The Complete Plain Words is a style guide for English written by Sir Ernest Gowers and published in 1954. It has never been out of print. It comprises expanded and revised versions of two pamphlets that he wrote at the request of Sir Edward Bridges (then head of the Civil Service); Plain Words, published in 1948 as a two-shilling pamphlet aimed at civil servants and An ABC of Plain Words which was published in 1951.
The Complete Plain Words was revised by Sir Bruce Fraser in 1973, and by Sidney Greenbaum and Janet Whitcut in 1986 (ISBN 0-11-701121-5).
Famous quotes containing the words complete and/or plain:
“The love between man and woman is the greatest and most complete passion the world will ever see, because it is dual, because it is of two opposing kinds.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“In the last scene, between death and ourselves, there is no more pretending: we must speak plain French.”
—Michel de Montaigne (15331592)