking on the "Request Instructor Sample" button or by contacting your rep. Learn more.
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Sometimes also referred to as a spiral-bound or binder-ready textbook, loose-leaf textbooks are available to purchase. This three-hole punched, unbound version of the book costs less than a hardcover or paperback book.
-
-
-
We can help! Contact your representative to discuss your specific needs for your course. If our off-the-shelf course materials don’t quite hit the mark, we also offer custom solutions made to fit your needs.
-
Working With Words
Regardless of the medium, from print to broadcast to PR to digital, Working with Words has you covered. With a focus on improving skills in both grammar and style, this book serves as an invaluable reference for students throughout their academic and professional careers. Helping students become better journalists and media writers, the text combines news writing acumen with good, journalistic form, covering the full spectrum of writing skills from understanding basic methods of style and writing to mastering English grammar and mechanics.
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